What is important is not the volume of the documentary evidence, but whether all the evidence can pass muster with the legal standards at major junctures of the proceedings.
The standards are: the existence of probable cause to charge the respondents; evidence of guilt is strong when the accused will petition for bail; and proof beyond reasonable doubt for conviction.
The length of time is really unquantifiable, given the complexity of the case, the voluminous documents, the number of parties and witnesses, the availment of various tedious remedies at every stage and level, the number and quality of lawyers, the schedules etc.
What is decisive is that public interest and vigilance must not wane, political will must be strong, the process and those who will sit in judgment must be fair and fearless, and that no political accommodation or rehabilitation must occur.
Else, at the end of the road, we will just go full circle and all these would just be another pep squad show that will not decide the endgame for the people’s cry for good government and public accountability.
As a matter of principle, all those who are involved must be charged regardless of political affiliation. The administration must satisfactorily and credibly demonstrate to the public that it is indeed not selective. It must not abuse this moral and legal issue for its own partisan agenda.
—EDRE U. OLALIA,
secretary general,
National Union of
Peoples’ Lawyers,
3/F Erythrina Building,
Maaralin cor. Matatag Sts., Central District,Quezon City