By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Breaking with long-standing judicial practice, the Sandiganbayan appealed for public calm following the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, assuring Filipinos that the courts will resolve the high-profile plunder case through an impartial and lawful process.
In an uncommon public statement, Sandiganbayan officials acknowledged the heightened public attention surrounding the case and stressed that the judiciary remains independent of political influence despite the controversy generated by the senator’s arrest.
The anti-graft court emphasized that its responsibility is to settle disputes through legal proceedings, not through political debates or public demonstrations, and called on the public to place their confidence in the country’s justice system.
“The judiciary is not part of the political arena,” court officials said, reiterating that judicial decisions are based solely on the law and the evidence presented before the court.
The statement came after the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division issued a warrant for Marcoleta’s arrest in connection with a plunder case involving the alleged illegal receipt and non-disclosure of P75 million in campaign contributions during his tenure as a member of the House of Representatives.
Marcoleta’s arrest prevented him from attending the opening day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, where he was expected to serve as one of the senator-judges.
Court officials explained that they rarely address the media, noting that judicial rulings ordinarily speak for themselves. However, they said the extraordinary public interest and growing tension surrounding the case prompted the court to clarify its position and reassure the public that due process would be observed.
The Sandiganbayan also underscored that it stands ready to hear any case properly brought before it, regardless of the identity, political affiliation, or public standing of the individuals involved.
Officials further assured the public that the judiciary does not decide cases based on political pressure, public opinion, or the intensity of protests, but strictly on the merits of the evidence and the applicable law.
The court likewise urged Filipinos to remain calm, avoid speculation, and allow the judicial process to take its course, emphasizing that the rule of law remains the cornerstone of the country’s justice system.
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