OUTRAGED lawmakers urged the government to contest the Sandiganbayan’s decision before the Supreme Court to prevent the anti-graft court from instituting a system  which allows grafters to make a profit by surrendering a small part of their ill-gotten wealth.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said the ruling should be appealed.

“That decision may be appealed by the State all the way to the SC,” Fariñas said.

Casiño said militant groups are disappointed but not entirely surprised by the ruling because they knew from the start that it will be granted.

“This is a setback in our effort to correct the deliberate weakening of the case against Garcia. We urge the Office of the Solicitor General and Department of Justice to exert all efforts to reverse this ruling,” Casiño said.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez lamented that in the end, the people will suffer if graft and corruption is tolerated.

“The Sandiganbayan may have just instituted a net profit system for graft and corruption. Rake in a lot, surrender a little, charge some incidental expenses, take the net profit, declare profit sharing, and live happily ever after,” Golez said.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr. said the decision is very questionable since the plea bargain agreement is highly irregular.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello lamented that the Sandiganbayan became part of the problem.

“I think this is outrageous. I think this is a case of the institution closing ranks around their colleagues that engineered a bad, corrupt deal,” Bello said.  Jester Manalastas