THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed a 37-year-old case against the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his widow former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and their associate Roman Cruz, citing inordinate delay and violation of due process.
The case, Civil Case 0006, accused Cruz of acquiring assets disproportionate to his legal income in connivance with the Marcoses. These P276 million ill-gotten wealth assets included properties in Baguio City, Makati, California, and Metro Manila.
The anti-graft court ruled in favor of the Marcoses’ motion to dismiss, noting that state prosecutors did not oppose the move. The court stated that the burden of ensuring a timely trial does not fall on the defendants, and the delay has prejudiced them.
The Sandiganbayan highlighted the potential loss of witnesses and evidence due to the passage of time, as well as the declining health of Imelda Marcos, who is 95 years old. The court concluded that a fair trial is no longer possible.
Roman Cruz, who held prominent positions in various government and private entities during the Marcos regime, was also dismissed from the case.
The dismissal of this long-standing case underscores the challenges of pursuing justice in cases marked by significant delays.
