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If there’s a bigger picture, he will see it and show us: Ricky Carandang explores further and sits: the Special Prosecutor Judge Dennis Villaignacio in the first full-length interview on reported moves from the Office of the Ombudsman to remove SP Judge Dennis from his post “in preparation for post 2010 plans”, defying, as it seems, a memo from the Ombudsman not to give interviews to the press about their work without clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman.Find outtonight Thursday 8:00 pm in theshow “The Big Picture” at the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). That’s 8:00 pm (tonight), watch it live, uncut, uncensored.
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26 August 2008. Media advisory released by lawyers Arno Sanidad, Christian “Bot” Lim, Anthony Peralta:
TAÑADA HEADS LEGAL DEFENSE TEAM FOR
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR VILLA-IGNACIO
Quote “Former senator and congressman Wigberto “Bobby” Tañada entered his appearance on August 26, 2008 as lead counsel for Special Prosecutor Dennis M. Villa-Ignacio in the case of estafa filed against the latter and pending with the Internal Affairs Board (IAB) of the Office of the Ombudsman.Joining Tañada in the defense team are Attys. Pablito Sanidad, Arno Sanidad, Anthony Peralta and Christian Lim, all of whom were private prosecutors in the Estrada Plunder trial.It seems a reunion of sorts for these defense lawyers considering that former Congressman Tanada himself was among the congressmen-prosecutors in the Estrada impeachment proceedings.
Quote “The complainant, Elvira Chua, earlier filed the case against Villa-Ignacio allegedly because the P26,000.00 Chua donated allegedly for typhoon victims in Quezon in 2005, was instead donated to Gawad Kalinga Foundation.
Quote “Villa-Ignacio also filed on August 26, 2008 his Counter-Affidavit with the IAB.Villa-Ignacio questioned the legality of the proceedings before the IAB and claimed that the composition of the IAB for his case was illegal since the Chairman, Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, was allegedly disqualified under the Rules of the Ombudsman since Chua, as complainant, belonged to the same unit as Casimiro. Moreover, Villa-Ignacio cited continuing violations of his right to due process since orders of the IAB were never furnished his counsel even as Attys. Sanidad, Peralta and Lim already previously entered their appearance. “The manner that the orders were served and their missing documents indicate that there is an overall scheme to keep me in the dark and ease me out”, said Villa-Ignacio. Earlier, Villa-Ignacio had cried foul on obvious attempts to marginalize his office and its independence, and ultimately oust him as Special Prosecutor.
Quote “Warding off the charges of estafa, Villa-Ignacio claims that the entire process of donating the funds to Gawad Kalinga was marked by transparency and consensus by employees of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, after the intended direct donation to Quezon residents became not feasible. Villa-Ignacio claims that Chua was used as a “willing tool” by those who wanted him out and that these allegations, despite their obvious lack of merit, have been brandished by some as leverage.” Closed-quote.
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.
Atty. Anton Peralta texted that the presscon announced in yesterday’s media advisory has been cancelled because Atty. Arno Sanidad has an important case to attend to. To our dear friends in the press who may have made arrangements in their sked: Please accept my sincere apologies
