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Imelda enters political fray
[Straits Times] WITH the kiss of a glass casket containing her dictator husband's embalmed body, the remarkable Imelda Marcos relaunched her political career on Friday at the age of 80.For the irrepressible Mrs Marcos, paying loving respect to the controversial former Philippine president delivered a powerful message of family defiance to begin her campaign for a lower house seat in the nation's parliament. 'He was our best ever president,' Mrs Marcos, typically immaculate in a tangerine blouse and matching pants, told reporters at the family home in the northern Philippine town of Batac after visiting the downstairs mausoleum. 'During his time we had territorial integrity, freedom, justice and human rights. Whatever else people may say those were the best times ever for the Philippines.' Mrs Marcos surprised all political observers in the Philippines when she registered at the final moment to run for her husband's old seat in national elections that will be held on May 10. In line with election laws, she had not spoken publicly about her decision to revive her political career until Friday, the first day that parliamentary candidates could hit the campaign trail. Mrs Marcos made it clear she wanted to achieve redemption for her husband, who is accused of stealing billions of dollars from state coffers during his 20-year rule, which ended with a 'people power' revolution in 1986. The matriarch is in fact leading her brood into political battle, with daughter Imee running for governor of Ilocos Norte province, which remains a family stronghold, and son Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Junior seeking a senate seat. It will be the former first lady's first political outing since losing a presidential bid in 1992. Posted by: Fred 2010-03-27 |
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