MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III does not discount the option of turning to the High Court should the Sandigabayan issue an adverse ruling on the motion to intervene filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
This is in connection with the plea bargain agreement between former AFP Carlos Garcia and the prosecutors.
In an ambush interview with Aquino at Hanjin Shipyard in Subic Thursday, he said the Executive could still go to the Supreme Court (SC) to review their arguments.
“Kapag adverse ang ruling Sandiganbayan nandyan pa naman ang Supreme Court na pwedeng magpaliwanag or pwedeng ma-ireverse ang ruling ng Sandiganbayan kung sakali,” the President said.
He stressed the plea bargaining agreement was approved despite non-compliance with Section 2, Rule 116 of the Rules of Court which requires the need to get the consent of the offended party -- the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Aquino said he was satisfied with the arguments presented by the OSG in their motion and optimistic about the chances that it will be approved by the Sandiganbayan.
“Palagay ko nairepresent ng maayos ang motion to intervene at kung papayagan maipakita kung bakit hindi dapat napahintulot itong plea bargain na nangyaring to.”
The SC earlier told Malacanang that they could go before the court to review the anomalies behind Garcia’s plea bargain deal. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)