I agree with Binay on the oust Duterte group
I’ve never been a Senator Nancy Binay fan, but I do agree with her observation that the list of groups and individuals allegedly planning to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte released by his son reflect the “sorry state” of intelligence gathering in the country. Binay issued the statement a few days after former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte posted screenshots of an Excel file that allegedly showed an “anti-administration group” plotting to oust his father.
First of all, the popularity of President Duterte is very high, no matter how anyone plots his ouster it would never succeed. That list, which was posted without supporting evidence, tagged Vice President Leni Robredo as the supposed leader of a “united opposition” allegedly working with leftist groups and “mutant/cause-oriented groups.” Come on, Robredo could never be the leader of that group simply because she really doesn’t have leadership qualities that persons would like to follow. So in the end that talk is a total fallacy!
Binay further said: “I feel sorry for the agency that gave intel report to the (former) vice mayor. I think they need assistance to improve the level of their intel capabilities.” In my book, President Duterte is a strong leader whose mouth is allowed to open without restrictions. Most important of all, there are no clear cut reasons why Pres. Duterte should be ousted. Sure, he may have given us wrong officials who may have corrupt inclinations, but still that is not enough reason to oust the president. Yesterday’s official return of the bells of Balangiga only strengthens our belief that President Duterte is doing good for the country!
Now I can understand why Governor Jun Davide had to clear his father’s name. I didn’t realize that former chief justice Davide’s name was included in that list. Sure, the former chief justice is hell-bent against federalism, but putting his name on the list only makes that list sound incredible. It just makes you wonder how Davide made it to that list!
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The issue plaguing former senator Ramon Revilla isn’t going away soon, more so that his lawyer said Revilla isn’t going to pay the P124.5 million demanded from him simply because why should he pay for something when he wasn’t convicted? Mind you this is the hot topic is most coffeehouses, that justice in this country is so questionable!
Now former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno branded Revilla’s acquittal as the “latest abomination of justice.” Sereno said: “Justice is a demand from the Creator himself, thus the very sad episode in this nation’s history when we all heard the decision of the Sandiganbayan a few days ago acquitting (former) Sen. Ramon Revilla of the charges of plunder.”
Let me repeat that in a vote of 3-2, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Revilla of plunder. Three justices said the former lawmaker, whose Priority Development Assistance Fund was funneled to fictitious livelihood projects, cannot be held liable as prosecutors failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Yet the anti-graft court convicted Revilla’s aide, Richard Cambe, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, beyond reasonable doubt, she is believed to be the brains behind the multi-billion pork barrel scam.
The former chief justice said: “When law becomes an instrument of injustice, the nation loses its soul.”
While she is no longer a justice of the peace, at least a few people would listen to her, after all this Sandiganbayan decision is so highly questionable. For instance now that Revilla refuses to pay the P124.5 million that the Sandiganbayan attributed to him, what happens to that decision? Perhaps the Supreme Court should look into this mess!
Revilla’s lawyer Ramon Esguerra said: “The finding of the court is he did not receive any of the alleged kickbacks or commissions.” Further Esguerra said their team will no longer seek a clarification from the Sandiganbayan First Division concerning the dispositive portion of its decision wherein it was declared that “accused are solitarily and jointly liable to return to the National Treasury the amount P124,500 million… After reading the decision, it has been clear to us (Revilla’s legal team) that only Richard Cambe and Janet Napoles were ordered to return the amount because they were the only ones held criminally liable,” Esguerra pointed out.
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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com
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