3 Sandiganbayan justices in Garcia plea bargain deal urged to resign

Militant lawmakers on Wednesday asked three Sandiganbayan justices to resign for approving the controversial plea bargain agreement entered into by former military comptroller Carlos Garcia with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Seven militant party-list congressmen on Wednesday filed House Resolution (HR) 1237 condemning the approval of the plea bargain deal and asking justices of the anti-graft court’s second division to quit their posts.

“If the Sandiganbayan will not reverse its decision, I think the people will demand no less than the removal of these justices from Sandiganbayan," Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said in a statement Wednesday.

The three members of the Sandiganbayan’s second division are: Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval, Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos and Associate Justice Samuel Martires.

As of posting time, GMA News Online was still trying to get the side of the three justices.

The anti-graft court on Monday approved Garcia’s plea bargain deal in connection with his P303-million plunder case, citing the former military comptroller’s compliance of all necessary conditions for the controversial deal.

In their resolution, the lawmakers said the decision to approve Garcia’s plea bargain deal was "prejudicial to the interest of the Filipino people."

"The Sandiganbayan’s decision to approve the plea bargain agreement offends the most basic principles of justice, fairness, and decency by virtually condoning the numerous acts of plunder committed by Maj. General Garcia. It grossly undermines any genuine effort to combat graft and corruption in public service," the resolution read.

Aside from Colmenares, the other congressmen who signed HR 1237 were: Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casino, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano, Gabriela Women’s party-list Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino.