ERAP: GMA SHOULD BE TRIED FIRST IN ANOMALIES
MANILA, MARCH 15, 2011 (STAR) By Jose Rodel Clapano - Former President Joseph Estrada believes former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be the first to be tried on the alleged anomalies in her administration.
Estrada said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez could not be completely blamed if her office has been unable to fully process Arroyo's cases of wrongdoing.
"The first one who should be tried is the mastermind or the architect of the corruption," he said.
Estrada said Gutierrez was unable to find sufficient evidence because Arroyo administration officials had already disposed of or hidden important evidence.
The impeachment complaints against Gutierrez stress her failure or refusal to act on big cases like the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and the botched $329-million NBN-ZTE deal, he added.
Estrada said in the anomalous NBN-ZTE broadband deal, the signatories hid the contract from the public on the unbelievable pretext that it was stolen in China.
"(Senate President Pro-Tempore) Jinggoy (Estrada) even had to insist the Chinese executives surrender the contracts," he said.
"Even the Senate could not acquire the evidence from the Arroyo administration officials. How would the Ombudsman find the evidence if it was already conveniently lost by those involved in the Arroyo administration?"
Estrada said the Senate must go after the brains behind the anomalies.
"They should try GMA and the (former) first gentleman (referring to Mike Arroyo) because the government must first go after the brains behind these anomalies," he said.
Estrada said Gutierrez, who was just used, is fortunate because she was given due process by Congress.
"Unlike my impeachment, which was railroaded by (then Senate President Manny) Villar," he said.
Estrada said he believes Gutierrez will receive a fair trial at the Senate if an impeachment trial pushes through because "senators have independent minds and cannot be dictated upon."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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