Ombudsman: Courts have been ‘too forgiving’ of graft convicts

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MANILA, Philippines— The Supreme Court should “police the judiciary” and look into cases of individuals convicted of graft who have been able to post bail at the discretion of lower courts, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Saturday.

Remulla made the statement on the same day the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced the opening for the position of Chief Justice.

The former justice secretary was frustrated with how the Sandiganbayan and regional trial courts (RTCs) have been handling graft and corruption cases that could drag on for years, even decades.

“The problem is courts are too forgiving that they do not imprison those that should be imprisoned,” Remulla stressed in his weekly radio show, “Executive Session,” on dzRH. “If you have been convicted by a lower court, convicted by the Sandiganbayan, convicted by the RTC for graft, you should already be in prison.”