Let Erap face the music

If deposed President Estrada is allowed to go to the United States, the probability of his coming back will be remote. He himself hinted at this possibility. Since he can no longer trust the courts and the justice system here, Erap is not going to allow himself to be at the mercy of the Sandiganbayan. And since he has publicly stated, in his media interviews, that he is going to be given the lethal injection, why come back and risk being put to death?

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Some sectors have suggested that Erap be allowed to go abroad, on the premise that the farther he is away from the Philippines, the less mischief he can commit to destabilize the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The premise is wrong. From his foreign base, he can do many things to make life hard for President GMA. Note that Erap still has tons upon tons of money – and these can be used by his cohorts here to create mayhem.

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One can just imagine the damage that Erap’s departure, and eventual refusal to go to trial on the plunder case filed against him, will inflict on the justice system here. The courts’ stature will be diminished – and the Sandiganbayan will become the laughing stock of the world. Even now, Erap’s lawyers and followers must be snickering over their success in turning the plunder case into a political issue.

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Once Erap is in the United States, he is going to use western media to advance his own interests and paint an ugly picture of the Philippines and the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Most probably, he will be interviewed by the top television newscasters in the US – and what he says will muster sympathy from the millions who continue to consider him as their idol. Mark this in stone. He is going to use his theatrical prowess to paint himself as a hero who was unjustly treated by the present leadership here.

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If he were facing a life-threatening disease that local doctors cannot treat, then that might be a sufficient reason to set him free and allow him to travel to the US. But Erap’s problem is merely his kneecap, and there are very competent medical specialists who can treat him here. Let him then remain in the Philippines and face the music before the Sandiganbayan.

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It took Erap’s lawyers more than a year to delay the trial of the plunder case. They used every trick in the book to delay and delay and delay the proceedings. Now, will all the efforts of the Prosecution to proceed with the trial go to naught, simply because Erap has a knee problem? For the sake of the judicial system, the answer is an emphatic NO.

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Despite hard and harsh times, there remain many kindhearted individual and socially-oriented corporations who are willing to share some of their blessings in life with the less fortunate in life. During the past few days, the Good Samaritan Foundation has been blessed with an outpouring of support from many people for its charitable projects. Let me thank all of them, and ask God to give his blessings to the following:

* James T. Heart, Ph.D., the chief executive officer of Group Omicron in Saudi Arabia, sent P5,000 – and it was the second time that he donated a generous amount to the Good Samaritan Foundation

* Rowena Garcia Litao, a regular donor with her family (Tom and Lita Garcia and husband Achilles), P1,500 (BPI 000149)

* Mabel Abano of the Manila Hearing Aid Center, P2,000 (Banco de Oro 0265472)

*An anonymous lady from Binondo, Manila, a regular donor, P20,000 (remitted through BPI)

*Anonymous, P500 (BPI 0037982)

*Ardani Techno Service of Paranaque City, P2,000 (Metrobank 212489)

*Elena Monzon of Imus, Cavite, a regular donor, P1,000 (Metrobank 0970072)

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During the February 27 birthday celebration of Silver Sarmiento, a member of the EDSA Shangri-La Tuesday Club, several of his guests made a donation, in lieu of gifts, to the Good Samaritan Foundation. The kindhearted friends of Silver were Olga Ramiscal, Loma Lomongo, Alma Madamba, Lolita de la Cruz, Linda Sarmiento, Velia Altuna, Maribel Angeles, Baby Macalinao, Mament Sistoza, Ana Carado, Sylvia de Castro, Melen Gregorio, Perla T. Sarmiento, Susan Tiu, Ellen Tan, and Mrs. Remigio Gan Kio. The donation was a generous P12,000.

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During that birthday bash, Silver distributed a note which said the following:

We thank thee, Lord, for the Gift of Life,

for our true friends, for our loving family,

the many material benefits we enjoy.

But more than these, for the gifts of mind, heart and soul

which we all possess, to share gladly with others.

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Thoughts For Today:

No matter how softly you whisper a prayer,
God will surely listen., understand
and know the hopes and fears in your heart,
for when you trust in His love, miracles happen.

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The world always looks brighter when viewed with a
smile.
Laugh a little now and then; it brightens life a lot.
Try to make your fellowmen glad with a hearty
laugh.

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My e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]