Brilliant defense counsel now the ‘refuge’ of pols accused of graft

Angeli Marconi called attention to a photo in the July 16  Inquirer, where now just-citizen Jejomar Binay was shown with lawyer Estelito Mendoza after posting bail in a plunder case against him (“This picture paints a thousand words,” Opinion, 07/23/16).  We tend to agree that Mendoza may now be prepping up Binay for his vigorous defense in a fierce court battle.

Of course, we know for a fact that Mendoza’s voice deafens everyone else’s—especially in the Supreme Court. We know how brilliant he is at pinpointing loopholes in the law. But could he please look more into the spirit of the law and less at its crummy letter? Sadly, government graft prosecutors are no match to the cachet he holds as a defense lawyer.

Yes, sir, we get it. Even the guilty ones are entitled to due process. So are the victims —the vast majority of Filipinos who have remained poor because crooks in government keep stealing public funds for their own benefit, never know when enough is enough and get away with it (thanks to Mendoza).

May Mendoza finally find his own “road to Damascus.”

—MARGIE MEGAN LIBRANDO, [email protected]