Democratic Space

Plunder Watch Blasts Erap Camp for `Endless Delays'
Calls on Congress for Swift Action on Desierto Impeachment

The independent watchdog Plunder Watch lambasted ousted President Estrada and his defense lawyers for “delays and more delays” in the nation’s most important trial as well as for the raging war between two justices of the anti-graft court.

At the same time, it called on Congress to resolve the impeachment charges against Ombudsman Aniano Desierto as soon as possible so as to prevent any more delays in the Estrada cases.

Plunder Watch convenor Dr. Carolina Pagaduan Araullo said that “it is during these times that the timeless cliché ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ becomes all too relevant.”

 “Even before the tiff between Sandiganbayan Justices Francis Garchitorena and Anacleto Badoy became public, it has been clear that the Estrada camp purposely worked to portray the head of the Third Division as a biased and incompetent judge through deceitful statements to the public, asking Justice Badoy to inhibit himself from the trial and flooding his court with endless motions,” said Araullo.

“But guess who is most happy with the delays? Who benefits most from the tiff among Sandiganbayan justices? It is definitely Estrada, his co-accused and his handsomely paid lawyers,” Araullo added.

More rallies are slated from Nov. 13 to 20, the day the Supreme Court is expected to decide on Estrada’s motion questioning the constitutionality of the Plunder Law. Plunder Watch maintains that the said law is neither vague nor unconstitutional, especially in the definition of the crime of plunder.

“Our rallies before the High Court will continue because we are very concerned with the prospect that Estrada appointees and Estrada’s dirty money will be the deciding factor,” said Araullo.

Demolition job

Araullo also denied Estrada defense lawyers’ accusation that Plunder Watch is undertaking a demolition job against Garchitorena. She countered that the group has received reliable reports that the Estrada camp has allotted a P500-million slush fund “for buying Estrada’s freedom.”

“Firstly, it is the likes of Attorneys Raymond Fortun, Rene Saguisag, Serafin Cuevas and Estrada himself who are maligning the justices, trifling with judicial processes and insulting the public to boot,” she asked.

Araullo said, “The Estrada camp remains powerful and in control of billions of pesos in dirty money. We suspect that dirty money may now be used to throw several monkey wrenches into the plunder and perjury trials, after the Estrada loyalists' aborted power grab on May 1.”

She challenged the Puwersa ng Masa to come out with financial statements on contributions, donations and reimbursements from the last elections.

“We should remember that the pro-Estrada candidates stopped their campaign roadshow and opted to stay in Manila for the so-called Edsa Tres and the failed power grab. The PNM has reportedly saved millions of pesos in campaign funds and these are now being used for other ways of rescuing their patron or reinstalling his camp to power.”

On Desierto's impeachment

Reacting to the impeachment charges filed against Desierto, Plunder Watch said the charges were "serious and need to be investigated."

"At this point, it is difficult to question the motives of Atty. Ernesto Francisco in filing his complaint. The best thing is for Congress to act swiftly on this. Otherwise, we fear the defense will just use the controversy to simply delay and possibly derail the plunder trial," said Araullo.

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