GUILTY! The President’s Verdict!
GUILTY!. The Sandigabayan finally rendered its verdict over the case of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada for plunder. The outcome was or “is”, already predictable. A judgment of innocence shall not only mean that our justice system seems to be malfunctioning – it shall also mean that Philippine politics is at its height of disarray! Imagine what would have happened if President Estrada was adjudged not guilty? What is forthcoming then is whether the Honorable Supreme Court will modify the verdict into a lesser offense, which is unlikely to happen. The Honorable Supreme Court will most likely uphold the findings of the Sandigabayan, which has the better appreciation of the facts where the case was heard, a well established principle in our judicial system. For detailed report on the matter you may click on GMA NEWS TV.Net or to Karlo’s site.
News is here to stay
Have you heard all of these reports after the Supreme Court allowed the live TV-radio coverage of President Joseph Estrada’s verdict?
Plunderwatch: People’s wrath focused on Gloria, no longer on Erap
Philippine’s Estrada Is Sentenced To Life in Prison on Graft Charges
Philippine markets rebound, peso recovers after Estrada conviction
Estrada conviction ‘warning’ to corrupt officials–CBCP
Militant lawmakers welcome Estrada’s conviction
Some no longer care if Estrada is found guilty or not
Estrada’s conviction: a manifestation of country’s justice system at work
Erap found Guilty
I just found out from here, here and here.
The verdict didn’t come to me as a surprise really. I mean from his systematic collection of P545 million in illegal gambling payoffs and his receipt of a P189-million commission from stock market purchases of state-managed employee pension funds, who would think he’d get off innocent? Although Erap remains popular in the masses, we cannot deny that the former president cannot pin his hopes behind his being the ‘opposition head’ against the administration. Nor can we expect him to hide behind the reputed Edsa 4, supposed to be staged by his supporters.
The verdict means both good and bad for me: good because the justice system worked (finally) and bad because although justice was served, it is still selective. How about serving PGMA and her boys a slapping lawsuit for Hello Garci, the ZTE Broadband deal, Fertilizer Scam and the Extrajudicial Killings filed for by almost everyone including UN? We can actually agree with (to a certain degree) Erap when he says that the charges against him are politically motivated and that his verdict would surely reflect his thoughts. Yes, true, could be, but we cannot dismiss the evidences filed against him even if we sympathize with his cause to topple PGMA and her illegitimate government.
The opposition senators have voiced out that Erap might reappeal his case. Actually, if he reappeals his case and gets denied, Edsa 4 might move again to his side. If he reppeals and gets a not guilty verdict, the other side of the fence, including business sectors, the church and some ‘elitist’ thinkers, might be the ones to swell up in anger. In the end, when I think about it, no one would win if this happens.
The success of this trial lies if we leave things as they are and just move on to these new and damaging issues as I’ve mentioned earlier. Erap got his verdict, and I think it’s high time PGMA and her dogs get the same.
Southeast Asia’s longest insurgency
Many foreigners are stunned to know that a communist rebellion is still raging in the Philippines. In other countries of the region, either the communist threat has been quelled or there are no more armed guerrillas fighting the government.
Read more at Mongster’s Nest
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
The comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
which stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James tells the story of 2 firefighters, the best of friends, who stick it out with each other whether battling fire, the government or the justice system.
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Changing Places – Photographs by Dennis Rito and Antonni Cuesta
Changing Places
Photographs by Dennis Rito and Antonni Cuesta
September 14 – October 19, 2007
Bliss Cafe, Baguio City
More info on Changing Places – Photographs by Dennis Rito and Antonni Cuesta at Shutter Box Philippines
My First Crush
Do you have bittersweet memories of times gone by? I’m sure you do. We all do.
Do you remember how fancifully you scribbled his name at the back of your notebook? How about screaming your lungs out each time he’d pass by the hall where you usually hang out? And how your heart melted whenever he’d smile at you? Or how about listening to a particular song over and over just because that song was what was playing on the radio when you rode the jeepney and he happened to be on the same ride with you?
CHDK Firmware Makes Ordinary Canon Digital Cameras Run on Steroids
CHDK is free enhanced firmware for your Canon Digic II based point and shoot camera. With the CHDK firmware loaded, your camera will get the following features:
- Shooting in RAW
- Live histogram (RGB, blended, luminance and for each RGB channel)
- Zebra mode (blinking highlights and shadows)
More info on how the CHDK Firmware Makes Ordinary Canon Digital Cameras Run on Steroids at Shutter Box Philippines.
