For shame

“In the meantime, a person’s reputation now destroyed, will be seen as guilty of whatever crime he stands accused — and by the Senate.

Another official continues to be tried by publicity and has been virtually convicted by the Philippine Senate’s blue ribbon committee. And it doesn’t look like it is likely to end soon, as the committee chairman, Sen. Richard Gordon, has already announced that, despite the resignation of Philippine National Police (PNP)chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde from his post, he is still “not off the hook.”

Gordon’s committee is into finalizing its report, saying that “there really is a surfeit of evidence” against Albayalde and the senator wants the President and the Department of Justice to act on the committee’s recommendation.

“It would be a national disappointment if Malacañang does not act on his panel’s recommendation,” stressed Gordon.

However, Gordon also says that Albayalde “might possibly be involved in charges” adding that “We’re looking at the minimum — neglect of duty and possible corruption and possible conspiracy to distribute drugs,” Gordon was earlier quoted as saying. So, what does the senator’s “strong evidence” show when the committee is still mulling over whether the charges should be administrative or criminal?

Not to be outdone in the style of convicting without evidence, opposition Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said the government failed to go after all the police officers who resigned from their positions because of links to illegal drugs, corruption or incompetence.

He seems to forget that even before this government, there was the previous government led by his yellow president, who certainly more than failed to go after the police officers who resigned from their position due to links to illegal drugs and corruption.

Gee, even some of the yellow president’s police officials were clearly linked to illegal drugs and big time drug smuggling. And oh, not to forget, the yellow administration even has an accused drug trader facing trial, Noynoy Aquino’s then Justice Secretary!

Really, these yellows should stop their holier than thou stance and just shut their trap.

Senators should remember that they are not prosecutors, even when they always try to act like them when they hold committee hearings, hardly ever presuming innocence of the person being accused, virtually declaring him guilty, and worse, conducting an unfair trial and conviction by publicity as reputations are torn to shreds, even in the absence of strong evidence.

Senators in such committees should remember that which they claim is evidence — usually merely based on what one testifies against the person the committee members want to destroy, for whatever reason they want — may not be weighed or appreciated in court as strong evidence.

In the meantime, a person’s reputation now destroyed, will be seen as guilty of whatever crime he stands accused — and by the Senate.

Worse, it is not only the Senate’s accused who suffers from a reputation torn to shreds, but his family members, and for a crime that has not been proved at all — nor was evidence weighed by the court as strong evidence.

The way these Senate hearings are being conducted — which seems to be more in line with the Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada, known for being responsible for the death of thousands of Jews and suspected witches during the Spanish Inquisition — the senators’ intent seems to get whoever they accuse out of office, and before his time, with or without evidence.

And the person will have been rendered useless in performing the tasks he is mandated to do.

As stated by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Albayalde’s stepping down was a “selfless act,” explaining that it would be difficult or even impossible for Albayalde to perform his tasks considering the unresolved issues against him as well as the ongoing investigations of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

“It’s becoming difficult for him as PNP chief with all these allegations — and the Senate hearings continue. He can no longer concentrate on his job, he (Albayalde) realized what is good for the organization and he wanted to spare the President and the organization from all these controversies,” Año said.

Of course, anyone who has been virtually convicted by the Senate committee that has been conducting a trial and conviction by publicity, would no longer be effective in his job, precisely because of the way senators have treated their investigation of their targeted official.

The way it goes at the Senate, it’s been all about holding endless investigations and getting media publicity while these senators continue to destroy reputations.