AS granted by the Constitution, anyone who is charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
With the pile of evidence and charges against him, and public outrage for his alleged abuse of power, presumption of innocence is probably the only card left to play for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. After all, the prosecution must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jinggoy was the second senator arraigned by the Sandiganbayan for his alleged involvement in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam and for pocketing millions in kickbacks. He is facing one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft in connection.
At the sidelines of Sen. Estrada’s arraignment proceedings last June 30, Former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada said that he believes his son will be freed from charges against him.
“I’m very confident that he can defend himself. He has my family’s support,” the Estrada patriarch said.
On his son’s case, Erap said history will repeat itself. The former Philippine president was referring to his impeachment trial in 2000 where he was also accused of plunder for illegally racketeering about $81 million in bribes and jueteng proceeds. Jinggoy was his co-accused.
The trial led to his ouster and the popular EDSA or People Power Revolution II. He was later sentenced to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment) by the Sandiganbayan while the younger Estrada was acquitted.
In October 2007, Erap was granted executive clemency by then Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The executive clemency restored his civil and political rights.
Erap got his life back. He moved on to run for Philippine presidency but lost to Pres. Benigno Aquino. In 2012 again gave his political career a jump-start by running for Mayor of Manila and he won.
For the rest of the Estrada clan, however, the pork barrel trial is a recurring nightmare—reminiscent of the Erap impeachment trial in 2000. Erap described it as a mental torture for the family.
The family has stumbled upon a legal quagmire. Part of watching Jinggoy defend his innocence is also enduring public acrimony and finger-pointing for the Estradas.
Recently, the son of Jinggoy, Joseph Luis “Jolo” Estrada, drew flak when photos of his lavish lifestyle were exposed in various social media websites. Among the photos that circulated online were of his Louis Vuitton Montecarlo loafers (amounting to $645 a pair), a photo collage of the presidential suite in Manila Hotel (costs $2,300 a night), and a photo of him in a private jet. Netizens accused the young Estrada of benefitting from the millions allegedly amassed by his father from government funds.
Erap was quick to defend his grandson. He said that Jolo can afford the shoes because he works in show business, the one-night stay in Manila Hotel was complimentary and that the Estrada family do not own a private jet.
The former president pleaded to the public to not judge their family.
As spectators of the pork barrel trial, we are given the lessons of the due process of law. We all want the truth. But that doesn’t mean that we deprive the people accused (and those associated with them) of respect and humane treatment.
As the trial progresses, the exchange of bravado should inspire critical thinking and not reckless judgements.
(AJPress)
