Sun.Star: Erap’s fate, a no view at Iloilo Capitol

As the whole country tuned in to the television and witnessed the Sandiganbayan’s verdict on former President Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada’s perjury and plunder cases, the employees at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol were told to shut the capitol’s televisions and do their usual jobs. Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada reportedly issued the same through a verbal directive to all the employees. Only transistor radios were allowed for the employees’ coverage of the verdict Wednesday. The reading of the verdict was promulgated past 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Sandiganbayan found Erap innocent of perjury but guilty of plunder punishable by reclusion perpetua or a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment. Mejorada, who feared that television viewing might muddle government transactions at the capitol, said the employees were allowed to tune-in to radio stations but not devote their time to television during the promulgation. It can be noted that Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. is the stalwart of the Liberal Party, one of the member-parties of the genuine opposition in which Erap leads. Meanwhile, based on a survey Wednesday, local television emerged as the main medium of information of the verdict, closely followed by AM radio stations. At the Iloilo City Hall, employees were observed to have concentrated less on television coverage. As early as 6 a.m. Wednesday, the verdict for Erap was the most popular topic among coffee shop goers in Iloilo Central Market and La Paz Public Market. In Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo’s "Tingug sang Banwa" survey on Sandiganbayan decision, majority of the Ilonggos predicted that Erap will be found guilty of plunder. Tupas did not make any comment regarding the verdict but Mayor Jerry Treñas earlier pronounced that Erap might be convicted as charged. - Sun Star