Court lets Imelda Marcos stay as executor

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos and her son can retain control of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' estate, a court has ruled.

The country's supreme court has determined to let stand a lower court ruling made 12 years ago allowing Marcos and her son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos II, to remain in control of the one-time president's estate despite government assertions that the Marcoses were disqualified because of criminal convictions and moral turpitude, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Sunday.

In making the ruling, the court noted Imelda Marcos' convictions have since been overturned.

The Inquirer said the Philippines government had objected to moves by Imelda and Ferdinand II to the transfer of Marcos' assets from Swiss banks, saying that constituted grounds for disqualification for them to act as executors of the dictator's estate.