Erap Plunder Trial
Villaruz is included in the 3-justices panel who tried the anti-graft court’s special division on the Erap plunder case. The Sandiganbayan, has 90 days or until mid-September 2007 to decide the case of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, but the decision could be issued much sooner than that. Villaruz was candidate for the vacant post of Supreme Court Associate Justice, duly nominated by the JBC for the vacancy due to retirement of Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez.
On September 5, 2007, Leonardo-de Castro, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Francisco Villaruz, Jr. were assigned 2 extra bodyguards 3 weeks ago per initiative of the Sheriff (after getting threatening messages from an anonymous person). Renato Bocar, executive clerk of court confirmed the “new face" in De Castro’s office who has been “acting like a bodyguard."
On September 7, 2007, the Sandiganbayan's Teresita De Castro announced that the graft court will promulgate the judgment on September 12, 2007 in the 6-year-old plunder trial (October 2001 to June 15, 2007) of ousted President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. The verdict will also include his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada; and lawyer Eduardo Serapio. Court Sheriff Ed Urieta said tight security will include 4,000 police and 2,000 soldiers, and military. Estrada is accused of stealing 4 billion pesos (US$81 million; €62 million) in illegal funds and falsely declaring his assets. On September 11, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines allowed live television (broadcast media) coverage of the Sandiganbayan's Joseph Estrada's promulgation of judgment on September 12, 2007 (granting the petition of the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas). The court, however, directed media to hook up with a video camera of the personnel of the Supreme Court public information office.
On September 11, 2007, as controversial political figure, Estrada released a statement to the poor Filipinos: "I have been imprisoned for 6 years, 4 months and 17 days but because of your prayers, help and love, I have endured all these ... Whatever the Sandiganbayan (corruption court) will decide, I am ready because I know my countrymen have acquitted me.
Read more about this topic: Francisco Villaruz, Jr.
Famous quotes containing the words plunder and/or trial:
“Actually we are a vulgar, pushing mob whose passions are easily mobilized by demagogues, newspaper men, religious quacks, agitators and such like. To call this a society of free peoples is blasphemous. What have we to offer the world besides the superabundant loot which we recklessly plunder from the earth under the maniacal delusion that this insane activity represents progress and enlightenment?”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)
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