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Erap acquittal seen

     * Sen. Pres. Pimentel resigns*
      Rallies at Ayala and Senate today
       The acquittal of President Estrada in the on-going impeachment trial became imminent last night amidst a tensely charged atmosphere when the members of the impeachment court took a vote on whether to open the second envelope containing highly guarded secret on Pres. Estrada’s bank deposit with the Equitable PCI Bank.
      The senator-judges voted 11 to 10 opposing the opening of the envelope. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel was last to explain his vote favoring the opening of the envelope. He immediately announced his resignation as senate president.
      The numbers of the impeachment court voted along partisan line as expected by observers who have been watching the daily television coverage.
      The tear-eyed Senate president in explaining his vote said: “I vote to open the second envelope. I vote to do so because that is the only way to determine whether or not the contents of the envelope are relevant or material to the case at bar.
      “Because of this development, Mr. Chief Justice, I realize that the no’s have it and therefore I resign in my presidency of the Senate as soon as my successor is elected.”
      Bedlam instantly ensued in the impeachment court. Thereupon Majority Leader Francisco Tatad moved for the adjournment of the session until 2 o’clock today.
      Those who voted against the opening of the envelope were senator-judges Francisco Tatad, Juan Ponce Enrile, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Miriam Defensor Santiago, and Vicente Sotto, John Osmena, Nikki Coseteng, Gringo Honasan, Robert Jaworski, Blas Ople, and Ramon Revilla.
      The senators who voted for the opening of the envelope were senator-judges Loren Legarda, Franklin Drilon, Raul Roco, Teofisto Guingona, Rodulfo Biazon, Renato Cayetano, Serge Osmena, Ramon Magsaysay,Juan Flavier, and Senate President Pimentel.
      Observers believed that the trend of the voting last night will follow the same trend when the final voting of the impeachment proceedings. It was conceded the acquittal of President Estrada in the impeachment case is a foregone conclusion.
      Since 15 votes are required to convict the President, it would be more difficult to convict him.
      The voting was triggered by a heated argument whether the body will vote for the opening of the envelope which was subpoenaed by the impeachment court from the Equitable PCI Bank. The contents were believed to contain proofs about the President’s other bank deposits with the Equitable PICB.
      It may be recalled that the first envelope was opened also after heated argument but Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. had directed to allow the opening subject to the condition that the prosecution will establish, the relevance and materiality of the documents to the case at bar.
      While the impeachment rules authorized the chief justice the option to decide on the matter in the case of the second envelope, Floor Leader Tatad filed an insant motion asking the body to decide on the opening of the envelope. Chief Justice Davide was preempted from exercising his option since a motion has already been filed and duly seconded.
      Every senator was asked to explain his vote.
     The no votes won by slim one vote majority. Only 21 senators voted due to the absence of Senator James Barber who is in the United States for treatment.
The private prosecutors group immediately walked out from the hall in protest of the result of the voting.
       Senate President Pimentel and Drilon who just fought for the senate presidency realized that they are for the same cause. The two erstwhile rivals were tear-eyed and embraced each other in an emotion filled scene. Several senators also shed tears including Senator Loren Legarda Leviste.

MASS PROTEST
      Metro Manila went out to the streets at 11 o’clock last night to hold noise barrage as their first sign of protest on the outcome of the impeachment trial.
Bingo Dejaresco, CHRONICLE Manila correspondent reported that the noise barrage virtually rocked the entire Metropolitan Manila area for more than 15 minutes with blowing of horns and banging of gates and chantings.
      Two huge rallies will start at 11 o’clock  this morning along Ayala Avenue in Makati and another at the World Trade Centre along Roxas Boulevard near the Senate.
      Thousands of Metro Manilas will be wearing black shirts or black arm bands as they go to their offices and schools today to dramatize their disgust on the impeachment trial of Pres. Estrada.
       There were reports that the biggest rally is being organized to repeat the happening during the 1983 EDSA Revolution.

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