Here we go again

One of the three senators set to be officially accused of plunder has demanded that all government officials implicated by Janet Lim Napoles should be investigated. This is a demand that is dependent on whether the Napoles list can be validated through thorough investigation by the NBI and the Department of Justice.

At this point in time, the most credible reports remain to be the reports of the Commission on Audit (COA) and the testimonies of Ben Hur Luy and the other whistleblowers. Until the Napoles testimonies are thoroughly investigated, any calls for this to be used as an official basis for filing cases is another distraction. It is probably another ploy to delay the filing of plunder cases presently pending.

But the most ridiculous statement is the statement from one of the three senators who said that if the three are guilty — presumably referring to Estrada, Enrile, Revilla —  then all the government officials should also be jailed. If any government officials are eventually found guilty of plunder, then certainly they should be jailed. However, to say that they should all be jailed simply because the three senators end up in jail fails all the tests of simple logic. There is no connection between the two events.

The guilt or innocence of Enrile, Estrada and Revilla has no direct connection with the guilt or innocence of any of the government officials. Unless, of course, any of the three senators will testify that he and the government officials conspired with Napoles to participate in any of the pork barrel scams.

Again, all these posturing look and sound like attempts to simply delay the filing of plunder and graft cases by distracting public attention from the immediate filing of the plunder and graft cases.

I also noticed, with some amusement, all those calls for the Ombudsman to be impartial. Yes, there should be objectivity in their investigation. But after the investigation is concluded, then the impartiality should end.

I read that the Office of the Ombudsman believes it has enough evidence against the three senators — Enrile,Estrada and Revilla — to file plunder charges. As far as I am concerned, this means that the Office of the Ombudsman believes that the three senators are guilty of plunder.

The prosecuting team must be completely convinced of the guilt of the lawmakers if they are to pursue the case with the passion, determination and commitment needed. This team will be opposed by excellent legal minds and the obvious tactics of delays and public pressure.

One argument I have with some lawyers is their contention that cases must be decided purely on legal points which only lawyers can comprehend and, therefore, lawyers are the only ones who can really determine the guilt or innocence of any of the accused.

I totally disagree. There are many countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, where the court verdict is determined by a jury composed of “peers” or ordinary persons. There are educational or income qualifications for a juror. There is no requirement for a juror to have passed the bar exam.

The UK and the USA have had this jury system for hundreds of years dating back to the time when the average juror could barely read or write. The entire philosophy was based on the concept that the guilt or innocence of any person can best be determined by his peers.

Sometimes it makes me wonder if, perhaps, our judicial system would be much more just and swifter if we had the jury system instead of the entire judicial system being placed solely in the hands of those who took up law and passed the bar.

Essentially, those who stand accused in court in this country are not judged by their peers but by a handful of lawyers. Sadly, the majority of Filipinos cannot afford to attend law school.

Perhaps justice would be more equitable if it had the jury system in this country. Perhaps the rule of law would be better served if justice was in the hands of the ordinary Filipino.

Write away!

The Where the Write Things Are Writing Center announces its ongoing and forthcoming program offerings for aspiring children and young adult writers.

Every Saturday, writing classes are scheduled at the Canadian American School on the 6/f, The City Club Alphaland (Ayala Ave cor. Malugay) as follows:  10 –11:30 a.m. (for 7-10 years old); 1–2:30 p.m. (for 11- 15 years old).

 On July 7-18, The Young Writers’ Hangout offers six sessions @ Fully Booked in Bonifacio Global City spread out over two weeks for students on a July summer vacation schedule.  Details are:  July 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18 (MWF/6 sessions).  For 7-10 yrs old:  1 p.m.- 3 p.m. (12 hours );  for 11-15 yrs old:  3.30-5.30 p.m. (12 hours). A starter collection of the students’ writings is the expected end product presented in a final ceremony on the last session, with the young authors reading excerpts from their pieces.

 In all these classes, excerpts especially from Philippine literature and those from other countries are used as writing models.  Another feature of these sessions is the peer and teacher critique of pieces written.

 These will be co-facilitated by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Roel Cruz, both published authors who have mentored young writers.  Neni draws on her years of teaching the Writing Mentorship Program for verbally talented students at International School Manila.

 This course is the second in the series, with the first held in mid-May also at the same venue, Fully Booked.  The mentors recount the wonderful experience of discovering young students enamored with writing, with stories in their minds awaiting to be written.  The best evaluation of the class came from Bettina Chan, aged 11, who wrote, “I entered the room as a person. I left it as an author.”

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