Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Erap's guilty verdict a warning to gov't leaders: Migs
GOVERNMENT, business, and religious leaders in Central Mindanao region urged the public to accept the guilty verdict rendered Wednesday on former President Joseph Estrada for plunder charges for the country to move on without political instability.
Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez noted that that justice still works in this country and Erap's guilty verdict is a source of hope for Filipinos for justice. "Let this conviction be a stern warning to all those in government and for future leaders,"
Carlito Uy, president of the South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., said Mr. Estrada should be freed because he already suffered. He should be pardoned because to his age.
He cited the recent survey of Social Weather Stations that showed that 68 percent believed Estrada is not guilty while only 32 percent believed otherwise.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes said the wheels of justice should be fair to all and that allies of the Arroyo administration involved in corruption should also be prosecuted.
She cited the ZTE deal, the fertilizer scam involving former DA Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante, Diosdado Macapagal Highway involving administration personalities.
"We want to see big grafters also prosecuted [and eventually convicted]," Fuentes said, adding that going only after those in the other side of the political fence smacks of "hypocrisy."
Fr. Romeo Catedral, director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel, said the guilty verdict on Estrada "is doing away with one political nuisance in the country."
"It is a victory for the people of the Philippines and not of the present occupant in Malacanang [Ms. Arroyo]," he said.
Catedral said that for quite sometime, the political situation in the country has been polarized between Arroyo and Estrada.
"Hope that a lesson is learned by all political leaders-present and future. Crime does not pay," the priest said.
No untoward incident involving supporters of the deposed president was reported in the city as many were reportedly glued to their television or radio sets to follow the promulgation of Estrada. (BSS)
