Marcos set for jail after appeal 'fails'

Marcos set for jail after appeal 'fails'

LAOAG, Philippines (Reuters): Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos told supporters the Supreme Court had rejected her appeal against conviction for graft and that she was certain to go to jail.

Officials of the 15-member court, or the full bench, could not be reached for comment on Marcos' statement which she made at a campaign rally in this northern Philippine town late Saturday. She is one of 11 people running for president in the May election.

Under election laws, a final judgment of conviction against her would automatically disqualify Marcos from running for president or for any public office, officials said.

A five-judge panel of the Supreme Court in January upheld a 1993 trial court's ruling sentencing Marcos to upto 12 years in jail.