Sandiganbayan junks coco levy cases vs Marcoses
THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has dismissed six civil forfeiture cases filed by the Philippine government against the late ex-President Ferdinand Emmanuel E. Marcos, Sr. and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos stemming from the coco levy fund controversy, citing inordinate delay in the court’s proceedings.
In a 42-page resolution promulgated on Dec. 12, the Sandiganbayan Second Division dropped the confiscation charges filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Governance in 1987, as the cases violated the Marcoses’ constitutional right to the speedy disposition of cases.
“As of the release of this resolution, this delay has been extended to thirty-six (36) years from the time of filing of the original complaint, and twenty-eight (28) years from the subdivision thereof,” part of the ruling by Geraldine Faith A. Econg stated.
“Therefore, it is the plaintiff Republic that bears the burden of proving that the delay of almost three decades in proceeding to trial in each of these subdivided cases,” it added.
The anti-graft court said the arguments presented by government lawyers were insufficient in ruling against the motions of the Marcoses seeking the dismissal of the cases.
“There have been many opportunities for plaintiff Republic to begin its initial presentation of evidence and witnesses throughout these decades,” it read. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
