Serious disease

Many have rejoiced after the Sandiganbayan finally ruled to convict former first lady Imelda Marcos of massive corruption, proclaiming that justice has finally been served more than 30 years after the Marcoses were ousted from power.

The anti-graft court’s landmark decision has grabbed headlines around the world as, for the second time, Mrs. Marcos was convicted of corruption. Consisting of seven counts, the case carries an imprisonment of at least 70 years.

In her first Sandiganbayan conviction in the 1990s, Mrs. Marcos was able to elevate the case filed against her in 1991 to the Supreme Court. The high court decided in her favor and acquitted the former first lady, who then avoided imprisonment.

In the second case, Mrs. Marcos is set to bring her conviction to the Supreme Court, confident that she will eventually be exonerated. She is expected to exhaust all her resources as she battles for another SC revision of the decision of the anti-graft court.

But the question here is not whether or not Mrs. Marcos will again succeed in her latest attempt to do a Harry Houdini. We have to admit that she will always have a good chance to secure another acquittal from the high court.

The real issue here lies in our judicial system. We can’t deny the fact there is really something wrong with the process - from filing of charges to court trial - that has caused cases to take more time to resolve. And this problem has long been the issue for decades.

There is truly a need for an urgent reform of the country’s judicial system. That it takes decades for cases - such as this one Mrs. Marcos is still facing - to be resolved is a testament to the serious disease presently afflicting the judicial system.