Noypi.ph: Binay Pleas: Corona Trial Should Not Mirror Estrada’s

Binay Pleas: Corona Trial Should Not Mirror Estrada’s
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Chiara Marie Trinidad on 01/20/2012 07:34:00

Amid the circus surrounding the Corona impeachment trial, Vice President Jejomar
Binay makes a very compelling statement.

The VP urges that the public not let their opinion overrule the judiciary
process – something that was done during Erap’s impeachment trial.
“It was wrong to have allowed enraged public opinion, rather than due process
and the rule of law, to take control of the constitutional process…”
explained Binay during his speech in the Foreign Correspondents Association of
the Philippines. According to Binay, public opinion ruled during Erap’s
ousting, with trial aborted due to the “pressure from the streets”. After
prosecutors walked out of court, the law process was interrupted, forcing the
people’s decision into play with the People Power 2.
He then put emphasis on his statement by pointing out Estrada seems to be more
popular today than the person who replaced him as Chief Executive. So much so
that during the last Presidential Poll, Estrada still came out with millions of
votes despite his shoddy past.
Binay stated that “the constitutional shortcut was a ruinous mistake”,
adding that the Filipinos had to go through years of the Arroyo administration
to understand the error.
“It seems, therefore, obvious that if there is anything we could learn form
that first impeachment trial, is that we should not repeat any of its
mistakes,” he concluded.
With the country one again bearing witness to one of the most controversial
impeachment trials since Estrada, Binay points out that the common goal should
be to “lend the Senate trial our attentive and respectful silence”
Binay’s statement has a ring of truth. Due to the non-disclosure of the full
facts during the trial, the people are forced to arrive at their own
conclusions. Unfortunately, the public contempt for Arroyo resulted to a boost
in Estrada’s standing.
Hopefully, Corona’s impeachment will not follow the same course. With the
Senate left on its own, the full disclosure of the facts – not emotion –
should surface. This way, there will be a clear line between “guilt” and
“innocence”.
As Binay said: “It should succeed as a fair and just constitutional
process,”.
Photo courtesy of asiancorrespondent.com