GUILTY OR NOT: SO WHAT?

GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY—this was the question.

Few days before the Sandiganbayan promulgated the court ruling on deposed president Joseph Estrada’s two outstanding cases (perjury and plunder), people were already pre-empting it. Some were even placing their bets as to what will the decision be.

The anticipation, however, was incomparable to the emotions triggered by the Edsa 2 on January 21, 2001, which was actually the reason why Erap (as Estrada is popularly known) was indicted and detained.

Erap’s judgment day fell on September 12, 2007, six years after Erap was ousted from his presidential seat. Hundreds of policemen were gathered around the Batasan Complex in Quezon City to ensure tight security in case any riot might spur. All local TV networks interrupted their regular programming to cover the promulgation.

And the verdict: according to the dispositive portion of the court decision read before the public via national television, Erap is acquitted of perjury (the lesser offense). He, however, was convicted of plunder, a major offense which is punishable by death.

A toss coin

Erap's verdict is like a toss coin where there are only two options – the head or the tail. This win-loss situation elicits different reactions from the people who have been part of Erap’s chronicle.

Michael Transfiguracion, 19, third year BA Film and Audio-Visual Communication student at the University of the Philippines (UP) Film Institute, said he became more worried. “It was like the judgment was all planned by those in position.”

As for Janelle Vallo, 23, call center employee at ICT in Shaw Boulevard, the decision was 'politically influenced.' "Tama yung sinabi ni Jinggoy e, connected yung sa kanilang dalawa, e bakit siya acquitted, si Erap hindi? Tama rin yung sinabi niya na pag na-acquit si Erap, GMA's (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) presidency is considered invalid. Kaya siguro ginawa lang siyang guilty."

Meanwhile, Rhealie Cayanan, 24, public elementary school teacher, admitted that she's a little ambivalent of the whole issue. "Ang gusto ko lang e makasuhan at maparusahan yung mapapatunayang gumagawa ng pagnanakaw sa bansa. Pero maging fair sana. Sana lahat maparusahan."

But Mang Art Geronimo, 46, balot vendor in Lagro, Quezon City, has more to say. He pinpointed GMA as the one who actually made the guilty verdict. "Pakana ni Gloria yan. Guilty kunyari pero palalayain din yan."

The people’s verdict

For Transfiguracion, Erap's verdict only implies how powerful and influential GMA is. However, he said, this will not make any change to our country. According to him, we will still be victims of those in power, no matter what.

Vallo, on the other hand, denied that she is an Erap supporter. “I’m not saying that Erap is innocent. In my opinion, the verdict is not that important. Ang mas mahalaga ay maipaliwanag nila sa taumbayan kung bakit ganoon ang desisyon.”

"Economically speaking, it went well on the very day of Erap’s judgment. That day, according to the news, the peso appreciated,” Vallo added.

Cayanan had the same thought about the peso appreciation on the day Erap was convicted. “Siguro nagkaron ng tiwala ang mga investors sa justice system ng Pilipinas.”

But Mang Art did not hide his apathy on Erap’s verdict. “Walang epekto sakin ‘yan. Kahit ano naman ‘yan, magtitinda pa rin ako ng balot. Tsaka kahit hindi guilty yung hatol, hindi naman maibabalik si Erap sa pwesto. Wala ring mangyayari kaya walang silbi. Alam naman ng taumbayan na guilty si Erap. Akala ng mga ‘yan sila lang matatalino. Magugulang kamo.”

Guilty. So what?

When asked what is the effect of Erap’s verdict on him, Transfiguracion said it affects him negatively in the sense that he became more skeptical of the government.

Vallo, meanwhile, is more concerned on the country’s economy. “In the long run, since politics and economy are interrelated, maapektuhan tayo as a whole. Paano hihikayatin ang isang tao na mag-invest sa atin kung nakikita niyang ang gulo-gulo natin diba?”

Cayanan, on her part, asked six of her co-teachers if they are affected of Erap’s verdict. Five of them said they are not concerned about it, while one has no comment on the issue.

“Ang focus kasi namin ay yung education at achievement ng mga bata. Hindi ko masisisi yung mga kapwa ko guro kung wala silang masyadong pakialam kasi wala naman silang magagawa,” Cayanan explained.

“Ang epekto nito sakin, nawalan na ‘ko ng tiwala sa lahat ng mga kumakandidato. Para sakin lahat sila evil. Kailangan mong piliin ang lesser evil, pero para sakin mahirap gawin yun,” she added.

Vallo, in addition, when asked on her stand on the verdict, said that she agrees with the court decision. “I agree that he is guilty, kaso ang nagpapagulo kasi sakin ay kung bakit si Jinggoy acquitted?” When asked about the effect on her of the verdict, she said, “Nakakawalang ganang bumoto.”

Mang Art, on the other hand, feels differently. He said he would still invoke his right to suffrage. “Boboto pa rin ako. Karapatan ko yun. Kahit magbabalot lang ako, parte pa rin ako ng Pilipinas.” However, he said he doesn’t think that the verdict will affect the country. For him, Philippines will still be the same.

The bottomline

The four of them, although of different professions, are not enough representation of the 88 million Filipinos who have individual stand about the issue. Nevertheless, their opinions are as significant as everyone else’s and cannot be ignored.

The verdict per se does not spell justice to either side. Definitely, there’s a cooking on the side. The question to ponder is what lies ahead of us after all these? Can we improve our society or can we move forward just to prove that six years after, we’re no longer six feet below the ground?

Guilty or not guilty is no longer a question. In fact, it never really was. At the back of Filipinos minds, they have made their own decision long time ago. It might not be politically correct to say that this court decision is a senseless act and a waste of time, but one thing is for sure—it is not a justification of the people power that was Edsa 2. #

*The guilty verdict is only from Sandiganbayan. Erap may still file a motion for reconsideration to Sandiganbayan or appeal the case directly to the Supreme Court.

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