2 Zambo prosecutors told to explain 4-year delay of criminal case vs black coral smugglers

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday said she would issue a show cause order directing two Zamboanga City prosecutors to explain why they it took them four years to file a criminal case against two suspected smugglers of endangered marine life.

However, De Lima said she would be very careful in handing out administrative sanctions against Prosecutors Gladdy Bernabe and Alfredo Jimenez Jr., owing to the fact that prosecutors are usually burdened with several complaints.

“It’s really difficult. Much that I would want to really discipline our prosecutors, if we cite many prosecutors administratively, it might affect the institution,” De Lima said in reply to questions from the media.

“But it’s time our prosecutors should be conscious about the need … to dispose of cases within the prescribed time line. As you know, justice delayed is justice denied,” she added.

De Lima said she will ask a written explanation from Bernabe and Jimenez on why they should not be relieved from their position for their failure to resolve within 60 days the criminal cases filed against Joe Pring, alias Li Yu Ming, and his wife Olivia Li of Li and Lim Trading.

The cases against the suspected smugglers were reportedly filed by the National Bureau of Investigation in 2007, but were only resolved last week after the couple were again tagged in the recent seizure of smuggled black corals.

The couple were believed to be behind the unlawful trading of black corals and other endangered marine species in Zamboanga City.

Lawmakers said Bernabe and Jimenez’s failure to promptly act on the complaints against the couple allowed them to further destroy the fragile marine environment in Zamboanga and neighboring coastal areas.