Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos Reuters

Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former dictator of the Philippines, continues her extraordinary political comeback by saying she will seek a second term as congresswoman.

According to a report in Agence France-Presse, Imelda (who became world famous prior to her husband’s ouster due to her excessively lavish lifestyle and huge shoe collection), will file for her candidacy ahead of next year’s mid-term elections.

“The filing is most likely Wednesday or Thursday," Imelda’s chief of staff, Filadelfo Diaz, told AFP.

Imelda represents the northern province of Ilocos Norte, the longtime base of Marcos supporters.

Imelda’s children are also deeply involved in politics.

Her daughter, Imee, 56, who was elected Ilocos Norte’s governor in 2010, will also seek a second three-year term, according to her chief aide, Elena Mequitola.

Imelda’s son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., 55, is also a big-time player in Filipino politics, having won a six-year term as Senator during the 2010 elections.

Rumors are rife that Bongbong may seek the presidency (his father’s job) himself in 2016 – a scenario that would please Imelda.

Now 83 years old, Imelda’s mere presence in Filipino politics reflects an extraordinary renaissance in the family’s fortunes since her ex-husband was deposed from power in 1986 and the family fled to exile in the U.S.

She returned to her homeland in 1989 after Ferdinand's death and set about rebuilding the Marcos family power base. Neither she nor her children have ever been convicted of any crimes, despite the fact that the family reportedly plundered billions of dollars from the country’s treasury during their stay in power.

Ironically, it was 40 years ago, in September 1972, that Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines – an act that effectively silenced all opposition and tightened his family’s vice grip on the country.

An editorial column in the Philnews, a global paper for Filipinos, lamented that the Marcos family and their cohorts have never apologized for their brutal pillaging of the poor country.

“Instead the family and supporters of the late strongman have been trying to rewrite history with half-truths or outright falsehoods that paint Ferdinand Marcos as being something other than the lying, scheming, tyrant that he was,” the editorial stated.

“Aside from the murders, and torture of thousands of Filipinos during the Martial Law years, Marcos succeeded in destroying Philippine society as we once knew it.”

The editorial bitterly added: “[Ferdinand Marcos] created a dysfunctional society where individuals seek public office only to enrich themselves. He created a despotic society where positions of power are used to intimidate and coerce ordinary folk and bribes and kickbacks are the order of the day—everyday.”