I am saddened by Mr. Joseph Estrada’s decision to fire his lawyers, and his statement condemning the Sandiganbayan.

The justice system is a pillar of our society. No man can pass judgement on it, nor can anyone publicly condemn it in such a sweeping manner as Mr. Estrada has. People Power I and II, and our very way of life, are all about upholding the rule of law, all about complying with the rules and procedures of the judicial system.

I have full confidence in the integrity of the Sandiganbayan and our judicial system.

An accused questioning any court’s fairness has the Supreme Court as a venue for seeking redress. No one in Estrada’s phalanx of lawyers, which include a former Supreme Court Chief Justice and a former Justice Secretary, has ever made any public statement questioning the special anti-graft court’s integrity or made such an accusation before our highest court.

Again we emphasize, Mr. Estrada’s case is before a court of law, and the judiciary is an independent branch of our government. As President once he took a vow to be the principal enforcer of our Constitution, and he had submitted himself to our justice system.