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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Davao: Erap's conviction a warning to Arroyo (4:32 p.m.)
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY – The conviction of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in the plunder case against him before the Sandiganbayan Wednesday drew mixed reactions from several Dabawenyos.
Compostela Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy said the Sandiganbayan has made its decision and it's best for the people to respect it.
"I'm certain the conviction will be appealed and the final say would be the Supreme Court.
In the meantime, the Sandiganbayan decision, whether right or wrong, should be respected," said lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan, Integrated Bar of the Philippines governor for Eastern Mindanao.
Militant leader Jeppie Ramada meanwhile hailed Estrada's conviction saying that "justice has been served".
Ramada added though that the debacle now lies on the Arroyo administration who, he said, is more unpopular than the former president.
"Arroyo should be the next to be prosecuted, tried and convicted because she committed widespread plunder against the Filipino people. This should be a warning to her," Ramada said.
Davao City Representative Prospero Nograles on the other hand said the guilty verdict was expected. He said "the weight of evidence during the trial leaned heavily on direct positive evidence as against personal denials of wrongdoings" by Estrada.
"It was purely a question of evidence beyond reasonable doubt and not because of surveys, personal feelings or even political angles like legitimacy of the present government. They were not taken into account. Only direct positive evidence mattered," Nograles said.
Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Anton Lagdameo urged the people to respect the court's decision saying that "the rule of law must be upheld as no one is above the law".
"The court has decided, we respect the decision and we urge everyone to abide by it. While there are those who may not agree with the verdict, ultimately the rule of law must be upheld as no one is above the law," Lagdameo said.
On the acquittal of the Erap's co-accused, Nograles said they have also expected such since conspiracy was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.
"In case the prosecution fails to present enough direct evidence to overcome a presumption of innocence then rightfully only the principal can be convicted and the alleged con-conspirators are acquitted. Thus the case of Jinggoy et al were correctly ruled," Nograles said.
The lawmaker said the only option Estrada has now is to bring the case to the Supreme Court or accept the decision and serve the penalty of reclusion perpetua unless pardoned by the President.
Only activist Bill Martin disagreed with the conviction. He ridiculed not just the court decision but the Arroyo government as well.
"A corrupt government has no right to pass judgment on cases of corruption," Martin said.
Assistant director general of the Philippine Information Agency-Southern Mindanao Efren Elbanbuena, for his part, said the court's decision was based on the evidence presented by the prosecution.
"The court showed its probity and integrity amidst the threats from outside forces," he said.
Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez noted that "justice still works in this country."
"The result of the conviction will be a source of hope for Filipinos for justice. Let this conviction be a stern warning to all those in government and for future leaders," Dominguez said.
Carlito Uy, president of the South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Foundation Inc., said Estrada should be freed because he already "suffered."
He cited the recent survey of Social Weather Stations that showed that 68 percent of the respondents believed that Estrada is not guilty while only 32 believed otherwise.
"He (Estrada] should be immediately pardoned due to his age. President [Gloria] Arroyo did it before to old convicts so how much to a former president?" Uy said.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Fuentes said the wheels of justice should be fair to all, pointing out 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, the Diosdado Macapagal Highway , among others, cases which involved 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 for quite sometime, the political situation in the country is 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. (With BSS/Sun.Star General Santos) |
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