Monday, September 10, 2007 Online views: To convict or not to convict
(Opinion culled from the feedback of readers of Sun.Star website at www.sunstar.com.ph)
Below is a comment from a reader of the Sun.Star website at www.sunstar.com.ph on the Erap trial.
“Let us put it this way. No one is above the law. If former president Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada feels that because he is popular, he could just ignore the course of justice and influence its result by threat of popular uprising then I do believe that sensible Filipinos, even those who still admire him, will not waste their time to rally for him because we are talking here of serious crime of plunder. If the court says he is innocent, then well and good but if convicted why give him special treatment?
If the government is really serious about abolishing corruption, then it should start with the ex-president, otherwise, the Filipino people will think that there is justice for the poor and different justice for the untouchables. Erap was merely a President of the Philippines. That’s not relevant. What is relevant is the Filipino people’s desire to have clean governance and we should start this crusade now.
He (Erap) already had his time, and it seems he screwed it up. However, if he is found not guilty, he should be a free man. If President Arroyo is not guilty of any crime, such as the alleged vote-rigging, she should not be afraid of any threat of an uprising of Erap’s allies. People will think that if Arroyo immediately grants pardon to Erap, she is not serious in eradicating corruption because she was once part of it or she is afraid that once Erap is re-elected he could avenge his incarceration, hence she has to treat Erap’s conviction very lightly and offer him amnesty.
People will also say that if pardon is given, why not pardon other people with lesser crime committed and decongest the jail? Bottom line is—people need justice and if it means conviction for Erap, so be it but if this is mere political harassment and there is no solid evidence to convict Erap, free the man without condition” — R. Atencia (aus_phil@ozemail.com.au)
