Prosecutors elated: We’re vindicated

MANILA, Philippines—While the Aquino administration and its allies are furious, prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman are feeling vindicated with the Sandiganbayan’s approval of the plea bargain on the plunder case of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Jesus Micael said the court’s resolutions approving the agreement and rejecting the Office of the Solicitor General’s attempt to intervene clearly spelled out why the plea bargain was the government’s best option.

Micael said the Sandiganbayan had access to all records and had based its rulings on all the facts of the case.

“There’s a feeling of vindication. We’re happy that the court looked at it that way. Unlike other forums, the court had the opportunity to look into the records,” he told reporters.

Asked about the morale of the prosecutors after the anti-graft court had spoken, he said it did not change since the prosecutors had known that they should just continue their jobs and should not be onion-skinned.

Read resolutions first

As for President Benigno Aquino III’s disappointment at the stand the court took, Micael said the prosecutors could not prevent him from feeling that way.

He expressed hope that critics of the court’s ruling would read the resolutions first. He said the resolutions spelled out why the plunder case was weak and showed that the prosecutors were left with no other option but enter into a plea bargain with Garcia.

“Let’s leave the judging to the court,” he added.

The prosecutors earlier said that there was not enough evidence to pin down Garcia for plunder, and that the charge sheet, or information, was plagued by deficiencies.