To be a journalist is to act like a "tribune" that essays the truthful "journal" of every story of our "times", big or small, front page or inside page, "BIG NEWS" or even the last story before the closing credits roll;
To be a journalist is to hold a "mirror" in front of you to regularly and faithfully check the convictions and principles of what a "free press" truly stands for;
To be a journalist is to sometimes embrace your own celebrity and be a "star" that sets and upholds the "standards" of what the Filipinos of " today " are fighting for;
Ang maging mamamahayag ay tulad ng isang "bulgar" na pahina na hindi puwedeng maging sisidlan ng anumang pagbaluktot sa katotohanan, bagkus siya pa ngang lagusan upang ito ay mai-"bandera" at mai-"balita" ang mga kuwentong dapat na marining at ma-"tiktikan."
Ang maging mamamahayag ay ang pagsisiguro ng pananatili at pagsulong ng isang "malaya" at walang kinikilingang pag-"PAPATROL" , sa bawat araw, "24-0ras" dahil ang bawat kuwento ay kailangang pulsuhan, may buhay, tila isang "NEWSBEAT" na kailangang ma-"CAPTURED" dahil walang take two sa isang breaking news, walang cut, walang re-take;
Ang maging mamamahayag ay maging "SAKSI" sa "SENTRO" ng bawat pahina ng kasaysayan upang ito ang mai-"BANDILA" sa sambayanan;
Ang maging mamamahayag ay DAPAT laging sa NGALAN NG KATOTOHANAN AT TUNAY NA PAGLILINGKOD.
COPA STARTED IT ALL…
September 12, 2007
The guilty verdict on the plunder case against former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada should be taken as a sweet and even a moral victory for the Council of Philippine Affairs or COPA.
But it did not totally feel that way according to key personalities of COPA.
It was COPA who started it all–all the troubles of Erap, I mean former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson did—but it was COPA's initial and strong backing that spelled the difference in his whistle blower role in the recent history of Philippine politics.
It was COPA who pulled together all the forces that eventually led to the downfall of the Estrada administration and the swearing in of a new President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last January 20, 2001 at the Edsa Shrine in Pasig.
Esposo added, "it doesn't mean we are rejoicing for the very corruption that we rejected still exists, maybe even on larger scale. >October 29, 2000-Cardinal Sin backed up Chavit by issuing a pastoral letter that carried the message:" ERAP RESIGN, CONSTITUTIONAL SUCCESSION."COPA expected and welcomed the conviction handed down by the Sandiganbayan Anti-Graft Court
But Billy Esposo, COPA Chairman told me that based on merits of the case—"justice was served."
Pastor "Boy" Saycon, COPA Secretary-General puts it this way: "How can we say we are rejoicing if we knew for a fact that nothing has really changed and the problem of poverty remains?"
Saycon's question: "Are we any better?"
As the core group that supported Singson in his jueteng and TObacco Excise Tax Expose beginning on the last quarter of 2000, Esposo said, they do not regret the role they played in the downfall of Estrada.
"We had to do what was called for and what was for the best interest of the people at that time."
Six years ago. COPA was the force behind the ouster of of the most popular president elected in the history of the Philippine-polls.
Saycon's recalls the key dates and narrates the crucial development leading to January 20, 2001:
>September 21, 2000-Chavit talked to former congressman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco.
>On the same date, later in the evening, another meeting took place at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas, Pasig.
>It was on this meeting that Chavit according to Saycon said these lines:" BABALIKTAD NA AKO, PAPATAYIN NILA AKO."
>Five days after, September 26, COPA accompanied Chavit to the residence of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong.
>"We areanged for that meeting between the cardinal and Chavit. Doon ibinigay niya ang lahat ng ebiensiya, tapes, documents, yung blue book niya,cheques,log-sheets, withdrawal slips, lahat—ipinasa ni Chavit kay Cardinal Sin" Saycon recalled.
>October 3, according to Saycon, Chavit was able to confirm the threat on his life. "May attempted ambush na sa kanya, yung sa Manila."
The alleged attempted ambush jolted Chavit according to Saycon, "kaya lalong nagmadaling magsalita."
>October 6, 2000—Chavit's Presscon at the Club Filipino where he played the tape recording of his phone conversation with Estrada.
On the first month of the following year, exactly on the crucial hours of January 20, 2002—COPA's influence was tested and was tasked to consolidate all the forces against Estrada.
"We were the ones who consolidated the left and the right wing forces " Saycon said.
Looking back at the role they played then Esposo said,"What we did was never for Gloria Arroyo, it was for the Filipino people."
…AND THE VERDICT ON ERAP: GUILTY OF PLUNDER!
After six years and four months, the Sandiganbayan Special Anti-Graft Division hands down a verdict on the Philippines' most popularly elected president in the country's history.
