I predict Tanda will be acquitted. Pogi will admit he is Pogi. Sexy will also admit but he will face an additional charge of perjury.
Tanda has from the very beginning stated that he does not know Napoles, that he has had no dealings with her. In addition, he said that due to his age his doctors have advised him to stay away from pork. And so he passed the pork to his chief of staff. He is off the hook. But that has placed his chief of staff on the spot.
Prosecutor: “Madame, who is the Tanda referred to in the code book of Mrs. Napoles?”
Chief of Staff: “I don’t know.”
Prosecutor: “A number of witnesses testified that Tanda was Mrs. Napoles’ code name for your boss.”
Chief of staff: “My boss does not know Mrs. Napoles, he has never had any dealings with her.”
Prosecutor: “But documents show that his PDAF went to NGOs controlled by Napoles. If he never had any dealings with Napoles then that leaves you, Madame. Are you therefore the Tanda in the code book of Mrs. Napoles?”
Chief of Staff: “How dare you! I am not tanda, excuse me, may asim pa ako!”
Sandigan Judge: “May asim pa nga siya. (Stage whisper: “Miss, pwede mo ba ako i-friend sa FB?”) Not guilty! ”
Pogi was next on the stand.
Prosecutor: “Senator, are you Pogi?”
Pogi: “I hear that a lot, sir.”
Prosecutor: “So you are admitting that you are Pogi?”
Pogi: “Hindi naman po sa pagyayabang pero hindi lang si Janet ang tumatawag sa akin ng pogi.”
Prosecutor: “Aha! Meron pa palang iba maliban kay Mrs. Napoles?”
Pogi: “Of course, hindi lang siya, box office king ako, sir, malakas akong tumabo sa taquilla.”
Prosecutor: “The State rests, Your Honors.”
Sandigan judges: “Guilty!”
It is Sexy’s turn.
Prosecutor: “Are you Sexy?”
Sexy: “Well, I have been called sexy ever since I lost a lot of weight.”
Prosecutor: “Mr. Senator, remember that you are under oath, let me ask you again and I advise you to weigh your answer carefully, are you Sexy?”
Sexy: “Yes.”
Prosecutor: “Your Honors, I would like to cite the senator for perjury.”
Sandigan judges: “Kuya, are you sure you want to stand by your statement that you are sexy?”
Buencamino is a fellow of Action for Economic Reforms (www.aer.ph).