Impeachment proceedings started with a bang - ROSES AND THORNS by Alejandro R. Roces

In the impeachment trial, the prosecutors are out to prove that the Estrada administration is nothing but "a criminal syndicate directed from the highest office of the land." On the other hand, defense lawyers led by retired Chief Justice Andres Narvasa contend that the man on trial is not President Estrada. It is Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Two days ago, the impeachment proceedings began. What got it off to a sensational start was not the testimony of the first witness. It was evidence presented by Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo that consisted of a check for P142 million which was supposedly signed by an individual named "Jose Valhalla." Arroyo claimed that the signature was that of President Estrada and asked the Senate judges to compare it with that of President Estrada’s as shown in a P500 bill. "You need not be an expert to see the similarity." This was what got the impeachment trial to a dramatic start and we predict that there will be more unexpected revelations.

Unquestionably, the impeachment proceedings will be the focus of attention till the Senate gives its verdict. The only developments that can possibly relegate it to the background are the president’s voluntary resignation, an assassination or a coup d’etat. Only the president’s voluntary resignation will actually help the situation. For the real problem is what the impeachment case is doing to our economy. Both the prosecutors and the defense want the impeachment case to be settled as soon as possible. Senate President Pimentel believes it can be over by this month. This is an optimistic, but not very realistic view of the situation. We believe that it may take months. But we hope that Pimentel who has a better grasp of the problem is correct.

The impeachment trial could not have been held at a worst time. First, it is the Christmas season. Christmas would have been bleak even without the impeachment case. We wish that the people’s attention could have gone to how to relieve the plight of the poor and to, at least, give them a semblance of a Christmas celebration. As it is, our thoughts and resources are going to Erap Resign and Erap Pa Rin demonstrations.

New Year is part of the Christmas celebration. Can we not get the authorities and the people to agree that for this coming Millenial New Year, all the money that actually goes up in smoke for firecrackers be diverted to helping the underprivileged. We have to think positive. We are going from the 2nd to the 3rd millenium in a matter of weeks and we have to make that change meaningful. Again, it is unfortunate that Estrada’s impeachment case happened during the millenium. What we need is sobriety. Will it be too big a sacrifice on the public’s part to channel the money they annually spend on firecrackers to relieve the plight of the poor? If they cannot channel all, they could at least give part of it to the homeless and the underprivileged members of our society.