President Benigno Aquino III has met with three of his top legal advisers to work out his administration’s next moves on the plea bargain agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and former Armed Forces of the Philippines comptroller, retired Major General Carlos Garcia.
Aquino conferred with Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Solicitor-General Jose Anselmo Cadiz on how the government will appeal the plea deal with anti-graft court’s Second Division.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Thursday said, “…should they not find favor with the Sandiganbayan, they will file a petition with the Supreme Court."
He said, without going into details, the meeting discussed the pros and the cons of the options, scenarios and possible consequences should the Sandiganbayan deny the appeal.
Lacierda stressed that the anti-graft court’s decision “encourages government officials to steal big with the end view of having their criminal acts plea bargained later on, and in effect walk away scot-free, something which is totally unacceptable to the government."
On the calls for the resignation of the Sandiganbayan justices, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that matter is up to the justices.
“Yung resignation po kasi is a personal choice of the official holding the post. Kung paano po nila susukatin ‘yung nagiging issue na humaharap po sa kanila, is a choice is entirely their own. So, bahala na po sila how they will take these calls for resignation," Valte explained in a separate press briefing. — ELR/VS
