I couldn’t believe the scornful reaction of activist nun Sr. Mary John Mananzan to the Ombudsman’s decision to drop the fertilizer fund case against former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The good sister reportedly texted: “After all what (sic) has been divulged and with all the sufferings of the farmers involved, how can anyone think that GMA had no knowledge of it?… This clearing of GMA in the fertilizer scam is truly disgusting.”
As a matter of fact, everything that could be “divulged” against her was in fact divulged—as might be expected under an administration that openly defied the Supreme Court just to keep Arroyo behind bars. And yet that “everything” has turned out to be nothing at all.
Not in the fertilizer fund case—dismissed. Not in the Iloilo airport case against her—also dismissed. Not in the Bicol infrastructure projects case into which even her son was dragged—also dismissed. Not in all the other cases against her since 2010 that have been either downgraded or dismissed.
And, if justice holds up, not even in the current PCSO case, where the prosecution has repeatedly been scolded by the court for foot-dragging and failing to present credible documentary or testimonial evidence of any sort.
This is the kind of abuse of the judicial system that has prompted international celebrities, like actor George Clooney’s human rights lawyer-fiancee, to take up Arroyo’s case. It is the kind of kangaroo justice under President Aquino that, as far back as two years ago, has already persuaded a majority of survey respondents to say that Arroyo deserves to be granted bail.
As an observant Catholic, I’m distressed by Sister Mary John’s penchant for illogical reasoning, ignoring the facts, and dismissing due process when these happen to disagree with her own prejudices. I do hope that she is being restrained from transmitting such values—or lack of them—to the young minds entrusted to her educational ministrations.
—GARY B. OLIVAR,
gbolivar1952@yahoo.com