Press Statement

22 November 2014
Busted fix-cal on business as usual?
Lack of delicadeza aggravates flaws of our justice system
Caught red-handed, pinned down by pervasive reports of his notoriety, and pushed to the wall, how thick
a skin would it take for a public officer accused of receiving bribes to return to work the next day like its
business as usual?
On November 14, 2014, Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Raul Y. Desembrana was caught
receiving bribe in a legitimate entrapment operation upon the initiative and complaint of the National
Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) and one its clients Dr. Alexis Montes and set up by the Department
of Justice through the National Bureau of Investigation, The bribe was to be in exchange for the promised
dismissal of a case -- which was a nuisance charge anyway -- against Dr. Montes by way of harassment
by filed an eccentric retired military chaplain.
A criminal case for direct bribery and administrative charges were filed against Prosecutor Desembrana
before the Sandiganbayan, but he was able to post bail and was released on the same day. The following
Monday, November 17, 2014, Prosecutor Desembrana reported for work and went through his usual
routine, conducting trials and holding preliminary investigation hearings.
Procedural gaps and loopholes have allowed Desembrana to resume his work even while pending
investigation, but these are being addressed at present by complainants and the NUPL, including the filing
yesterday in the Ombudsman of a motion for preventive suspension. While he can temporarily seek
refuge under the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, he must not, given the unmitigated
casualness and stupendous brazenness of his despicable act , be allowed to carry on as if nothing
happened and to secure an opportunity to cover up his tracks, or, heaven forbid, possibly victimize
countless others.
It is incongruous and anomalous that a public prosecutor who wields so much power and comes in direct
contact with parties and lawyers to a case daily and who is caught in flagrante delicto of soliciting and
receiving dirty money is allowed to prance around like it is business as usual. It does not inspire trust
and confidence in our justice system.
Corrupt Philippine politicians and public officers have generally been branded greedy, shameless and
remorseless and in the end they run off scot-free and go their merry ways. Would there be any
exception?# ebc
Reference:
Edre U. Olalia
Secretary General
09175113373
Ephraim B. Cortez
Asst. Secretary General for Legal Services
09175465798