On the eve of March 23, Twitter was set ablaze by Filipinos who were speculating about the death of former first lady Imelda Marcos.
It started after historian Xiao Chua tweeted that “big news” would break in the following days and one eagle-eyed netizen noticed that he changed his Facebook profile picture to one of him with Imelda.
Sir paki-explain??? pic.twitter.com/Hgd6xw2phn
— astræboy (@Oraculus5) March 23, 2023
This confused netizens and some started thinking the event he was talking about was a funeral for the current president’s mother.
Patay na si ________???
— Gabriel Pasternak✊️🇵🇭🇺🇦🇵🇸 (@giodrocketman) March 23, 2023
But as daughter Sen. Imee Marcos, the rumors began a week before “Imelda” trended on Twitter.
Memes about the rumored passing also started surfacing online.
if this rumor about imelda marcos is true… pic.twitter.com/CVqc4e4m7E
— kei (@milfsprmcy) March 23, 2023
Me sa chikang patay na si Imelda Marcos: pic.twitter.com/KZRyuhJI64
— ALTStarMagic 💫 (@AltStarMagic) March 23, 2023
Rumors debunked
All the chatter was finally put to rest as Imelda’s family members maintained that she’s still “strong and kicking.”
“Last week pa ‘yan. Ang bad ng nagkakalat,” Imee told reporters via text message.
Meanwhile, Imelda’s niece Eliza Romualdez-Valtos posted a photo of the former Ilocos Norte Representative.
First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also posted a photo with her mother-in-law on March 26.
As some Twitter users reminded, the late dictator’s wife still faces graft convictions.
In November 2018, Imelda was sentenced to imprisonment of six years and one month to 11 years for each count of graft—she was convicted of seven out of the 10 charges in Sandiganbayan’s special anti-graft court. The former first lady has yet to be put behind bars for this and remains free.
Marcos’ case began in 1991 and it was for funneling some $200 million to seven Swiss bank accounts from 1978 to 1984 while she was serving as a Metro Manila governor.
The then 89-year-old Imelda failed to attend the court hearing in 2018. Former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde explained they considered Marcos’ widow’s age and health in arresting her. The ex-first lady posted a P300,000 bail and appealed her conviction to still enjoy freedom.
photo from: AP
