Sunday, July 08, 2007 Allow courts to do work, give public right decision: Vidal tells Arroyo
CEBU Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has confirmed meeting with the President but denied that they talked about the impending verdict on former president Joseph Estrada’s plunder trial.
He, however, admitted to advising President Arroyo to “allow the court to do its work and give us the right decision.”
Vidal made the confirmation in an interview aired over two GMA news programs Friday night.
“We talked about something else. We had (talked about Estrada), but it wasn’t about what was stated on the white paper.
She, as the President, is the only one who should say something about it,” said Vidal.
In the same interview, the prelate also gave his message to Estrada and to the public.
“I hope he (Estrada) would not fear…Whatever is the result of the court’s decision, I hope the people will not rise up,” he said.
Estrada’s case closed June 15. The court has three months to announce its decision.
Vidal’s confirmation came following insinuations that the President confided in him that the Sandiganbayan would hand down a guilty verdict.
The prelate has since denied this allegation.
Earlier reports stated that aside from being allegedly told about the verdict, Vidal visited Estrada last July 2 in Tanay, Rizal, where he is under house arrest.
Vidal and El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde were supposedly disturbed that the President already knew about the ruling when both the prosecution and defense rested their case just recently.
Estrada is facing charges for allegedly amassing about P4 billion in illegal funds and for perjury for allegedly falsely declaring his assets.
He has been under house arrest since April 2001. (JGA)
