Never Outfought in the Battle against Corruption: Statement of Support for the Special Prosecutor

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT

        Quote “We have worked closely with the Honorable Special Prosecutor in the 6-year Estrada Plunder trial. We attest that we are witnesses to his uncompromising integrity, independence, industry, dedication, professional competence and honesty  — values that, for some, may be the cause of insecurity, envy or even contempt; hence, the current efforts to ease him out.

           Quote “But these values displayed by the Special Prosecutor especially in times when, as a fellowship prosecuting the Estrada Plunder case, we felt alone and abandoned in a struggle we knew to be just, are exactly what the Office of the Ombudsman need. The silence of the Ombudsman, with nary a jubilation for the most successful “big fish” prosecution of her Office when the Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada, is a curious revelation. Perhaps, the Special Prosecutor did carry the burden of the Office alone.

           Quote “And now, this is his reward?

            Quote “Beyond motives and personalities, and as citizens, we condemn every effort to undermine the authority and independence of the Special Prosecutor and the Office of the Ombudsman, as constitutional Protectors of the People. Thus, we condemn in the strongest terms, the ploy of those concerned, to reduce the issues of professional integrity, fair play and public trust brought to the fore by the Special Prosecutor, to one of a numbers game – a popularity contest, where subordinates appear to necessarily, even expectedly, parade for a patron – while the real issues are skirted and buried.

         Quote “Fact – the SWS reported the following net sincerity ratings for the Office of the Ombudsman in fighting corruption: from a -5 in 2000, +7 in 2001, to +21 in 2003, +28 in 2004, +22 in 2005, then down to +5 in 2006. By December 2007, the net satisfaction of the government in eradicating graft and corruption was -29. Shouldn’t the Office of the Ombudsman concentrate on this, rather than unjustly persecute the Special Prosecutor?

          Quote “The Filipino people deserve more meaningful and relevant actions from the Office of the Ombudsman: beyond press conferences and useless pageantry, beyond pretentious numbers and ambitious posturing.   

          Quote “We have previously banded in fellowship for what we believe is righteous; we do so again: this time, to defend a good man. The fellowship continues as we stand together and say to the Special Prosecutor: Stay the course. The fight against graft and corruption has always been a lonely battle. This much we have learned in our time together. Time and true struggle will unmask the mere opportunist and those without conviction. We have faith in you.” Closed-quote.

SIGNED BY: