“ALL is not lost.”

Thus declared Malacañang as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima disclosed that the Palace will explore all other legal remedies after the Sandiganbayan approved the Ombudsman’s plea bargain with former AFP Comptroller Carlos Garcia.

De Lima branded it “a disappointing development.”

The DOJ chief said that among the moves being contemplated is the filing of a motion for reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan or elevating the case to a higher court to appeal.

“All is not lost because there are remedies under the law. The office of the Solicitor General can always elevate the matter either sa Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court. Pero kailangan siguro mag-file na muna ng motion for reconsideration although we will discuss that with the Solicitor General kung ano ang next move,” De Lima told Palace reporters at the Villamor Air Base following the arrival of President Noynoy Aquino III in Manila after his participation at the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit staged in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Sandiganbayan has approved the plea bargain deal that the Office of the Ombudsman entered into with Garcia.

In a resolution, the 2nd Division of the anti-graft court said Garcia complied with all the conditions required in the plea bargain arrangement.

It also denied the motion for intervention filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval, who is also chairman of the 2nd Division, did not entertain motions for his inhibition because of lack of merit.

Under the agreement, Garcia -- who faces plunder charges -- will return P135 million to the government and enter a guilty plea to the lesser offense of direct bribery.

The controversy spawned a full-blown investigation in Congress, which triggered the impeachment of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who later quit her post several days even before the Senate trial court  could have started yesterday.