A call for sobering up over GMA

 Now it seems the passive calm after the tumultuous tempest that gravely beset former President Gloria M. Arroyo from the time she attempted to leave the country for abroad for further medical consultations and treatment. The calm came when after protracted restiveness, Pasay City RTC Judge Jesus Mupas humanely and fairly ruled that GMA be allowed to stay in the interim at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

 At the inception of the tumult arising from the DOJ’s controversial watch list that barred GMA from leaving, despite the Supreme Court’s allegedly flawed TRO as too premature for implementation, one had been seriously tempted to comment thereon. But one held his horse for fear of stoking the burning flames further, although one had been concerned by the incontrovertible democratic judicial truism that GMA then, had not yet been formally charged in court of any crime as yet. And, even if so charged, the fixated and fundamental presumption of innocence before proven guilty ought to have been the primordial logic in her favor.

 Never in memory – even including the once beleaguered President Ferdinand Marcos for his martial law regime authoritarian ignominy – has the head of state been so summarily vilified and condemned as GMA has been. The press, radio and TV had a field day, like the circus and carnival frenzy, were one in “convicting” GMA. In fairness though to public opinion in their 87% conclusion against GMA, the latter’s leaders, lawyers and faithful followers, had also been relentless that GMA be allowed to travel and/or be placed under house arrest, or further stay at the luxurious St. Luke’s Hospital.

 In fact, even RTC Judge Jesus Mupas where the alleged 2007 election fraud sabotage in Maguindanao with the Ampatuans is lodged, had been too precipitate in issuing the warrant of arrest. Based on experience with the hundreds accumulated cases, and actual practice among the courts, it may take a week or so for such warrant to issue in ordinary cases to examine the “expediente” and available records and evidence. The more if the cases are so serious involving voluminous records, say, election fraud and sabotage, that a fortnight study is necessary, in the least.

 In fairness as well to Judge Mupas though, the frenetic antecedents surrounding the case when the whole nation appeared in “killing mood” could have swayed the good judge in coming out with the warrant of arrest. Likewise, it even took some time for the judge to order GMA’s detention at the VMMC that has for now laid the tumult to rest.

 Even foremost anti-Gloria critic, the usually feisty Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago called for some Christian consideration for GMA as a token of respect as former head of state. Senator Gringo Honasan, another staunch critic of GMA also called for courtesy of Gloria as former head of state. Then also lately came over the radio former Senator Ernesto Maceda, Erap’s buddy, commenting that the VMMC hospital interim detention is just and humane. And, from the Catholic Church, no less, than retired Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also openly decried that detaining GMA in ordinary prison cell is uncalled for.

 Moreover, no less than President “Erap” Estrada who had been detained at the VMMC on his ouster to face plunder charge, has been sympathetic in his spontaneous jesting one-liners to his successor out of respect as former sovereign.

While calumny and bitter philippics have now become the habit of critics, opinion writers, and the public at large when no trial as yet for the election sabotage, and/or other serious indictments not yet filed, let’s sober up that, again, the linchpin of the criminal justice system is its engrained presumption of innocence. Over-turning that presumption is like a pack of hyenas, or wild dogs, ganging up on a prospective accused without trial. And that’s throwing the justice system to the dogs that, in effect, edify Gloria, the “Excelsius Dei,” as a hallowed martyr.