No stranger to detention, Enrile unperturbed by raps, possible arrest

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile remains confident that he can avoid detention yet again—this time for his plunder case—citing similar situations in the past where he was jailed but later freed.

Speaking before local officials of Cagayan in a small gathering held in the Senate Thursday, Enrile noted that he was detained during the time of  the late President Corazon Aquino and  former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Akoy’ naniniwala sa matuwid na hustisya sa ating bayan at ating mga hukuman nama’y kahit na marami d’yang ang pumapansin o nagsasabi na walang hustisya dito, akoy naniniwala na karamihan ng ating mga huwes, mga hukom dito ay matutuwid. Sinusunod nila ang daang matuwid sapagkat ‘yan ay tunay na daan na sundin natin,” he said.

(I believe that there’s justice in our country and while there have been criticisms against our courts, I still believe that many of our judges are righteous. They are following the righteous path which we should also follow.)

“Kaya ako’y malaki ang paniniwala ko na dito sa aking hinaharap na kaso, patas-patas lang, walang pwersahan, at walang lamangan. Palagay ko mauulit din na ako ay mapapalaya kaya abangan ang susunod na kabanata simula bukas,’ he said.

(That is why I am confident that in the case that I am facing, there will be fairness and no cheating. I think that I will be freed again, so we will just have to wait for the next chapter starting tomorrow.)

Enrile said he bore no-ill feelings against those who filed charges against him, confident that in the end, the truth would set him free.

He said he would start explaining his case to the people while keeping close to his chest his legal moves.

“Pero asahan ninyo na habang meron akong hininga, at may lakas, at meron pang sapat na pag-iisip ay ipaglalaban ko ang aking alam na katotohanan para sa ganun ay maliwanagan ang kaisipan ng sambayanang Pilipino, lalong lalo na ang mga kababayan ko sa probinsya ng Cagayan, na kung saan ako ay pinanganak at lumaki at nakilala ng madla,” the senator added.

(But you can  expect that as long as I’m alive and strong and still mentally capable, I will fight for my truth so that  I can  elucidate the Filipino people, especially to my province-mates in  Cagayan where I was  born, raised and became popular)

Enrile has been charged with plunder and  graft at the Sandiganbayan along with Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla  Jr. and  other individuals allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam.

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