It is a question of jurisdiction on GMA case

In our special presentation on Straight from the Sky, we bring you a rather controversial project, an investment coming to Cebu that has been blocked because of ugly politics. Yes, we’re featuring the Ciudad Project that was bid out and won five years ago but was blocked by the City of Cebu because they say it would worsen traffic in the Banilad-Talamban area. If so, why did the City of Cebu allow other buildings to be constructed all within 200 yards from the Ciudad Project?

 With us tonight to talk about the Ciudad Project are old friends Raymond Aquino and Jonji Gonzales, both PR Consultants of the Ciudad Project. So we let our televiewers judge for themselves whether the Ciudad Project is good for Cebu or not. I dare say that any project that adds beauty, jobs and creativity to our beloved City of Cebu should be given a go-signal to operate. So watch this very interesting show on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00pm tonight.

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 The entire nation was gripped by the dramatic story that permeated over the weekend, first about the stand off between the Supreme Court and Department of Justice Sec. Leila De Lima on the issue of the SC’s issuing a Temporary Restraining Order that would have allowed former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to leave the country for medical reasons. But all this ended when Pasay City Court Regional Trial Court Judge Jesus Mupas of Branch 112 issued a very hasty arrest warrant against the former President, which was served to her at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

 In a country that is very much notorious for our snail-paced justice system, the issuance of the arrest warrant before a preliminary investigation has been done was a surprise. Come now, who doesn’t want speedy justice huh? But then, this is happening against the Arroyos because of the vengeful Aquinos. All we need to do at this point is look at the future of Judge Jesus Mupas. This judge is certainly moving up the Justice ladder.

 While the Filipino people have noted the extreme haste in the filing of the case of election sabotage and fraud against the former President, her lawyer Raul Lambino also questions the jurisdiction of the Pasay City court because the former President was once the highest official of the land (and concurrently a congresswoman) when those incidents allegedly happened. And I believe that Atty. Lambino is right in saying that cases against any public official with a rank of Salary Grade 27 and above should be filed with the Sandiganbayan and not with the Regional Trial Courts.

 I, too, agree that the Pasay City Regional Trial Courts have no jurisdiction over Congresswoman Arroyo. But then in this present dispensation, if someone from Malacañang calls upon you or, worse, pressures you, you will certainly obey their command. I certainly would like to see how this legal issue would be resolved.

 But there are far deeper issues that we have to consider when we look into this case of election sabotage against the former President. During the election campaign, most politicians, with a few exceptions, usually get funds or money from their political parties a few months before the elections. That money, especially during a presidential election year, always comes from the top. Meaning, whoever is the current political leader of a party.

 Usually, it is the President who gathers his or her political party mates into a caucus in Malacañang where everyone belonging to that part is invited. There you will hear people make pledges not only of support to the President and her senatoriables, they would also whisper in the ear of the President a commitment either of a majority votes in their respective localities or as the story often goes, some would dare make a bold prediction that the opposition would lose in their barangays or precincts.

 I really don’t expect a President to lower his or her dignity by demanding from the party mates a 100% win of their party. In the case against former President Arroyo, former Provincial Election Supervisor Lintang Bedol and Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Sr., it will be difficult to prove the electoral sabotage charge simply because the other parties in this case are already in jail like Ampatuan, who is facing criminal charges for the Maguindanao massacre. How will we know that there could be some kind of arrangement for Ampatuan or a deal to get something from the Aquino administration in exchange for testifying against Arroyo?

 What is happening in our country today has certainly deflected the nation’s focus on the many other issues plaguing our country. Like the P5 million given by Pres. PNoy to the MILF, which ended with the killing of 19 soldiers. What about the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities? These are very important issues that the Aquino administration needs to address.

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