Guilty sentence vs Acosta belies ‘selective justice’ in Aquino admin–Drilon

GUILTY SENTENCE Nereus Acosta, presidential adviser for environmental protection and ex-Bukidnon province representative, was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison by the Sandiganbayan for allocating P5.5million of his pork barrel to a family-owned foundation. JOAN BONDOC

The Sandiganbayan’s decision to sentence a Cabinet member to up to 10 years in prison belied allegations of “selective justice” under the Aquino administration, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

Drilon was referring to the case of Nereus Acosta, presidential adviser for environmental protection, who has been found guilty by the Sandiganbayan for allocating P5.5 million of his pork barrel to a foundation owned by his family when he was a Bukidnon representative in 2006.

READ: Cabinet man, mom get 10 yrs for graft

Acosta is also a member of the administration’s Liberal party (LP) while Drilon is the party’s vice chairman.

“Ipinapakita lang po sa hatol na ito na walang katotohanan ang mga paratang na may selective justice sa paglaban sa korapsyon sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Noynoy,” Drilon said in an interview over DZRH, referring to President Benigno Aquino III.

“Malinaw po na umiral ang batas dito sa kasong ito ni Secretary Acosta, at lubos na nirerespeto natin ang naging hatol ng Sandiganbayan. Yaan po ang tinatawag nating rule of law, susundin natin,” he said.

(The verdict only shows that there is to truth to the accusations of selective justice in the fight against corruption in the administration of President [Aquino].

It is clear that justice has prevailed in the case of Secretary Acosta, and we greatly respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan. That’s what we call the rule of law.)

The Senate leader though pointed out that there are still remedies available for Acosta to appeal the decision of the anti-graft court.

“Ipinapakita lang dito na ang importante, lahat tayo ay pantay-pantay sa ilalim ng batas, kapartido man o hindi,” Drilon.

“Uulitin ko lang, nagpapatunay ito na walang katotohanan ang mga paratang na may selective justice sa paglaban sa korapsyon sa kasalukuyang administrasyon,” he added.

(This only shows that the important thing is that we are all equals in the eyes of the law, party member or not.

I will repeat that this proves that there is no truth to the accusations that there is selective justice in the fight against corruption in the current administration.)

Presidential aspirant Grace Poe earlier noted that the administration has not filed cases against “important“ members of LP like Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Poe has been calling for Abaya’s resignation or dismissal from office for his alleged “incompetence and shortsightedness.” CDG

READ: Poe urges Aquino: Fire ‘incompetent, shortsighted’ Abaya