I disagree with Supreme Court spokeperson Justice Midas Marquez' assertions on television that it was always possible to throw the book at former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) after she had left the country. What is more important is to keep her in-country and let her account for her actions while in office.
If we let GMA leave under our own noses, due to legal infirmities exploited by GMA's lawyers, we will become the laughing stock of the whole world.
How is it that South Korea has jailed three of its former Presidents?
How is it that Saddam Hussein was tried in his own country, found guilty of crimes against humanity and hanged by the neck until dead by Iraq's justice system?
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak was ousted this year in a people's uprising and remains on trial for economic sabotage and allegations of corruption.
Let's face it, in all three instances the decision to put these people on trial was a political act exercised by the incumbent government in power. These governments demonstrated that they had the political will to put former rulers on trial for crimes against their respective national interests.
It's in the national interest of this country to demonstrate that nobody is above the law, beginning with putting on trial a former President.
President Benigno S. Aquino III has the mandate of the people to undertake his actions. The Supreme Court's composition, starting with Chief Justice Renato Corona (a midnight appointee of GMAs) and stuffed chock-full-o' GMA appointees has ... GMA's mandate.
On the balance, I prefer to place my trust and confidence in the Aquino administration over that of the GMA appointed Supreme Court.
Vox populi. Vox Dei.
If we let GMA leave under our own noses, due to legal infirmities exploited by GMA's lawyers, we will become the laughing stock of the whole world.
How is it that South Korea has jailed three of its former Presidents?
How is it that Saddam Hussein was tried in his own country, found guilty of crimes against humanity and hanged by the neck until dead by Iraq's justice system?
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak was ousted this year in a people's uprising and remains on trial for economic sabotage and allegations of corruption.
Let's face it, in all three instances the decision to put these people on trial was a political act exercised by the incumbent government in power. These governments demonstrated that they had the political will to put former rulers on trial for crimes against their respective national interests.
It's in the national interest of this country to demonstrate that nobody is above the law, beginning with putting on trial a former President.
President Benigno S. Aquino III has the mandate of the people to undertake his actions. The Supreme Court's composition, starting with Chief Justice Renato Corona (a midnight appointee of GMAs) and stuffed chock-full-o' GMA appointees has ... GMA's mandate.
On the balance, I prefer to place my trust and confidence in the Aquino administration over that of the GMA appointed Supreme Court.
Vox populi. Vox Dei.
(Posted by Chanda Shahani)
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