Thursday, July 19, 2007 We are answerable only to God: Sandiganbayan judges
* Defense, prosecution barred from giving media interviews with regard case
THE justices of the Sandiganbayan Special Division on Wednesday assured prosecutors and defense lawyers in the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada that they could resist pressure from whatever source as they hold themselves responsible only to God.
Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, along with Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz Jr. and Diosdado Peralta, said they are not afraid of anyone, except to God.
"He (God) will judge us. He is the best judge," de Castro told the parties at the hearing of a defense motion in relation to the controversial full-page ads on Estrada's plunder case which appeared in seven major dailies last July 4.
De Castro said the court was aware that there are a lot of people praying for them to come up with a fair and impartial judgment on the six-year-old celebrated case.
She however admitted that the court is somehow affected by insinuations as to how they will decide Estrada's case.
"We feel it's the credibility of the court that is being affected," de Castro said, as she ordered the advertising agency that placed the ads in the newspapers to explain within one week why it came out with such advertisements.
The court took exception to the portion of the ad, titled "Erap, Guilty or Not Guilty? Kailangan Bang May Gulo? (Does There Have To Be Troubles?)," which says, "The court has spoken."
Defense lawyer Rene Saguisag said they wanted to know who was behind the "unfair" ads because it appears that he or she "has so much clout to know and say that the court has spoken."
Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said the prosecution sees nothing wrong with the ads for it was a very fair reminder to everyone to stay calm if ever the Sandiganbayan found Estrada guilty or not.
The defense initially wanted that the editors of the newspapers concerned be invited to reveal the identity of the source of the ads. It also asked the court to set guidelines on the publication of matters covered by the rule of sub judice.
But Villaruz noted that newspapers have their own set of guidelines and policies.
In addition, de Castro said: "If we will keep track on all of these (ads), we will not be able finish the decision."
At this juncture, Villaruz advised the parties to agree among themselves not to grant media interviews until after the decision in the case is handed down.
"As officers of the court we can ask you (to avoid media interviews) because you are bound by the rule of subjudice. You should refrain from arguing the case in media," Villaruz told the lawyers.
Villaruz also made it clear that they were asking the parties not to give any interview with the media not because they are afraid of something.
"This court is not scared of anything. This court is just trying to maintain the sanctity of the institution and the rule of law as a matter of sub judice," he explained.
Early this month, the Special Division, through its spokesman lawyer Renato Bocar, assured that it will decide the plunder case based strictly on its merits as it chose to disregard the growing speculation that Malacaang is already meddling in the case to ensure the conviction of the detained opposition leader.
Bocar said the court had long expected rumors of various sorts to spread while it is in the process of preparing its most awaited decision and agreed to just ignore them.
"The court will decide the case based on the evidence presented and the law and jurisprudence applicable," Bocar said.
The Sandiganbayan has 90-days or mid-September from June 15, when it heard the closing arguments of the parties in the first ever oral summation done in the anti-graft court's 29-year-old history, to hand down its verdict. (Sunnex)
