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DAVAO CITY—The
conviction of former President Joseph Estrada on plunder
charges could be the huge morale booster for the Courts,
and even the entire justice system, in a country where
the people are resigned to corruption as a twin of
public service.
While
Iris Melliza, president of the Catholic-run Holy Cross
of Davao City, believes that the conviction “could be an
indicator of a better justice system ahead,” other
Filipinos wanted the administration to jail jueteng
whistle blower, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit”
Singson, as well.
Still,
others wanted plunder charges be slapped on senior
officials under of the Arroyo administration.
Melliza
told BusinessMirror that “Filipinos know that it’s hard
[to jail influential people], but it [Estrada’s
conviction] would show that there are still a number of
personnel in the justice system who can restore the
faith of the people in the courts.”
“Even if
the camp of former President Estrada would appeal, that
move is still part of the democratic process and they
have the right to avail of it. So, let it be so,” she
said.
But as
Melliza was upbeat on the impact of the conviction,
ordinary folk on the street wanted the conviction to
include Singson “because he was also part of that
plunder.”
“It’s
unfair. This administration would only hit its enemies
and protect its own,” said Gumer Gomez, who repairs
watches on Claveria Street in downtown Davao City.
Gomez
said that Estrada’s conviction was unfair because “he
did not dip his fingers in government coffers, only
[illegal] gambling.”
Shoe
repairman Benito Malabuti, 48, agreed, and said “[the
conviction] pains me.”
Malacañang, meanwhile, expressed hope that the “rule of
law will prevail” following the Sandiganbayan’s guilty
decision on former President Estrada.
Press
Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement that the
administration will remain focused on its goals despite
the anticipated distraction to be generated by the
ruling.
“We bow
to the decision of the Sandiganbayan. We hope and pray
that the rule of law will prevail. Meantime, we have a
country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win.
We hope that this sad episode in our history will not
permanently distract us from these goals,” Bunye said.
Chief
presidential counsel Sergio Apostol told reporters in an
interview that President Arroyo “seems vindicated” by
the Sandiganbayan ruling on deposed President Estrada.
Apostol,
who met with the President hours after the Estrada’s
conviction was announced, said the President “received
the verdict well.”
Asked
whether the President felt elated or vindicated by the
ruling, Apostol said, “She seems to be vindicated, in a
sense.”
Apostol
said that the ruling, which should serve as warning to
those in office, is a “good signal to everybody in
public office that the Sandiganbayan and the Ombudsman
are not joking, they are ready to prosecute plunder
cases [and] corruption, and [the] Sandiganbayan’s ready
to decide against a public official.”
Following the announcement of the Sandiganbyan decision,
newspaper columnist and part-time businessman German Tiu
Laurel went berserk at the weekly Fernandina Forum in
Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City, and yelled at
the guests—former Sen. Francisco Tatad; Estrellita
Juliano-Tamano, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry vice president for Mindanao; and Antonio
Veneracion, president of the General Santos Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.
Tiu
blamed the media and businessmen for allegedly conniving
to oust Estrada.
Senators, at the same time, voiced hopes that the
country’s economic prospects would not be adversely
affected by the Sandiganbayan decision imposing life
imprisonment on Estrada for plunder.
“It
[ruling] will certainly have some effect on the economy,
but I doubt if it is going to be positive,” Sen. Miriam
Santiago said.
This
developed as the awaited court ruling elicited a
collective angst among opposition and even
administration senators who were once allied with him.
Senate
President Manny Villar Jr., who ran under the
Estrada-led opposition alliance in the last elections,
admitted he was dismayed by the conviction but hopes
that the development will toughen and not tear the moral
fiber of the nation.
In a
separate interview, Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy
Estrada confided there was much disappointment and
indignation in the Estrada camp.
“While I
am relieved to have been acquitted as coconspirator, we
have always maintained that the charges against me, my
father and Ed Serapio have been part of a grand scheme
of harassment by this illegitimate regime to persecute
its critics and enemies,” Estrada said, adding that the
prosecution relied mainly on “polluted sources.”
Senate
Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., saying Estrada’s
commitment to the rule of law deserves praise, dared the
government to now show that it did not single him out.
“Other cases of plunder involving the Arroyo
administration should now follow.”
Sen.
Juan Ponce Enrile, former party president of Estrada’s
Partido ng Masang Pilipino, admitted he was saddened by
the decision but, as a lawyer, he must vow to uphold the
judicial process. He suggested then that the decision
should be publicized in full so the people will
understand how the Court arrived at its decision.
“Any
conviction is a warning to the public that there is a
law, there is a court, and there is a system of
punishment in the country,” he said.
Sen. Mar
Roxas, who served as Estrada’s Trade secretary, said he
sympathized with the former President and his family. He
believes that the case against Estrada was “highly
politically charged… hindi natin malalaman anong
bahagi ang papel ng pulitika na pumasok sa isipan ng mga
justices.”
Sen.
Loren Legarda, an opposition ally of the former
President, noted that the Court decision means the
struggle is not over for Estrada.
Sen.
Rodolfo Biazon agreed that the Sandiganbayan decision
handed down yesterday did not end the issue.
“We may
need to examine the possible ramifications of this
related to the stability of the country, the question of
peace and order,” he said.
Sen.
Richard Gordon suggested that those who differ with the
decision have recourse to other remedies, including a
motion for reconsideration.
Cebu
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said
Cebu and the country would now be easy to sell abroad now that
the chapter on Estrada has hopefully been closed with
his conviction for plunder at the Sandiganbayan.
Garcia
said the political situation in the country is one of
the many issues tourists consider when deciding whether
to come here.
Cebu
City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the Sandiganbayan decision
was something that should be appreciated.
“That
was a big decision because we are not accustomed to
seeing [a former] President sentenced for life,” he
said. (With B. Fernandez, M. Gonzalez, W. Rodolfo and C.
Mocon) |
