The Sandiganbayan today
found former President Joseph Estrada guilty of the crime of plunder. He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison. He was, however, acquitted in his perjury case. His co-accused in the plunder case, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward Serapio, were also acquitted.
Click here to read the Sandiganbayan Decision on the Estrada Plunder Case.
GMANews.TV reports that “the Supreme Court had allowed the live broadcast of the Sandiganbayan’s verdict on the P4.1-billion plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada…”
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomed the development, saying a contrary decision would have been against the constitutional right of access to information.
The coverage the Supreme Court granted is still very limited but in responding favorably to the petition, it upheld the right of the people to information on such an important and historic issue and ensured the timely and speedy delivery of the information.
As in the issues of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, the High Court once again showed independence and adherence to our fundamental rights and liberties.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) today urged the Sandiganbayan to rescind its ban on live media coverage during the promulgation of the plunder case against deposed president Joseph Estrada.
“At the very least, we ask the anti-graft court to allow pooled coverage of the proceedings,” the NUJP said in a statement. (more…)
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