Senate Minority leader Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the accused in the so-called pork barrel scam, stresses a point in interpellating Senator Koko Pimentel III, sponsor of the Sandigan Bill, who sought the support of his colleagues for the passage of the measure, seeking to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday (March 5) at the Session Hall, Senate Bldg in Pasay City. (MNS photo)
Los Angeles – “The wheels of justice grinds slow. But justice will be served in the end.
At the end of animated debate over the recent filing of charges by the Ombudsman against three PH Senators Enrile, Estrada and Revilla for plunder and 50 other subulterns including provisional witnesses, Filipino –American leaders at Talakayan sa FACLA last Thursday, April 03, were united that justice will be finally served in the Philippines.
FACLA Director Atty. Ben Basilio said, “ Now that the case is filed in the Sandiganbayan, it means that the Aquino III administration is really serious in pursuing the case against three accused senators.
They can file their motion for re-considerations but it’s up for the court to dismiss the case or pursue the case and order their arrest.”
Justice Will Be Served
Larry Pelayo also said, “he doubts if the three senators will heed the call of of the public to resign. They continue their fanatic defense that they are innocent of the charges and even some of them (Estrada and Revilla) went abroad.”
Sid Balatan, an online journalist noted that, “ it will be a long wait because it take at least 60 days until the Sandiganbayan raffle the case and designate what division will try the case.
We must understand that like the Estrada plunder case, it will be a long trial and decision before justice is served.’
Dr. Marc Caratao explained, “that is great difference with the system of justice in the United States and the Philippines.
He was seconded by Dr. Orly Cagampan and Rudy Ferran who said “It’s a long process because they will appeal the case up to the Supreme Court and they will try to prolong the process until another administration takes over. ”
On the Comprehensive Bangsa Moro Agreement (CBA)
There was also an interesting discussion on the Comprehensive Bangsa Moro Agreement (CBA)that the GPH and the MILF signed last March 27 in Manila.
FACLA President Austin Baul Jr expressed some questions on the implementation of the CBA.
He said, “ the CBA will still has to have an enabling law that will be passed in the Congress and must be approved in a plebiscite in 2016.”
Businessman Freddie Castaneda on the other hand agree with the CBA saying, “Now Mindanao will receive the benefits it deserves with the 50/50 sharing agreement with the national government and the Bangsa Moro Substate.
For too long, Luzon and the Visayas were the main beneficiary of government resources, now Mindanao will get what it deserves.”
There was also discussion on the Leeland Yee case and the MILF but the group decided to invite a resource speaker on the Bangsa Moro Agreement for the next TALAKAYAn session on April 10.
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