Ibinasura ng Sandiganbayan Fourth Division ang kasong katiwalian na inihain laban kay Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato na inihain halos 11 taon na ang nakararaan.
“In essence, the period of almost 11 years it took for the Ombudsman to resolve the case against the accused constitutes inordinate delay in resolving the case in violation of the accused’s Constitional right to the speedy disposition of her case. Such violation gives cause for the dismissal of the case against her,” pahayag ng anti-graft court kahapon.
“The right to speedy disposition of cases before judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative bodies is a constitutionally guaranteed right,” nakasaad sa desisyon.
“Given the protracted proceeding in question, the prosecution made no claim or assertion that the case involves difficult or complex issues,” ayon sa resolusyon na may petsang Enero 23 na isinulat ni Fourth Division Chairman Jose Hernandez at kinatigan nina Associate Justice Alex Quiroz at Ma. Cristina Cornejo.
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Iginiit ni Sato sa korte na may karapatan ito sa mabilis na proseso ng paglilitis matapos ihain ang kaso noong Nobyembre 2001 at 2009.
Subalit naresolbahan lamang ng Ombudsman ang kaso noong Nobyembre 2012 sa ilalim ng Criminal Case No. SB-13-CRM-0095.
Matatandaan na kinasuhan ng Failure to Make Delivery of Public Property matapos mabigo itong ipa-deliver ang isang mobile clinic na nagkakahalaga ng P3.460,000, na donasyon ng ERAP Partnerships for the Poor at Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, sa kabila nang ilang ulit na kahilingan ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Occidental Minodoro noong 2001.
