IF YOU have the law on your side, pound on the law. If you have the facts on your side, pound on the facts. But if you have neither law nor facts on your side, pound on the table.
My father, who is a lawyer, says those lines to describe how a lawyer argues and defends a case before the court. Apparently, those lines do not apply only to courtroom drama.
At this point, those asking for the President’s head neither have the law nor facts to back up their claims. There’s nothing illegal with the President talking to Virgilio Garcillano. Moreover, those alleging that President Macapagal-Arroyo rigged the elections have not produced a single piece of evidence that can directly connect her to massive poll fraud, except for the wire-tapped conversation which, sad to say, is inadmissible in court. All the President’s detractors have been doing is incite to sedition and say the unkindest of words.
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If the President is indeed guilty of an impeachable offense and election offenses, let the impeachment court and the courts of law decide.
Everyone is entitled to a presumption of innocence and to due process.
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Let President Macapagal-Arroyo decide if she wants to resign.
If she does not want to step down, then all means to remove her should be in accordance with the Constitution.
If ever the President resigns or is legally removed, then the Vice-President, Noli de Castro in our case, must become the President.
I do not agree with the proposals of a transitional government, a military junta, or an extra-constitutional succession simply because these measures are not provided for in the fundamental law of the land.
We live in a society ruled by law. If any extra-constitutional change occurs, the Philippines will be in for a rough ride. A dangerous precedent will be set.
The Philippines, at present, is no longer under a regime that would call for an exception.
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Comparing Susan Roces’ predicament with that of former President Corazon Aquino’s situation in 1983 when the latter was widowed is an insult to the memory of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. It’s a silly comparison because, in the first place, Ninoy died for a cause and Fernando Poe, Jr. died of natural causes.
Hearing the comparison is an insult to sense, common sense, that is.
