President Benigno Aquino III will question the Sandiganbayan decision approving the plea bargain deal between former Armed Forces Comptroller Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman before the Supreme Court.

Aquino bewailed that the anti-graft court ignored testimonies in Congress about the deal’s defects.

“Paano kaya naka-arrive ng desisyon na ganito ang Sandiganbayan? Para bang nasa vacuum sila. Parang hindi ba nila napakinggan lahat ng na-unearth na testimony sa Senate. Hindi ba ‘yung special prosecutor na mismo ang nagsabing, ‘Kung alam lang namin ang ebidensyang ‘to, hindi na namin naisulong ang plea bargain na ‘yan,’ allegedly. Paano ka naman hindi magugulat sa ganung desisyon?”  he told reporters after attending the 112th anniversary rite of the Commission on Audit.

Aquino said the new Ombudsman may no longer undo the plea bargain since it is now in court.

He said the government will exhaust all legal remedies.

“That would be the route. Afterwards kung saka-sakaling hindi sang-ayunan ng Sandiganbayan ang ating motion for reconsideration, then we go to the Supreme Court,” the President said.

He said his legal team is readying the motion for reconsideration to be filed before the anti-graft case.

The President met with Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa, SolGen Jose Anselmo Cadiz and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to map out their plans and strategies regarding the case.

The President said they will elevate the case before the Supreme Court if the Sandiganbayan will reject their motion for reconsideration.

“I tasked them to find out what else could be done,” the President said.

De Lima criticized the Sandiganbayan for its “judicial callousness.”    She said congressional hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate showed that the controversial deal was irregular.

“I share the disappointment of many about this development in the Sandiganbayan. It is regrettable that what appeared to be palpably wrong — as it is unconscionable to many — seemed to have escaped the comprehension and appreciation of the Sandiganbayan. I would call it judicial callousness,” she said.