(Eagle News)—The Supreme Court has upheld Imelda Marcos’ acquittal from charges of dollar-salting, or the stashing of foreign money in bank accounts abroad without authority from the Central Bank.
This was after the High Court upheld the Court of Appeals’ decision denying the former solicitor general Frank Chavez’s petition against the refusal of Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court to inhibit from the case.
“There was nothing remarkable about the denial of the motion to inhibit. It was not hasty, and whether to deny it orally in court is the prerogative of the judge, who could have decided it as as soon as its factual basis had been clearly laid,” the decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said.
It was Pampilo who also acquitted Marcos of the 32 counts of dollar-salting, which stem from the supposed discovery of the government of former President Cory Aquino of documents pertaining to the existence of the accounts in Switzerland containing dollar purchases.
Pampilo acquitted Marcos after the prosecution presented as witnesses the Presidential Commission on Good Government and Office of the Solicitor General officials to authenticate the documents.
Pampilo ruled they were not the source of the documents and had no personal knowledge of the same, making their testimonies mere hearsay.
The SC went on to score the government for what it said was its “lackadaisical” effort in pursuing the case.
The High Court said the lower court’s “liberality in granting the various continuances does not seem to have been met by the presentation of evidence with a depth and quality that would have shown the diligence and seriousness of the prosecution.”
“Prosecutors must not only be courageous but must also show their dedication ; to public interest through their competence. Otherwise, the system will invite suspicion that there had been unholy collusion,” the SC said.