Marcos Insists She Should Be Tried in the Philippines

Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos went on trial for fraud, conspiracy and racketeering today, declaring defiantly that she should not be judged in the United States.

“I am a Philippine citizen. I should be tried in my own country, the Republic of the Philippines, and not in a foreign country,” Marcos said on the steps of Manhattan’s U.S. District Court as she tried to get past a crush of photographers and reporters.

Dressed in black and looking near tears as security guards pushed the photographers out of the way, Marcos added: “I pray that I will be treated and tried like an ordinary American seeking justice.”

Once in the courtroom, Marcos looked dazed and confused. Her lawyer, Gerry Spence, said he would try to get a jury that had never heard of her media image as “a greedy, obsessive woman.”

Jury selection in the case started in private before U.S. District Judge John Keenan. By noon, three jurors had qualified for the panel, including a man who said he would not hold Mrs. Marcos’ huge shoe collection against her “because my daughter also has a lot of shoes.”

Opening statements could start later this month or early April.

Marcos, 60, is charged with working with her late husband, ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos, to loot the Philippine treasury of more than $100 million and then secretly buying Manhattan real estate. She is also charged with fraudulently borrowing $165 million from U.S. banks.

A co-defendant, Saudi Arabian arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, is charged with covering up the property purchases for the Marcoses by pretending to be the owner.

Jurors may hear Ronald and Nancy Reagan testify as character witnesses, Spence said Monday. He said the Reagans could be called because of their long, close relationship with Marcos and his wife.

“Nobody knew the Marcoses better than the Reagans. . . . They’ve known each other for years. They spent many days together with the Marcoses in their palace” in Manila, Spence said.

Asked if he thought that the Reagans would agree to testify, Spence said, “I would hope so.”

A spokesman for the Reagans, Mark Weinberg, said in a statement: “It is our longstanding policy not to comment on pending legal matters.”