MANILA - Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos on Thursday withdrew her bid for governor of her family's long-time bailiwick.

The former first lady, widow of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, took the step 20 days after the Sandiganbayan found her guilty of 7 counts of graft for funneling funds to Swiss foundations during her husband's regime.

Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc, her grandson, will substitute Marcos. Manotoc is the son of incumbent Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, who is seeking a senate seat.

Manotoc previously vied for the vice gubernatorial post.

The Sandiganbayan had sentenced Marcos, 89, to serve 6 to 11 years in prison for each of the seven counts of violating an anti-corruption law when she illegally funneled about $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s, when she served as Metropolitan Manila governor and Minister of Human Settlements.

She is out on a P150,000 bail while fighting the ruling.

• Imelda Marcos posts P150,000 bail as she fights graft conviction

- report from Randy Menor, ABS-CBN News