The fate of former Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., who evaded incarceration, was sealed by a deus ex machina, wherein a problem is suddenly resolved by an unlikely occurrence. However, unlike his movies, the plot twist made Revilla the antagonist claiming victory.
Last Friday was a big blow to the credibility of the country’s justice system – once again, justice favors the rich and powerful
Miracles happen with the intercession of Saint Rodrigo
In 2016, Revilla’s people asked St. Rodrigo about the fate of their “champion.” He responded: “If evidence is weak, let Bong Revilla out on bail;” adding, both Revilla and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were victims of “slow justice.”
The December 7 decision indicated Richard A. Cambe and Janet Lim Napoles were both “guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of plunder, defined and penalized under Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7080, and are hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua, with perpetual absolute disqualification to hold any public office.” For Revilla, the prosecution failed to establish reasonable doubt showing the accused received (directly or indirectly) rebates, commission, and kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation. The court was unable to hold him for the crime of plunder and he was acquitted.
This is the story of our now-so-new political climate; Arroyo was acquitted in July 2016 and is now Speaker of the House and “Napoles Boys,” Juan Ponce Enrile and José ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada, are out of jail and running in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections. Even the wife of the late Ferdinand Marcos is thanking St. Rodrigo for dodging jail despite being convicted on graft charges.
Despite the president campaigning to fight corruption, the big fish are allowed to swim again while the small fish were caught.
According to star witness Benhur Luy, Cambe is a sacrificial lamb for his bosses.
If one traces the acquittal decision, where does it lead? Duterte-appointed Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Georgina Hidalgo.
Circumstantial
The majority decision relied on a handwriting expert, who claimed Revilla’s signatures on endorsement letters were forged. They deemed all other evidence circumstantial.
For Luy, he said he never transacted personally with Revilla but noted, “Madame Janet does not take chances – she would not give money to Attorney Cambe if there’s no agreement with Revilla.” The statement suggested the actor gave authorization but it was a purely moronic move by Cambe and Napoles to maneuver the PDAF allotment under the senator’s name and responsibility.
In addition, with such transactions said to have been committed over the years, with a “seasoned senator” outsmarting the “pork barrel queen,” why were there only two convictions? To rub salt in the wound, Revilla’s legal counsel said the former senator should not be required to pay despite Article 100 of the Revised Penal Code stating, “Every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable,” being acquitted of the criminal charge of plunder is not liable as a civil case.
The so-called “titanic action star” of Philippine cinema is very different from his on-screen persona that fights evil and helps the poor. The one-admired actor has left the masses disgusted with his deeds. Similar to his movie “Alyas Pogi ang Pagbabalik,” he was released from jail after serving his time but, in this case, he was acquitted due to a battery of good lawyers with the blessing of his “Padrino.”
For Cambe and Napoles, they will be celebrating Christmas with a heavy heart; while they thought “Panday” would rescue them, he instead brought them to the gates of hell.
‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’
Justice reigns on screen because of good script writers who bring down injustices. For the “saint of impossible,” (who Revilla must be devoted to) their credo for officers of the court is “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t” – if the verdict goes against the demand of top officials, that judge’s career and life are in peril; if it fulfills the wish of the powers-that-be, the court’s decision is doubted (even if the judge strictly abided by the merits of the case).
The integrity of the justice system is at stake. Even with overwhelming evidence to convict Revilla, he still got away with it. If you steal million, you can run free and people will vote for you as if nothing happened. Is this the state of our society?
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The highest respect for Silay City Mayor Mark Golez for taking down tarpaulins promoting senatorial candidate, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go. It takes a person of integrity to firmly apply the rule of law and not bend to the lapdogs of the powerful. Salute to you, sir! Padayon!/WDJ