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The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the P276 million ill-gotten wealth case against the heirs of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his wife Imelda Marcos, and their alleged crony, Roman Cruz. The reason? A delay so long that it practically buried the case.

The anti-graft court ruled that the 37-year lag in proceedings was just too much to ignore. The delay not only violated the right of the Marcos family to a speedy trial, but it also complicated things even further. Key witnesses have passed away, and important documents have been lost along the way, making it nearly impossible to proceed.

On top of that, the court acknowledged the current state of former First Lady Imelda Marcos. With her declining health, her ability to testify is now in question. Another crucial factor? The court pointed out that the Marcos heirs were just minors when the disputed Pinugay Estate transaction took place—making it hard to directly link them to the case.

The case was originally filed back in 1987 by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), aiming to seize what they believed were illegally-acquired properties by the Marcos family. These assets include two residential lots and two condominium units in Baguio, a residential building in Makati, a parcel of land and six condominium units in California, and a residential plot in Metro Manila.

In the end, the Sandiganbayan sided with the motion to dismiss filed by the Marcoses. It’s a case closed, but many are left wondering—did justice get served, or did time just run out?