Sandigan: All set for promulgation of Erap verdict
09/12/2007 | 06:35 AM
The Sandiganbayan said it was all systems go for the 9 a.m. promulgation of its verdict on the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada, even as it insisted that the decision remains a closely guarded secret before dawn Wednesday.
"Lahat na po nakahanda na (Everything is ready)," Renato Bocar, spokesman for the Sandiganbayan Special Division, told dzBB radio.
He refused to confirm nor deny speculations that the decision was 1,000 pages thick, saying only a handful of people have access to the information.
"Until now nobody knows what the decision is except the justices, the one who typed the decision and the person who photocopied the decision," Bocar said in Filipino.
Bocar said it was still unknown if the entire decision would be read because this would only be known during the proceedings which will begin at 9 a.m.
"It's possible that the whole decision would be read if former President Estrada and his lawyers request this from the tribunal," Bocar said.
He added that, "Under the Constitution, the accused has the right to know the factual and legal basis of the decision."
The Sandiganbayan Special Division is comprised of Presiding Justice and chair Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz and Diosdado Peralta.
Last Tuesday, Bocar said the three justices already reached a unanimous decision on the plunder and perjury case against Estrada.
Bocar said that if one member of the special division disagreed with the majority ruling, the promulgation date would not have been announced unless the impasse was broken. All divisions of the anti-graft court are required to render unanimous resolutions or decisions.
Under the graft court's internal rules, in case there is no unanimous decision, a special division of five justices would be convened to vote on the issue at bar, with the presiding justice empowered to appoint the two new members. - GMANews.TV
"Lahat na po nakahanda na (Everything is ready)," Renato Bocar, spokesman for the Sandiganbayan Special Division, told dzBB radio.
He refused to confirm nor deny speculations that the decision was 1,000 pages thick, saying only a handful of people have access to the information.
"Until now nobody knows what the decision is except the justices, the one who typed the decision and the person who photocopied the decision," Bocar said in Filipino.
Bocar said it was still unknown if the entire decision would be read because this would only be known during the proceedings which will begin at 9 a.m.
"It's possible that the whole decision would be read if former President Estrada and his lawyers request this from the tribunal," Bocar said.
He added that, "Under the Constitution, the accused has the right to know the factual and legal basis of the decision."
The Sandiganbayan Special Division is comprised of Presiding Justice and chair Teresita Leonardo-De Castro and Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz and Diosdado Peralta.
Last Tuesday, Bocar said the three justices already reached a unanimous decision on the plunder and perjury case against Estrada.
Bocar said that if one member of the special division disagreed with the majority ruling, the promulgation date would not have been announced unless the impasse was broken. All divisions of the anti-graft court are required to render unanimous resolutions or decisions.
Under the graft court's internal rules, in case there is no unanimous decision, a special division of five justices would be convened to vote on the issue at bar, with the presiding justice empowered to appoint the two new members. - GMANews.TV
