00:00The Supreme Court First Division acquits the mother of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,
00:05Imelda Marcos, in her graft cases related to Swiss foundations. The SC Division overturns
00:11the Sandigan Bayan's November 2018 decision that convicted the 97-year-old former First Lady of
00:16seven counts of graft. In its decision, the SC Division says the prosecution failed to prove
00:21Marcos' guilt beyond reasonable doubt, which is the threshold needed to convict an accused in
00:26criminal cases. Marcos was charged for alleged violation of Section 3H of the anti-graft law,
00:31which has the following elements. The accused is a public officer. The accused has direct or
00:36indirect financial interest in any business, contract, or transaction. And the accused either
00:40intervened or took part in his or her official capacity. The SC says it's undisputed that the
00:46first element is present, but the second and third elements are contested. The Office of the Ombudsman
00:51presented documentary and testimonial evidence to prove Marcos' financial interest. But that
00:56high court says they were inadmissible and lack probative weight.
