Former first lady runs for Philippine congress

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos filed her candidacy for next year’s congressional elections, joining the country’s boxing champion and the outgoing president in the star-studded race for the lower house.

Ferdinand Marcos’s flamboyant 80-year-old widow, who has successfully fought off more than 900 civil and criminal cases against her, dispatched a lawyer shortly before midnight Tuesday to file her nomination papers in Illocos Norte, her husband’s northern stronghold where she is popular.

Tuesday was the last day for nominations for the May 2010 national elections.

Other top candidates for Congress include Manny Pacquiao, who last month won his seventh world boxing title in as many weight classes.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, barred by the constitution from seeking a second term, will become the first Philippine president to run for a lower house seat after stepping down.