EDITORIAL - Weak deterrence

For awarding a supply contract to a company owned by his family, a former vice mayor of Carmen town in Bohol has been convicted of graft by the Sandiganbayan. Josil Trabajo was sentenced last month to 10 years in prison for a supply contract approved by the municipal council, which the vice mayor heads, for P75,150 worth of limestone for road construction.

It’s good that a former public official might spend time behind bars for giving his family undue advantage in business deals with the government. It would be better if these court cases could be resolved faster. It took about 14 years, from the time the supply contract was awarded in 2003, for guilt to be established by the anti-graft court and the sentence handed down.

And it isn’t even the end of litigation yet. On appeal, Trabajo might successfully invoke a way out of imprisonment that is gaining popularity among prominent individuals accused of graft: “inordinate delay” in their prosecution by the Office of the Ombudsman. With the collusion of magistrates who themselves should be sent to prison for selling justice, cases against a number of moneyed defendants have been tossed out by several courts.

Such cases have diluted the deterrent impact of convictions related to corruption. This is lamentable, considering how political power is used in this country to benefit politicians, their families and cronies. Trabajo’s case is unique only in the fact that he was convicted.

Areas controlled by political dynasties are the most notorious for such unfair and illegal arrangements. The anomalies are exposed only when political opponents or civic-minded individuals and organizations have the energy and resources to hold the corrupt accountable. The largest fish accused of corruption in this country also get away with everything.

Even when efforts to promote accountability bear fruit, however, there are people who might believe that during 14 years of litigation, they can enjoy the fruits of corruption, and they can even manage to leave the country and escape punishment. If punishment is to serve as a deterrent to corruption and other crimes, it has to be dealt quickly.