Recently, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division released its decision regarding Janet Lim-Napoles’ 16 counts of graft raps. The mastermind behind the pork barrel scam was acquitted of the 16 graft charges concerning the multi-million-peso priority development fund of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla. More than this, it is important to note that several people, not only Napoles, have been acquitted of the said corruption cases.
Can trust be once more regained after it has been dishonored? Can credibility be reshaped to its original state after it has been deliberately broken to serve money-grubbing self-interests?
Also known as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam the pork barrel scam first came to light in August 2013. The P10 billion scam triggered several protests in the same year and still has not been completely resolved up to this date. The case uncovered the deep-rooted corruption in the Philippines and revealed that it has been happening in the country not only through simple transactions but through funneled public funds disguised as budgets for development projects of NGOs. The scandal robbed the country of its due resources and further undermined public trust towards the government and its inner workings and decisions.
Almost a decade after the disclosure of the pork barrel scam, this exoneration raises important questions about the fairness and integrity of the justice system.
Sixteen separate violations of Section 3(e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act that were charged to Napoles were filed by the prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman (OBM). In addition, the same violations of RA 3019 were used as predicates of the plunder charges filed in the past against Revilla. but were all cleared due to its said failure to prove these crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. The Sandiganbayan sustained that due to the charges already being used as predicate crimes for the plunder charges filed by the OBM, and because Revilla has been acquitted of the same violations, it can no longer be used to prove Napoles guilty. The court, however, found her guilty in four other cases still related to PDAF which were released on the same date, sentencing her to 36 to 54 years in prison.
It is indeed favorable to know that even though Napoles has been acquitted of 16 counts of graft, she will still serve her time in prison for her crimes proven tied to PDAF. However, if the same must be true for all the public officials involved in the case, why are a lot of them able to still freely “serve” the country?
Multiple public officials involved in the pork barrel scam are out of jail and elected to their respective positions despite previous cases of graft and corruption. If they are serving the people for the reason that they are being haunted by their guilt or merely using their position to rob the country of its deserved budget and service once more—the answer is obvious. While Napoles' conviction and imprisonment are essential steps toward justice, they alone do not provide a resolution to the gravity of the crimes committed.
The acquittal of Napoles and not holding the money-grubbing politicians accountable send a disturbing message that those in power can evade responsibility for their actions.
And to this, we ask once again–is the justice system in the Philippines really for truth? Or does justice only favor those in power?
In reality, a mere statement declaring the outcry of the public can do nothing if the people who are in the position have direct influence and control over who to hold accountable. This reality is all the more reason to continue to demand dependable justice and resolution for all the damages that it has caused the country and its people.
The resolution of the case should not just be the detainment of Napoles or some of the public officials involved in the multi-billion-peso scam. Until there is no proper accountability among public officials and there are people in power who continuously corrupt and use public funds for their benefit, justice will never be utterly served just yet. Until the government has not been completely erased of the corrupt practices and money-grubbing officials, the case can never be allowed to lay to rest.
The people involved in the pork barrel scam must never be allowed to escape—in whichever way—unscathed.
In the present political climate of the Philippines—we must still question every nook and cranny of the administration’s decisions—not to simply nitpick, but to not let the country be an open jail.
Article: Naiah Nicole Mendoza
Graphics: Renzo Cabitlada
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