The Supreme Court has spoken. The law was followed. Yet here we are—watching a calculated exercise in outrage attempt to criminalize compliance. The recent plunder complaint against Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto for the PhilHealth fund transfer is not just weak on the law; it is institutionally reckless. It treats the highest court’s clearly reasoned conclusions as optional footnotes, preferring political theater to constitutional substance. Several justices went out of their way to address criminal culpability—and their consensus is unmistakable. Secretary Recto acted under the express mandate of the 2024 General Appropriations Act. He performed a ministerial duty, relying on […]... Keep on reading: Obedience, not crime: Why prosecuting Recto would criminalize governance