Palace aware justice system needs fixing, says exec

By: Christian V. Esguerra - 10 years ago

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.: No time for politics INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang acknowledged Tuesday the need to reform the whole criminal justice system following complaints that senators detained for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam were getting special treatment.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma did not respond directly to complaints detailed by John Silva of the Ortigas Foundation Library in his “open letter” now circulating on social media.

“We acknowledge that we continue to deal with a criminal justice system that needs to be overhauled and reformed in order to be truly fair and equitable,” Coloma said. “We are determined to pursue these reforms and with the support of a vigilant and enlightened citizenry, we may be able to achieve significant gains.”

Coloma said the Palace was “hoping that the Sandiganbayan will conduct a fair and speedy trial that will ensure the triumph of truth and justice.”

In his open letter to President Benigno Aquino, Silva demanded an explanation why Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. were staying in “huge comfy jail cells.”

Silva drew comparisons between the senators’ detention place and the cell where the President’s father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., once stayed.

“In one cell, Ninoy had only a chamber pot, not a private bathroom. His bed was smaller with little to nothing inside that cell. There’s a repro of the cell in your family museum in Tarlac,” he reminded the President. “Your dad didn’t go to jail for stealing. He was into more heady stuff like a return to democracy, human rights and moral convictions. So why the hell are you treating these senators with kid gloves, these guys who can’t seem to recall, account, or sign off on billions of missing pesos?”

Revilla has been detained since Friday while Estrada joined him at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crama three days later.

Revilla’s camp earlier complained of intense heat in his cell, warning that the condition might trigger his migraine. It also cited the presence of rats and roaches inside the detention facility, which used to serve as officers’ quarters.

“These people now charged with plundering our hard earned money are going to get hotel-size rooms with their own toilets and probably even hot water,” Silva wrote. “Pray tell how are they going to repent if they have a toilet bowl with a toilet seat instead of a chamber pot? How are they going to get a catharsis if they wake up all bright and fresh and not bothered by other snoring cellmates?”