Miriam hit for trial statements

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a staunch ally of President Estrada, is making the President’s impeachment trial by the Senate a "moro-moro or palabas (stage show)," an opposition congressman said yesterday.

Rep. Ernesto Herrera (Lakas, Bohol) made the assertion in reaction to his former Senate colleague’s statement that Mr. Estrada will be acquitted by the Senate because eight senators will vote against removing the Chief Executive from office.

Herrera said Santiago owes the Filipino people a full explanation on why she made her fearless prediction.

"If what Miriam said is true, then the impending impeachment trial will just be a moro-moro or palabas," he said.

"She must be privy to whatever arrangement Malacañang has made with her and her seven colleagues. She even had the courage to drop the names of these seven senators," he said.

But leaders from Western Visayas denounced yesterday what they described as "black propaganda" against the Ilonggos’ "favorite daughter."

In a statement, Bacolod City Mayor Oscar Verdeflor said negative text messages coming out against Santiago are futile attempts to destroy her credibility because critics cannot find loopholes in her legal arguments.

"Obviously, there is funding for this anti-Miriam campaign," said Verdeflor backed by other officials in the region from where the senator hails.

Another opposition congressman, Rep. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, said Santiago’s forecast of the President’s acquittal "is unfortunate and uncalled for, to say the least."

"I think she has prejudged the case against the President even before actual trial starts," he said.

Herrera is one of the complainants in the case, while Moreno is among the 11 congressmen led by Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Lakas, Quezon City) who will prosecute Mr. Estrada.

Santiago was quoted as saying that a "core group" of eight senators loyal to the President will vote against removing Mr. Estrada from office.

The group includes her. She named her seven colleagues as Blas Ople, John Henry Osmeña, Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Francisco Tatad, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Vicente Sotto III.

Under the Constitution, a vote of two-thirds (15 to 16) of members of the Senate is required to convict the President.

If eight senators are to vote against removal, Mr. Estrada will be acquitted.

Herrera said he gives weight to Santiago’s fearless forecast "because she is close to the President."

"As proof of her closeness, her husband is a local government undersecretary, a brother is the commander of the Air Force, a sister is an assistant secretary in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and at least another relative holds a high government position," he said.

He expressed the hope that what Santiago said "is not true."

"I know that most of those she claimed to belong to her core group are bright, reasonable and honorable men. They will eventually see the light and vote according to what their conscience dictates," he said.

"One of them is a close friend. He is loyal to friends, but he will follow his conscience," he added.

He was referring to Ople, the Senate’s No. 2 official. Herrera, when he was still senator, and Ople were known among reporters as the inseparable "Batman and Robin."

Ople was a Marcos-regime labor minister until the EDSA people power revolution in February 1986. During the dying hours of the Marcos era, he was sent to the United States to lobby for support for the fallen dictator.

Ople is apparently grateful to Mr. Estrada for brokering a term-sharing agreement for the Senate presidency between him and ousted Senate President Franklin Drilon in 1998.

Herrera said even Osmeña, who is a close friend of Mr. Estrada, has made no clear commitment to vote for his friend’s acquittal.

"He has told the governor of my province (Bohol) that he would like to see the evidence," he said.

Among senators, Osmeña and Oreta, a sister of the late former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., are said to be closest to the President. Until recently, Oreta was a constant companion of Mr. Estrada in his trips here and abroad.

The names of the two are in the ledger of alleged jueteng money recipients of presidential accuser Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson of Ilocos Sur who claimed he gave them P1 million each on instructions of the President.

Osmeña and Oreta later admitted they received the money but said they thought it was balato from gambling winnings.

Meanwhile, Herrera revealed that military and police agents spying on anti-Estrada protesters and the opposition are using fake media identification cards in doing their job.

He said Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes and Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson should not tolerate what their agents are doing and should punish them for misrepresentation.

"Misrepresentation is a criminal act. They should not sanction this. In fact, they should charge their men who are using media ID cards. They should not be using the media," he said.

He suggested that the agents, "use their military or police cards or even Malacañang ID tags."

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora earlier admitted that the government is video-taping and recording anti-Estrada protests and mass actions, and the speeches of major opposition personalities.