NANINIWALA si dating Sen. Leila de Lima na malakas ang kasong plunder na isinampa ng Department of Justice-National Bureau of Investigation Task Force sa Ombudsman laban kay dating Sen. Jinggoy Estrada kaugnay sa kontrobersyal na multi-milyong pisong pork barrel scam.
Si De Lima ang Justice secretary nang asuntuhin ng administrasyong Aquino noong 2014 sina Estrada, Juan Ponce-Enrile, Bong Revilla, Janet Lim Napoles at iba pang politiko at personalidad sa maling paggamit ng Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“I’m curious to find out what element or elements of the crime of plunder the Sandiganbayan deemed wanting and/or why evidence was deemed insufficient to support conviction for that crime,” ani De Lima matapos iabsuwelto ng Sandiganbayan si Estrada sa kasong plunder at hatulang guilty sa isang kaso ng direct bribery at dalawang kaso ng indirect bribery.
“I believe that we had a strong case against Sen. Jinggoy when the DOJ-NBI Special Task Force filed the plunder complaint against him with the Ombudsman,” dagdag niya, hinggil sa naging testimonta ng middlewoman na si Ruby Tuason, isa sa mga testigo ng estado laban kay Estrada.
“(Tuason) said she dealt directly with the senator (Estrada) and Napoles insofar as his PDAF funds were concerned,” ani De Lima.
“Even Benhur Luy stated he personally delivered Jinggoy’s kickbacks to his secretary, Pauline Labayen, who had since then gone missing,” dagdag niya.
Si Luy ang principal whistleblower sa pork barrel scam, na naging state witness.
Dati siyang nagtrabaho kay Napoles, ang itinuturong mastermind ng pork barrel scam sa pamamagitan ng bogus non-government organizations (NGOs).
Gayonman, tinatanggap ni De Lima ang desisyon ng Sandiganbayan na guilty si Estrada sa bribery at indirect bribery.
Kapag inapela aniya ni Estrada ang guilty verdict sa Korte Suprema, may tsansang mabago ang desisyon, maaaring iabsuwelto siya o hatulang guilty sa kasong plunder.
“If Sen. Jinggoy appeals this conviction, there is still a chance that the SC will modify this judgment to either an acquittal, on one hand, or a plunder conviction, on the other. Of course, I have yet to read the decision to find out whether Sen. Jinggoy risks a plunder conviction with the SC if he still appeals the SB decision convicting him only of bribery,” sabi ni De Lima.
“I am sure that is what his lawyers are already studying at this very moment. Because once they appeal to the SC, the [Sandiganbayan] judgment is opened wide for modifications, including a conviction for plunder, without violating the rule on double jeopardy,” aniya. (ZIA LUNA)