MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines’ highest court acquitted former first lady Imelda Marcos of corruption Tuesday, overturning the only case in which she had been found guilty of graft during her late husband’s rule.
Sparing her a 12-year jail term, the Supreme Court ruled 8-5, with one judge abstaining, to acquit the widow of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Imelda Marcos, 69, had been in seclusion for several days.
She and her late husband were accused of stealing billions of dollars during his presidency. They were ousted in a 1986 “people power” revolt, and Marcos died three years later in exile in Hawaii.