(Eagle News)–The Palace on Monday, Feb. 11, defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of Jinggoy Estrada’s comeback Senate bid even if he was facing plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Estrada was after all still presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He noted that Estrada was also granted bail by the Sandiganbayan, which is “anchored on the fact that evidence of guilt is not strong.”
“We have to respect the Constitution. We have to bow to the majesty of what the Constitution says: the presumption of innocence prevails regardless of who you are, whether you an ally or a friend,” Panelo said.
He said that while surveys show that the the President “has made many perceived to be unpopular decisions…yet the survey (showing his high popularity) remains.”
He said that this meant that Filipinos trust the chief executive.
Even then, he said it would still be the people who would ultimately decide in the elections.
