Imelda Marcos
Updated (9:06 p.m.)
Convicted Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos has pulled out of the gubernatorial race in their province but has fielded incumbent Governor Imee Marcos鈥� son.
Imelda鈥檚 office confirmed this to 好色先生TV on Thursday,听the last day for candidates鈥� substitution set by the Commission on Elections. Her grandson, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc, will substitute her.
Manotoc, the youngest of Imee鈥檚 three sons, previously filed his certificate of candidacy for vice governor of the province, according to his Facebook post. Board Member Mariano 鈥淣onong鈥� Marcos is now his vice governor.
Manotoc is running against Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Fari帽as who substituted Jesus Arimbuyotan, former chairperson of Barangay Bengcag in Laoag City.
Fari帽as was an ally of the Marcoses until 2017 when he initiated a congressional inquiry into Imee鈥檚 alleged misuse of the province鈥檚 share of the tobacco taxes.
READ: Marcos widow, grandson run for Ilocos Norte governor, vice governor
The 89-year-old late dictator鈥檚 widow was convicted of seven counts of graft by the Sandiganbayan last November 9.
The anti-graft court ruled on seven cases concerning Swiss accounts where around $200 million were channeled by Mrs. Marcos while holding various positions in government during her husband鈥檚 reign.
Mrs. Marcos, who has been known to own 3,000 pairs of luxurious shoes, was sentenced to imprisonment of six years up to 11 years for each count of graft.
搁贰础顿:听Imelda听Marcos听guilty of graft, ordered听arrested
Mrs. Marcos earlier justified her absence during the Sandiganbayan鈥檚 judgment by claiming she has seven ailments, was 鈥渋ndisposed,鈥� and 鈥渟uffering from multiple organ infirmities.鈥� But she was seen attending her daughter Imee鈥檚 birthday bash on the night of the verdict.
READ: Imelda Marcos: I missed judgment day due to 7 ailments