The Philippine Supreme Court has acquitted former First Lady Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft, dismissing the country's remaining legal cases against her. The high court's ruling, finalized in June 2026 and made public recently, stated that the government failed to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
These cases stemmed from a November 2018 conviction by an anti-graft court, which found Marcos guilty of transferring public money into Swiss foundations. Prosecutors had accused her of illegally moving approximately $200 million US dollars into secret Swiss foundations during the 1970s while she held the position of governor of metro Manila.
Marcos appealed the conviction. Due to her advanced age, she had remained free on bail in her home. This acquittal follows a history of numerous legal challenges against the former first lady, with approximately 1,000 cases reportedly filed against her over the years.
In the 1990s, Marcos faced accusations in New York courts of stashing billions of dollars. She consistently denied these allegations, at one point suggesting that such accusations were a tactic by the United States to pressure the Philippines into allowing the continued presence of U.S. military bases.
Imelda Marcos, a prominent figure during her husband Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s presidency, was known for her extravagant lifestyle. Her tenure as first lady was marked by lavish spending and significant political influence. In 2022, her son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., was elected president of the Philippines, returning the Marcos family to the nation's highest office.