Erap could go to jail if PLDT forced-sale issue prospers – Gonzalez
Could former President Joseph Estrada end up in jail again because of Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s accusations against him?
Chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez said that based on Lacson’s privilege speech last Monday, Estrada could be slapped with corruption, coercion, and even bribery charges for allegedly forcing Alfonso T. Yuchengco to sell his sizeable PLDT shares to Manuel Pangilinan.
“The PLDT (case) seems to be a new one," Gonzalez said in an interview Tuesday, adding that this case seems “safer" to pursue.
According to Gonzalez, the Ombudsman could investigate motu propio Lacson’s claims while Yuchengco’s confirmation could be used as “additional evidence."
The Palace legal counsel explained that only the PLDT issue could be used to charge Estrada because the jueteng allegations were already used against the former president when he was tried for plunder before the Sandiganbayan.
Gonzalez said filing charges against somebody for the same offense would amount to double jeopardy.
The Sandiganbayan found Estrada guilty of plunder in September 2007 and sentenced him to life imprisonment, or a jail term of 20 years and one day to 40 years. But the term was promptly commuted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the condition that he would not run for any elective post again.
In a separate press briefing held on the same day that Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada delivered his privilege speech to counter Lacson's accusations against his father, deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar cautioned him, the elder Estrada, and Lacson to observe proper behavior in airing their personal grudges in public.
"I trust the parties involved will observe the proper restraint in their behavior. Otherwise the court I imagine would impose the appropriate restraint on their speech and conduct," Olivar said.
"We trust that the good senators comport themselves in a manner that sets good example to children who watch them on TV and read about them," Olivar said.
The Palace spokesperson avoided speculating on Lacson's motives behind his allegations, but did not discount the possibility that it was political.
"Given the identity of participants involved and how this is brought out we really can't get away from the fact that nahaluan na ito ng pulitika (this already smacks of politics)," he said.
Olivar said that the Palace is concerned with what is happening in the Senate, but there is no need for executive intervention yet.
He also expressed hopes that the matter would be properly addressed, particularly the alleged PLDT forced-sale issue and its possible effects on the country’s business climate. - AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.Tv
Chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez said that based on Lacson’s privilege speech last Monday, Estrada could be slapped with corruption, coercion, and even bribery charges for allegedly forcing Alfonso T. Yuchengco to sell his sizeable PLDT shares to Manuel Pangilinan.
“The PLDT (case) seems to be a new one," Gonzalez said in an interview Tuesday, adding that this case seems “safer" to pursue.
According to Gonzalez, the Ombudsman could investigate motu propio Lacson’s claims while Yuchengco’s confirmation could be used as “additional evidence."
The Palace legal counsel explained that only the PLDT issue could be used to charge Estrada because the jueteng allegations were already used against the former president when he was tried for plunder before the Sandiganbayan.
Gonzalez said filing charges against somebody for the same offense would amount to double jeopardy.
The Sandiganbayan found Estrada guilty of plunder in September 2007 and sentenced him to life imprisonment, or a jail term of 20 years and one day to 40 years. But the term was promptly commuted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the condition that he would not run for any elective post again.
In a separate press briefing held on the same day that Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada delivered his privilege speech to counter Lacson's accusations against his father, deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar cautioned him, the elder Estrada, and Lacson to observe proper behavior in airing their personal grudges in public.
"I trust the parties involved will observe the proper restraint in their behavior. Otherwise the court I imagine would impose the appropriate restraint on their speech and conduct," Olivar said.
"We trust that the good senators comport themselves in a manner that sets good example to children who watch them on TV and read about them," Olivar said.
The Palace spokesperson avoided speculating on Lacson's motives behind his allegations, but did not discount the possibility that it was political.
"Given the identity of participants involved and how this is brought out we really can't get away from the fact that nahaluan na ito ng pulitika (this already smacks of politics)," he said.
Olivar said that the Palace is concerned with what is happening in the Senate, but there is no need for executive intervention yet.
He also expressed hopes that the matter would be properly addressed, particularly the alleged PLDT forced-sale issue and its possible effects on the country’s business climate. - AIE BALAGTAS SEE, GMANews.Tv
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
