Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Nalzaro: Judgment Day By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
AFTER six years of protracted legal battle, the Sandiganbayan Special Division will render to day its decision on the plunder and perjury cases against ousted President Estrada. Estrada, his son Sen. Jose ‘Jinggoy’ and a legal confidante Lawyer Eduard Serapio were charged of plunder after Erap was booted out of office through a peaceful People Power in 2001. He is the first top goverment official charged with plunder, a law he helped passed when he was still a senator.
Estrada was accused of amassing P4 billion during his three years in office. He was accused of misappropriating the multi-million peso tobacco excise tax and collecting millions of pesos from illegal gambling operations and commissions from real estate sale. As a plantalla to cover up his questionable dealings, he established the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation and funded it with donations from questionable sources.
Estrada constructed mansions for his mistresses and deposited huge amount in the bank under the name of ‘Jose Velarde’. Erap was also charged with perjury for underreporting his statement of assets and liabilities in 1999 and for illegal use of alias. Erap maintains he is innocent. He even vows to reject any pardon by Malacañang once he is convicted, saying he is ready to go to prison while he will elevate his case to the Supreme Court.
He revealed that after his ouster, Pres. Arroyo, through then Justice Secretary Hernani Perez, offered him to leave the country and go to a country of his choice and he can bring anything he want to avoid any prosecution. But he rejected the offer because he said he is innocent.
Convicted or aquitted? Your guess is as good as mine. But many believe that Erap will be convicted because the prosecution was able to present vital evidences and credible witnesses to pin him down. Clarissa Ocampo, a bank executive, was a very credible witness and the admission of one of Erap’s co-accused, Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang. Never mind whistleblower Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson.
We will just hope that the decision of the Sandiganbayan will not divide the nation again. If he will be convicted his loyal supporters will definitely stage protests. His supporters will accuse the Arroyo administration of influencing the Sandiganbayan’s decision. Based on various surveys, there are still people who believed Erap is innocent.
If he is acquitted, the anti-Estrada forces will also stage protests castigating the anti-graft court. That is why we appeal to both parties to stay calm and accept whatever decision of the anti-graft court is. We don’t want to experience another political turmoil. Enough is enough.
