Beyond jail time, restitution of people's money is imperative

The declaration made by Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chair Justice Andres Reyes, Jr. that the government's goal must be restitution, and not merely the punishment of those involved in graft and corruption, reframes the concept of justice.

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It sends an emphatic signal. Not only must wrongdoers be punished; the people’s money must be recovered.

Lamenting that the stolen funds could have built schools, hospitals and roads, he declared: “All those persons responsible for this may be prosecuted and jailed. But to completely heal our nation, justice is not enough. We need restitution.” Considering the sheer magnitude of the plunder that has taken place, simply imposing jail time could not be equated with justice.

The emphasis on restitution transcends semantics. It mirrors a more restorative philosophy of governance. Corruption is theft and the measure of accountability should not stop with conviction. Unless the stolen wealth is recovered and redeployed for public good, the ends of justice are not served.