HOUSE WATCH | When Due Process Finally Finds the Door Locked

Some stories don’t need commentary.
The ruling does it for you.

The Sandiganbayan has upheld its declaration that Co remains a fugitive from justice, rejecting motions that sought to undo the earlier ruling.

In its decision, the anti-graft court reiterated a basic but often contested principle: justice does not pause just because the accused chooses absence. Failure to submit to the court’s jurisdiction, the Sandiganbayan said in effect, carries consequences—procedural and symbolic.

Legal observers note that the ruling reinforces a long-standing standard in Philippine jurisprudence: courts cannot be expected to proceed on equal footing when one party is physically beyond reach yet legally demanding relief.

Quietly, the decision also sends a broader signal. Appeals to fairness, due process, and rights are strongest when paired with presence. Without it, arguments tend to echo—unanswered.

In a system frequently accused of bending for influence, the ruling stands as an uncomfortable reminder:
process still works—especially when tested by defiance.