Justice Antonio Carpio, a leading authority on international law and Philippine constitutional law, recently clarified key issues surrounding the country’s restitution framework amid questions raised by Senator Marcoleta. Carpio explained that restitution goes beyond the simple return of stolen property. Under Philippine law, it also entails the full recovery of ill-gotten wealth and the imposition of appropriate penalties on those responsible for plunder and related offenses. His explanation addresses widespread misconceptions and comes at a crucial moment, as lawmakers continue to confront the legal and practical challenges of recovering billions of pesos lost to corruption. Carpio’s intervention has renewed calls to strengthen existing laws to ensure accountability, deter large-scale corruption, and reinforce transparency in public office.