9:07 am: the country awaits and braces for the official reading of the sentence on the plunder and other graft case faced by Joseph Ejercito "ERAP" Estrada.
Identified Erap groups like the OUST Gloria Movement led by Linggoy Alcuaz is somewhere near the Sandiganbayan and so is the other group led by Rez Cortez and another, that of Ronald Lumbao of PMAP. Not far behind is the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
The police are on alert and on anti-riot gears, ready for anything—all 6,000 of them.
The palace guards are on alert — the Presidential Security Group in full battle gears with tanks positioned in strategic locations in Malacanan palace.
No—there's no official engagement for the President today. The President declares this day by virtue of an Administrative Order as a Day for National Prayer and Reconciliation but her scheduled participation in the official ceremony in Batangas was cancelled. Mrs. Arroyo will have to stay in Malacanang especially during these critical hours.
Like the rest of the nation…the sitting president awaits the actual reading of the verdict.
9:23 in the morning, the three presiding justices led by Justice Teresita DeCastro asked the former President and the two other accused, Atty. Edward Serafio and Senator Jinggoy Estrada to stand as the reading of the sentence is about to begin.
The clerk of court reads: CRIMINAL CASE # 26905, PERJURY CASE—-the Court finds former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada–NOT GUILTY!
But that was not all…the bigger case is next.
The clerk of court continues her reading of the dispositive portion of the sentence, reportedly upon the request of Estrada himself. CRIMINAL CASE # 26558, PLUNDER CASE—the Court finds former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada–GUILTY!
But wait—this is an act of conspiracy—-but the Court finds his co-accused Jinggoy and Ed Serafio—NOT GUILTY of the same plunder case.
Erap gets a life sentence but was not committed directly to the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinglupa — the place for convicted criminals. For now—the Ant-Graft Court says—the former President will continue to be detained in his Tanay Rest House where he was being held in house arrest for years now.
Atty. Rene Saguisag, a former Philippine senator told the court, his client and friend expects no special treatment and is ready to go to Muntinglupa if the court so orders.
There is still a legal remedy here for Erap. There's still the Supreme Court—-and his panel of lawyers are expected to do their legal moves in the next few days—-15 days to appeal—according to court procedures.
But in his media statement a day before today's promulgation, Erap made it clear—he do not plan to make any appel if sentenced guilty of the cases filed against him.
In Filipino Erap addressed his mass supporters, "Sa aking pananaw—matagal na akong napawalang sala ng taong bayan." Guilty in the court trial, but not guilty in the hearts of the Filipino people, that's how Erap sums up the verdict handed down on him which really comes not as a surprise anymore.
The history of recent past from January of 2001 woud have to be rewritten if the verdict stamps the words, not guilty.
On the radio, television, picked up by the official audio and visual transmittal from the courtroom through the facilities of the Supreme Court's technical crew—there was an unmistakable tension in the voice of presiding justice De Castro, the only justice that spoke on the verdict day, a voice that is low, even sad, and she appears to be in a hurry to get this done and over with.
One radio reporter inside the court room described De Castro as on fighting back her tears…and in Filipino, the reporter said, "halos nangilid ang luha."
A few minutes break—a few last words from De Castro—and the most awaited reading of the verdict was over—-in less than 30-minutes, the sentencing was over.
No emotional images transmitted from the court, not even any audio of the crying of former Senator Loi Estrada, the wife of the former President, and members of their families, even some of the panel of lawyers—everthing according to plan—so as not to stir emotions from Erap supporters.
The police forces deployed were clearly disptached to prevent what was referred to in recent history as EDSA TRES of 2001. But while it is a possibility, it is very unlikely to happen. The number of policemen deployed is overwhelming, there's no really no chance for any mass based group to create havoc—and if there is indeed any plan as intelligence reports prior to this day suggest—not on this day when the authorities are ready.
Malacañan says—what the Sandiganbayan did was a clear manifestation of the rule of law. It was Secretary Ignacio Bunye speaking to the media, the President has yet to give an official reaction—that is if there's any plan for her to make a statement addressed to the nation.
As he was escorted back to Tanay Rizal, Erap walked in total bewilderment, a reminder of the same image the nation saw on the day he and his family left Malacañan Palace.
Hours after the verdict, President Arroyo according to a palace beat reporter, was seen laughing her heart out during a short talk with a foreign diplomat, but the reporter said—it was a short laugh—and what follows was also a look that relays a seeming feeling of confusion and of uncertainty of what lies ahead after this day.
Erap, the most popularly elected president of the Republic once again made history today—the first Philippine president to be sentenced guilty of a plunder case.
If there's any consolation to those who support Erap and those who believe he is innocent of the charges—the sentence handed down by the Sandiganbayan Anti-Graft Court if made final by the Supreme Court will definitely set a precedent.
The same fate could happen to the next– or any president after Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada. (end)
