What do the acquittal of Imelda Marcos, the granting of bail to Juan Ponce Enrile for a crime that is nonbailable, and now the dismissal of the case against Gloria Arroyo have in common?
I dare say that there are many more cases that merit conviction, that ordinary people like me do not know about or have forgotten, and that these cases have been dismissed because of this very important common denominator.
What magic does this wizard of the law has in his hands such that those with glaring sins against the people and our country escape so openly from prosecution and punishment? And now Jejomar Binay has seen it wise to be embraced by this performer of magic, maybe hoping against hope that he, too, may benefit from this magic wand and escape likewise from prosecution.
What does Estelito Mendoza have in his bag of tricks that can make justices flip-flop on their supposedly “final” decisions? Does he have a different definition for “final”? Does he follow a different Constitution or his own personal law books?
The case or cases of Jejomar Binay et al. will be something we have to follow doggedly. In doing so we might discover what the magic words are to escape jail even with evidence that says, “Guilty!”
—GERALDINE VELEZ-VALLEDOR, Alabang, Muntinlupa City