OSG clarification

This is in response to the paid ad by Estelito P. Mendoza and Associates entitled “So that the PCGG and OSG (and others) have the facts right on why the presentation of their testimonial evidence on the Lucio Tan ill-gotten wealth case was terminated by the Sandiganbayan on April 23, 2009”.

It must be clarified that the Office of the Solicitor General in no way advertently or fortuitously caused delay in the proceedings in the case of the Republic against Mr. Lucio Tan.

A review of the timeline would reveal that the prolonged setback, specifically that which was stretched between 1987 and 2005, was riddled with an array of ambiguous motions by Lucio Tan. In fact, in several instances, even before the OSG could present its evidence, Lucio Tan through his counsel Atty. Estelito P. Mendoza has already filed at least 22 motions which consumed considerable time and blunted the speedy resolution of the cases.

In addition, we stress that each of the postponements attributed by the court to have been requested by the government were without malice and with reasonable explanation.

It must be likewise reiterated that even with our commitment and determination for the prompt resolution of these cases, we cannot meddle with the duties of the court to administer justice with careful and deliberate assessment of the facts at hand.

We hope that this will clarify any misimpressions by the aforementioned ad so that the public may be accorded with facts and not be blinded by any form of misinformation.