Ombudsman questions bail for convicted officials

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has questioned the courts’ decision to grant bail to individuals while their convictions are under appeal, saying convicted government officials should start serving their sentences immediately.

Remulla criticized how the Sandiganbayan has convicted and imposed sentences on erring government officials but only a few were imprisoned.

“Once convicted by the Sandiganbayan or a lower court for graft, you go to jail. But the courts are being too kind. Instead, they grant bail,” Remulla said during his radio show Executive Session on dzRH.

He also criticized the low amount of bail usually set by the court, proposing that it should be equivalent to “the cost of damage” committed by the convicted official.

Remulla said his office will look at the list of officials who have been convicted by the Sandiganbayan to check whether they are in prison or not.

The ombudsman also pointed out how some cases take a long time to be resolved, with some spanning for 15 years, particularly in resolving appeals.

He said there should be stricter requirements and a deadline for resolving appeals so that the convicted individual is not set free indefinitely.

“The problem is once a motion for reconsideration is filed, a bail is granted with no deadline. Will they sit on that forever?” Remulla pointed out.

He urged the Supreme Court to police the judiciary and called on the public to keep watch on the duties of both the ombudsman and the judiciary.

“I urge members of the judiciary to do their jobs,” he said.