Tuesday, September 04, 2007 Come what may, Estrada on impending verdict on plunder case
* Palace questions appearance of new witness for Estrada
JAILED former President Joseph Estrada is physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for whatever decision the Sandiganbayan Special Division made on his six-year-old plunder case, his media liaison officer said on Monday.
"He is resigned to his fate. Tanggap na niya kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya (He has accepted whatever happens to him)," said Ferdie Ramos.
Ramos however said the 70-year-old deposed leader is somehow worried about the outcome of his case. "He's very much worried. Who will not be?" Ramos said.
Ramos also disclosed that the PNP has tightened security around Estrada's rest house and detention quarters in Tanay, Rizal, an indication that the promulgation of the verdict on his plunder case is really near.
"The rest house is now heavily guarded," Ramos said, adding that an Army contingent has been deployed within the premises of the 15-hectare property, on top of the 30 members of the elite Special Action Force of the PNP.
Under the Constitution and the Rules of Court, the Sandiganbayan has until September 15 or 90 days from June 15, when it would hand down its most awaited ruling on Estrada's case.
Less than two weeks before the deadline, the anti-graft court showed no indication when it would issue a notice of promulgation.
According to court sources, it is also possible that the court might set the promulgation next month.
Ramos said they received information that the three-member Special Division of the Sandiganbayan is through with the decision but they are not certain whether it was for Estrada's acquittal or conviction.
Despite accusations that Estrada amass over P4 billion in ill-gotten wealth in his short-lived presidency, he denied the charges when he took the witness stand at the Sandiganbayan last year.
Meanwhile, chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol on Monday questioned the timing of the appearance of an alleged witness who claims that the government has tampered with the evidence against Estrada.
Apostol is not sure about the motives behind the appearance of Federico Manrique, a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (Vacc) who was supposedly asked by Ombudsman Aniano Desierto to draft a criminal complaint against Estrada on behalf of the group.
He said it is possible that his revelation is to condition the minds of the public about the possible verdict on the plunder case pending against Estrada, but he prefers not to speculate.
Manrique, supposed to appear before the media Monday, claimed that members of the Arroyo administration are preventing him from revealing a supposed plot against Estrada.
He initially planned to reveal the plot, including the tampering of the evidence in the plunder case in April but deferred it believing that the timing was not right then.
On Estrada's rejection of a possible pardon, Apostol said the rejection is uncalled for as no verdict and offer or proposed pardon has been made.
Apostol said in general, once a convicted felon rejects a pardon, the presidential action would be considered junked. (JMR/Sunnex)
