Sandiganbayan Justices in Plea Bargain Decision are Accomplices to Injustice, Plunder - Ilagan

“With their approval of the Garcia plea bargain deal, the Sandiganbayan justices have made themselves accomplices to the crime of plunder. They have become instruments of injustice and are thus undeserving of their posts that mandate them to prosecute corrupt and plunderous government officials and make them answerable for their crimes against the people.”

This is according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan following the Sandiganbayan’s decision to uphold the highly controversial plea-bargain agreement between former AFP Comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia and former Ombudsman Merciditas Guttierrez which allowed Garcia the option of pleading guilty to lesser offenses of bribery instead of being charged with the crime of plunder.

“Their imprudence and haste in the dispensation of this plea bargain agreement is highly suspicious and totally unacceptable,” said Ilagan who, along with fellow Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus, co-authored a resolution condemning the Sandiganbayan decision.

“The Sandiganbayan decision says a lot about the weakness and the lack of political will in this administration’s campaign against corruption. More importantly it says a lot about how the Sandiganbayan justices regard their responsibility towards the Filipino people. Clearly, the Sandiganbayan justices have betrayed the people’s trust and will have to be made accountable as well.” ###