Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Capillas: Allowing the law to work By Stephen Capillas Galley Proof
THE Sandiganbayan had rejected the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) petition to allow the live TV coverage of former President Joseph Estrada's case that would certainly be awaited both by detractors, supporters and the disinterested public trying to cope with more pressing, personal problems than the fate of the country's former leader.
While this is a blow to press freedom, again we cited this could prove to be a dangerous precedent in the event a top ranking official with influence that could rival or even top Estrada's influence may be kept under tight wraps with the public being unaware of what would happen to him or her and the national government managing to do some last-minute monkey business without the public immediately knowing or worse being kept in the dark altogether.
Again those are the fears being exploited not only by this administration whose credibility is already shot in the foot and mouth but opportunistic insurgents, particularly those communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels along with their militant leftist communist allies and their fronts.
On the other side, you have your military adventurers and their equally opportunistic politician-businessmen type backers who are also out to exploit the Sandiganbayan ruling to foment dissension and violence among the public.
In the scheme of things, the Erap case would certainly invite strong emotions that these maggots are only too willing to use for their own agenda.
If and when said petition would be denied anew in a Supreme Court ruling--though waiting for the ruling is fruitless since the case is scheduled for decision today--then all those security measures would have to contain the resulting expression of disgust, indignation, jubilation or what have you that may arise after the ruling is handed out.
Since the affected parties concerned have signified their commitment to accept the ruling peacefully regardless of the outcome--and amid talks of assassination plots---the Filipino public holds them to their promise and make them accountable should they or their powerful allies fail to live up to that promise.
For our part, let us also accept the Sandiganbayan ruling with the thought that the accused can either avail of other alternative legal means to pursue their case which includes though can be hardly acceptable to the former president the option of presidential pardon.
Let us allow the law to work and prevent outside interests to manipulate our mindset and emotions for the case.
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