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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Many believe Erap won't get fair verdict: survey
MANILA -- The Special Division of the Sandiganbayan targets September 13 as judgment day for detained ex-President Joseph Estrada's six-year-old plunder case, said court spokesman Renato Bocar.
Bocar said on Tuesday that September 13, not September 15, is the deadline for the Special Division to render its most awaited verdict on the plunder case, 90 days counting from June 15 when the case was deemed submitted for decision.
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Under the Constitution, the Sandiganbayan and other trial courts are required to seek permission from the Supreme Court (SC) to extend the 90-day deadline.
"If the court will not set the promulgation on September 13, it has to explain before the Supreme Court why it needs to extend the deadline. So far there is no indication the Special Division will seek extension," Bocar said.
Still on the verdict, more than half of respondents in a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey doubted if Estrada would get a fair verdict from the Sandiganbayan on his plunder case.
Conducted from July 18 to 20 in the Mega Manila area (National Capital Region and the four nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite) on 600 respondents, the survey showed that 65 percent were either "doubtful" or "undecided" that the anti-graft court was impartial enough to render a "fair decision" on Estrada's case.
The survey also showed 34 percent saying they had "much trust" in the anti-graft court to make a fair ruling, 26 percent said they had "little trust", while 39 percent refused to give an answer and were undecided when asked about the Sandiganbayan's impartiality.
In the event that the anti-graft court hands down a guilty verdict, 82 percent wants Estrada should remain in his Tanay, Tizal estate while his case is being reviewed by the Supreme Court (SC). Sixteen percent said he should be transferred to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.
Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada said his father would appeal the case before the high court if he gets convicted. They are confident he would get a fair verdict from the high tribunal, which has shown its independence from Malacañang in past decisions.
The special division of the Sandiganbayan has imposed a total ban on mobile phones and still and video cameras during the promulgation of the plunder case against Estrada.
Sandiganbayan chief sheriff Edgardo Urieta earlier said the court's security personnel are under instructions to inspect bags of persons before they are admitted into the courtroom.
Urieta said his office is already in the thick of preparations to ensure that court proceedings go without a hitch.
Even outside broadcast (OB) vans of television stations will not be allowed to set up their equipment outside the Sandiganbayan perimeter fence, which they were able to do in past coverage of the trial, Urieta added.
Estrada, through Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, asked the Arroyo administration to allow his supporters to hold peaceful protest rallies in the event that the Sandiganbayan convicts him of plunder charges.
"If people are not satisfied with the decision, it is their right to come out and voice their opinion as long as it is done peacefully," Rodriguez said, quoting the detained opposition leader.
Rodriguez feels that the decision of the anti-graft court's Special Division on the former President's six-year-old plunder case will be out in the next few days.
He said although Estrada was confident that his lawyers have successfully refuted the prosecution's evidence that he amassed over P4 billion in ill-gotten wealth during his short-lived presidency, he acknowledges that the government is bent on his conviction.
The former immigration commissioner at the same time dubbed security preparations for the promulgation of Estrada's plunder case as an overkill.
Rodriguez said the deployment of 6,000 police and military personnel on decision day would tend to intimidate Estrada's supporters.
"That has a chilling effect. It tends to scare the people from going out and that would be a violation of their constitutional right to freedom of expression," Rodriguez said.
Last Monday, Estrada's media liaison officer Ferdie Ramos said Estrada is physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for whatever decision the Sandiganbayan makes on his case.
Ramos, however, said the 70-year-old deposed leader is worried about the outcome of his case. "He's very much worried. Who will not be?" he said. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (September 5, 2007 issue)
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