‘Plain and simple drama’

"Plain and simple drama."

That was how Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada (Lakas-NUCD, Negros Occidental) and other lawmakers described jailed former President Joseph Estrada’s dismissal of his entire legal defense team.

Congressmen said the ousted president is just "playing to the gallery" and has brought his corruption case not to a court of law but to the court of public opinion.

Senators, on the other hand, warned Estrada that his dismissal of his lawyers could get him into deeper trouble after the Sandiganbayan assigned public attorneys to defend him instead of his trusted lawyers.

Less than 24 hours after he dismissed his lawyers, the anti-graft court appointed four public lawyers to represent Estrada in his trial at 9:30 a.m. today.

The public attorneys are Arturo Temanil, Jefferson Torribio, Melita Lauron and Silvestre Moseng.

But the former president reiterated he has given up hope on his trial before the Sandiganbayan.

"I have lost all trust and confidence in the justice system. They have already convicted me," he said, only two days after he admitted in a televised interview that he indeed signed bank documents under the false name "Jose Velarde."

At Malacañang, President Arroyo regretted Estrada’s decision to dismiss his lawyers and his statement denigrating the country’s judicial system.

"The justice system is a pillar of our society. No man can pass judgment on it nor can anyone publicly condemn it in such a sweeping manner as Mr. Estrada has," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.

"Again we emphasize: Mr. Estrada’s case is before a court of law and the judiciary is an independent branch of our government. As president once, he took a vow to be principal enforcer of our Constitution and he had submitted himself to our justice system," the President added.

Lozada, chairman of the House committee on foreign relations, said Estrada resorted to the "acting vocation for which he became famous" because he created a big problem for himself and his lawyers when he admitted in a televised interview that he signed a bank document under the fictitious name "Jose Velarde."

"The courts and the people should not be carried away by the bizarre twists in the plot," Lozada said, conceding, however, that Estrada’s supporters may "bite" the former president’s "appeal to the emotions."

Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina (Lakas), a member of the House panel that prosecuted Estrada during his Senate impeachment trial, said Estrada’s decision to dismiss his lawyers was nothing but a delaying tactic.

He said Estrada and his team of top-caliber defense lawyers have been resorting to all technicalities to delay and even stall judicial action on his cases, particularly plunder which carries the death penalty.

Another member of the House prosecution panel, Rep. Oscar Moreno (Lakas, Misamis Oriental) said Estrada was again baiting the sympathy of his supporters.

"Gusto niyang maawa ang publiko sa kanya at patawarin siya sa mga kasalanan niya (He wants the public to take pity on him and to forget all about his sins)," Moreno said.

"But the Sandiganbayan, the prosecution and our people should not fall for this trap and should let justice take its normal course uninfluenced by politics," he said.

In the Senate, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Estrada’s decision to dismiss his lawyers is just a ploy to delay the corruption trials and win public sympathy.

"The move of Mr. Estrada is obviously part of the strategy of the defense panel. I would like to think it was a well-crafted move designed to buy time and win public sympathy for the accused. Whether it would bring the desired results, only time will tell," Drilon said in a statement.

Other senators noted that although it was Estrada’s right to dismiss his lawyers, the trial would have to continue in accordance with the law.

Sen. Renato Cayetano, however, conceded the move would gain some time for the former president.

"If he does not cooperate, the defense lawyers (to be appointed by the court) will have a hard time. It will also take time to acquaint themselves with the case," he said.

Cayetano said it was also very unusual for Estrada to dismiss his trusted lawyers when the cases he is facing are very serious and punishable with life imprisonment to death.

He added Estrada could even be bodily carried to the court if he would not attend the hearings because of lack of competent lawyers.

In the face of such development, Drilon asked the prosecutors and justices to focus on their respective jobs and exert extra effort to strengthen the people’s faith in the justice system," which is now being put to the test.

"Mr. Estrada says he cannot expect justice from our courts. This is obviously a self-serving and biased view, for clearly we have a functioning judicial system, which is the bedrock of our democracy. I appeal to our people, particularly our public officials and members of the bar to respect and obey the judicial process," he said.

"Unless we have a better alternative, it would do well for us as a people to uphold the law. The ensuing chaos, turmoil and violence arising from a lawless society are too frightening to contemplate," Drilon stressed. - With Marichu Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo, Pia Lee-Brago