Napoles weather

In this country, justice is “weather-weather lang.” The person who memorably said this, Joseph Estrada, is the best example. Erap, convicted of plunder – an offense that could have put him away for life – instead never spent a day behind bars, and even had his political rights fully restored following his conviction. This meant that he could vote and be voted into office. So now he’s mayor of Manila – a confusing position for those in other countries who think the city refers to Metro Manila. Erap even came close to being reelected president, placing second to Noynoy Aquino in 2010.

You can understand why Erap these days can afford to laugh when he refers to himself as an “ex-convict.”

The president who gave Erap this second chance, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is also looking impressively healthy after being deemed ill enough to warrant hospital detention while being tried for several corruption cases.

GMA, now on her second term as Pampanga congresswoman, has received a clean bill of legal health. She is said to have supported Rodrigo Duterte in his presidential bid, making her one of the power brokers in his administration. Several of her former officials are in the Duterte Cabinet.

Juan Ponce Enrile, who was also declared sick enough to warrant “hospital arrest” when he was denied bail in his pork barrel-related plunder case, is also looking healthy these days following his release. The buzz is that the durable politician is lobbying mightily to have his inamorata and accused pork barrel dispenser Jessica “Gigi” Gonzales Reyes also freed on bail.

Maybe Gigi Reyes can bolster whatever testimony pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles is promising to the Duterte administration in connection with the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, a.k.a. the congressional pork barrel.

No wonder Napoles also had a wide grin the other day following her release order, after the Court of Appeals reversed her conviction for the serious illegal detention of her cousin, PDAF scam whistle-blower Benhur Luy. Those members of the CA’s 12th division have boosted their chances of promotion to the Supreme Court.

If the current “weather-weather” trend stays on track, Luy might see a full reversal of fortune and end up under arrest, like ZTE broadband scam whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr.

* * * In yet another reversal of fortune, Napoles is grinning while the justice secretary at the time of her arrest, Leila de Lima, is being held without bail.

If the grapevine is correct, Napoles will also be contributing dirt that the administration hopes will bury De Lima together with several key officials in the Aquino government.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales is also seeing the effects of “weather-weather.” So far there are no takers in the House of Representatives for the impeachment complaint against her, but the initiative to oust her is just starting.

The main complaint against her is selective justice, and going easy on Noynoy Aquino, who appointed her, and his friends and allies. The complaint is not entirely baseless, if you look at the handful of lawmakers (out of nearly 200 identified by government auditors) who were indicted and arrested for the PDAF scam.

There was also palpable reluctance in including Joseph Abaya in the corruption and extortion cases related to the mess in the Metro Rail Transit 3. As transport secretary, Abaya was the one who signed a multimillion-dollar MRT maintenance deal that was awarded without public bidding to a group connected to the Liberal Party.

Commuters continue to suffer daily from the disaster that is the MRT. President Duterte, who has vowed to wage war on graft, should make this a showcase of his resolve to punish the corrupt.

For someone promising a war on corruption, however, the President is raising eyebrows on some of the company he keeps.

Every time he is seen with certain individuals who have gained notoriety for venality, skepticism taints his avowed battle against corruption.

The skepticism is best expressed through the remark that will always be in season in this country: weatherweather lang yan.

* * * The most dramatic reversal of fortune is evident in the Marcos clan. Imelda Marcos is unbeatable as a congresswoman. Today there’s even a cooking wine named after her, invoking the luxe Imeldifique lifestyle.

President Duterte has acknowledged many times the support he received during the campaign from Marcos’ eldest daughter Imee. She was reportedly considered for the post of interior and local government secretary, and she might yet get a key post in this government.

Ferdinand Marcos is resting in peace exactly where he and his family want, in the company of heroes. There’s a strong buzz that his only son and namesake will soon become vice president. After all, the clan is enjoying perfect weather under the watch of President Duterte, an unapologetic admirer of the late strongman.

* * * The judiciary is supposed to be an independent and co-equal branch of the executive. But in truth, the chief executive can get what he wants from the judiciary by dangling promotions and appointments. Moneyed supporters can also make certain vulnerable magistrates an offer they can’t refuse.

Once ensconced especially in the Supreme Court, it becomes difficult to demand accountability in the administration of justice.

These days even the just concluded Bar exams is beset by rumors that a notorious character moved to lower the bar for passing to accommodate the underachieving children of his friends. This is said to be the reason for the unusually high percentage of examinees who passed.

Because the justice system is heavily politicized, a reversal of fortune is possible with every leadership change in this country, even for those convicted of serious offenses including betrayal of public trust.

Those who are frustrated by this state of the nation take comfort in the thought that depending on the weather in 2022, some of those who are currently in power could also end up behind bars.