In The Know: Vilma Bautista

Vilma Bautista served as a personal and confidential secretary of then First Lady Imelda Marcos. She also worked as consular official in the Philippine Mission to the United Nations from 1966 to 1986.

In a 1986 New York Times report, Bautista, then a $3,000-a-month first secretary at the mission, was described as a demure, quiet-spoken woman.

She moved discreetly around New York as a business agent, personal shopper, confidante and eyes and ears of the former first lady, the report said.

The Corazon Aquino administration had Bautista’s diplomatic passport canceled and then alerted US  immigration and customs officials that the woman might have information about the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth.

According to previous accounts, an investigation showed that several very expensive New York properties turned up under Bautista’s name. Inquirer Research

Sources: New York Times, The Marcos File by Charles C. McDougald, www.lawphil.net