NOT ALL PLUNDERERS ARE IN JAIL

 

Yes, Erap is a man of conviction not because he was adjudged guilty for plunder but because for the last six years, he was brave enough to face his accusers before a court widely believed to have been pre-programmed to convict him from the start.  As if putting the final nail on the coffin on what was EDSA 2, Erap calmly accepted the Sandiganbayan’s verdict — statesmanlike at that — but vowed to fight for his freedom to the finish which means going all the way to the Supreme Court. 

I will no longer discuss about the merits of Erap’s appeal to the court of last resort.  I’m more interested in making a comparison between the accused and his accusers because it seems to me that this administration has lost the moral fitness to rejoice about the guilty verdict. 

Let’s start with GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO who promised to restore “morality” in governance way back in 2001.  Six and a half years later, we ask ourselves:  DID SHE?  Instead of restoring morality, she aggravated the prevailing immorality when she and her allies engaged themselves in scandal after scandal, almost with impunity.  As most observers would say, Erap’s malfeasance was a mere speck compared to Gloria’s judging from the gravity and magnitude of the corruption involved.  Will she suffer the same fate as the President before her?  SHE SHOULD.  And I hope that by that time, the death penalty will have been reimposed! 

Next stop — CHAVIT SINGSON.  Was he really the “hero” that risked life and limb to expose Erap’s jueteng connections?  It turned out (and as he himself admitted) that he went against his kumpare because of his disappointment that Erap chose Atong Ang over him in the management of the Bingo 2-ball. 

Here’s my unsolicited advice to writers of history books:  NEVER MAKE THE MISTAKE OF REGARDING CHAVIT AS A HERO LEST JOSE RIZAL, ANDRES BONIFACIO OR NINOY AQUINO WILL COME OUT FROM THEIR GRAVES TO PROTEST HIS INCLUSION IN THEIR ROSTER! 

And lastly, Ombudsman MERCEDITAS GUTTIEREZ.  Never mind SERGIO APOSTOL.  He’s more of a comic relief than a legal luminary.  He is in the same category as Sir RAUL GONZALEZ.  If you don’t mind me asking Madam Ombudsman, when will you prosecute the cases against Nani Perez and Jocjoc Bolante?  I’m excited to know!