Enrile: Refrain from talking about Arroyo case

MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile is urging everyone to refrain from making statements so as not to influence the election-sabotage case filed against former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“As much as possible, we should refrain (from issuing statements on Arroyo’s case),” Enrile told reporters on Monday.

Arroyo’s case, he said, should be better left to the court handling it.

“Ano man ang sabihin namin, opinion lang yan and we should not try to influence the minds of the judges. That’s why I don’t want to speak about the pending cases (filed against Arroyo),” said the Senate leader.

In the United States, Enrile pointed out that juries are not only confined in a room; they could not also read newspapers, watch news on television, and they could not be interviewed.

“Sa atin, very open. Mahirap yun, we could affect the mind of the judge,” he said.