Erap lawyer wants Ermita, Desierto, Marcelo summoned

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, and retired Ombudsman Aniano Desierto were ordered yesterday by the Sandiganbayan to testify at the plunder trial of ousted President Joseph Estrada on Sept. 9.

The special division issued the summons upon request of former senator Rene Saguisag, Estrada’s lead counsel, who wanted the personalities to testify on the resolutions they had issued, which give government officials the chance to correct errors in their statements of assets and liabilities (SALs).

"The principal accused (Estrada) cannot be denied what is accorded others, as a matter of plain and simple justice," Saguisag said.

"The guarantee of equal protection is not limited to what is provided in the law, but also, if not more important, with the implementation thereof."

The anti-graft court has also ordered Lamberto Barbin, director of the Malacañang Records Office, to bring copies of the documents which the defense had requested.

Saguisag said Desierto was ordered to bring to court a resolution he issued in June 1998 absolving then Vice President Gloria Arroyo on her "non-compliance" with RA 6713.

"And then and there to testify on why he (Desierto) interpreted and applied the law one way in (Mrs. Arroyo’s) case, to favor her and exactly the opposite in (Estrada’s) case, to disfavor him," he said. — Delon Porcalla