MANILA, Philippines – Tinawag ni Senador Imee Marcos nitong Biyernes, Mayo 29 na political persecution ang pagsasampa ng reklamong plunder at graft laban kay Senador Jinggoy Estrada at iba pang kaalyado sa majority bloc sa Senado.
Sinabi Marcos at Estrada ay kabilang sa 13-member majority bloc na pinamumunuan ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Political persecution,” mensahe ng presidential sister matapos na maghain ng kaso ang Office of the Ombudsman laban kay Estrada sa Sandiganbayan nitong Huwebes.
“The timing of these cases and the attempt by the minority, who are, by the way, openly aligned with the administration, to block online participation by senators make it very clear that the cases against Jinggoy and other majority senators are not about justice or accountability. It is about the desperation of the administration to hold on to power,” dagdag pa niya.
Mayroon pang tatlong miyembro ng majority bloc ang iniimbestigahan ng Office of the Ombudsman sa posibleng reklamong plunder at iba pang kaso. Ito ay sina Senador Rodante Marcoleta, Francis “Chiz” Escudero at Joel Villanueva.
Sina Estrada, Escudero at Villanueva ay nadidiin sa maanomalyang flood control projects, habang ang reklamo naman laban kay Marcoleta ay may kaugnayan sa umano’y P75 milyong campaign donations na natanggap niya nang tumakbo noong 2025.
Ngunit sinabi ni Marcos na dapat ay magkaroon muna ng “presumption of innocence.”
“At this point, jail is not considered punishment since they are presumed innocent,” ipinunto pa niya.
Samantala, sinabi ni Marcos na nababahala siya sa matinding pagtutol ng mga senador sa panukala ni Marcoleta na amyendahan ang Senate rules na payagan ang mga miyembro nito na dumalo sa sesyon ‘remotely.’
Aniya, ang pagpigil sa mga senador na lumahok online ay magbabalewala sa boto ng milyon-milyong Filipino na bumoto sa mga ito.
“Except for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, they are not really ‘fugitives.’ They did not resist; they complied with whatever court order was issued. Their physical absence was involuntary,” ipinunto ni Marcos.
“If the filing of these cases is not political persecution or a plot to diminish the power of the majority by the administration, then the minority senators who are admin aligned should show that such is the case by allowing majority senators to participate,” dagdag pa nito.
“What prejudice or injury would online participation cause them? Would its impact on the majority bloc be greater than its impact on the millions who voted for the majority senators?” pagpapatuloy ni Imee. RNT/JGC
