A Manila court Monday acquitted former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos of 32 counts of illegal money transfers made 40 years ago, court officials said.
The 78-year-old widow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos smiled broadly as she walked from court, saying "I am happy because the truth of the Marcoses is going to be justice." Of the 901 cases filed against her in the early 1990s just 10 remain, her lawyers told AFP.
Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines for 20 years, fled into exile in 1986 with his family after he was overthrown in a "people power" revolution led by the Roman Catholic Church and breakaway elements of the military.
The government's case claimed that 32 bank transfers to foreign accounts in Switzerland between 1968 and 1976 were carried out illegally by Ferdinand Marcos, his wife and an associate who is now dead. But trial court judge Silvino Pampilo ruled that evidence provided by the government failed to prove Imelda Marcos broke the law.