Removal of Sandiganbayan justices in Garcia plea bargain pushed

Rotten justice system

In an interview with Bulatlat, Prof. Bobby Tuazon, Policy Study and Publication and Advocacy Director of Center for People Empowerment in Governance (Cenpeg) said that the approval of Garcia’s plea bargain exposes the rottenness of country’s justice system .

“The Garcia case exposes the institutional weaknesses of the justice system in the Philippines. It is clear to the people,” said Tuazon, citing the Commission on Human Rights report on the case of Melissa Roxas.

“The CHR, Ombudsman and the Sandigan do not perform their mandated functions. Where are the people now go to seek justice?” Tuazon asked.

He also pointed out that in the 10 months of Aquino administration, justice has not been served for victims of social and political crimes, and no punishment was meted out against the perpetrators of the same.

“There are already 43 victims of extrajudicial killings under his administration. No one has been prosecuted in his campaign against corruption. The truth commission that he formed was nullified by the Supreme Court. Those who persevere to achieve justice are the victims, relatives and the organizations and not the government. For justice to be done, people should continue to assert their rights and demand justice.”

In a text message sent to Bulatlat, the secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers Edre Olalia also expressed disbelief and frustration.

“The unbelievable judicial blessing of a highly immoral quid pro quo over scandalous heaps of allegedly stolen public money amidst poverty, penury and misery of the majority of people is simply outrageous and obscene. The public cannot be faulted if it gnashes its collective teeth over our institutions. Once again, it showed how justice can be thwarted through a cold application of legal niceties without any social value,” he said.

Aquino should act fast

Pagbabago’s Dizon said that the approval of Garcia’s plea bargain should be a wake up call to the Aquino government.

“President Aquino should act fast: he can’t be foot-dragging on this issue.He should use all the instrumentalities within the government to act on this matter,” he said.

Dizon added that Aquino should appoint an Ombudsman who will really serve for the interest of the people with no partisanship or political payback.

On the other hand, Colmenares said that Aquino should initiate action to remove the Sandiganbayan justices.

“If the Sandiganbayan will not reverse its decision, I think the people will demand no less than the removal of these justices from the Sandiganbayan. Aquino should initiate action to remove them if they will not resign,” he said.

Dizon also said that the plea bargain agreement sends a wrong message to the people. “It sends the message that it is okay to steal the people’s money for as long as you admit your crime when caught and just return a small amount from what you stole.”