EDITORIAL - Breeding impunity

Nearly two decades after the offense was committed, the Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal from the service of former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda for “ghost” purchases of combat clothing and equipment worth P36.7 million.

The anomalous procurement occurred in 2000, so of course Miranda has long left the Philippine Marine Corps. The Office of the Ombudsman had dismissed Miranda from the service together with four other Marine officers back in 2009 for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty. His benefits were also forfeited and he was permanently disqualified from public office.

Miranda, however, appealed the ruling. In 2014, his petition was granted by the Court of Appeals, which cited the supposed lack of evidence to prove that he conspired with the other officers to defraud the government. It took another five years before the Supreme Court, in a ruling on July 10 this year, reversed the CA ruling and affirmed the decision of the ombudsman.

It’s unclear if Miranda is still around to suffer the penalties. The P36.7 million was supposed to be distributed to the Marines, as cash allowance of P14,000 each for combat clothing and individual equipment. Anyone who pocketed those millions would have likely spent much or all of it after 19 years.

This is one of the biggest incentives for the persistence of corruption in this country: it takes such a long time for justice to catch up with those who steal from public coffers. Thieves get to use stolen public funds even to enter politics. And they use stolen funds to defend themselves in court in case they are indicted for betraying public trust.

In short, the weakness of the justice system creates the impression that in this country, crime pays. That mindset inevitably breeds impunity in stealing people’s money.