The Issue:

MANILA, Philippines – As they earlier promised, former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada both attended the huge interfaith rally in

Makati

City, that saw the gathering of numerous officials of the church, civil society, militant groups and the political opposition.GMA’s Flash Report said Aquino and Estrada were seen at the rally event. While in attendance, earlier reports said both former presidents are not expected to address the growing crowd at Ayala Avenue.

The report said Estrada arrived at the rally site shortly past 4 p.m., after marching all the way from

The report showed a footage showing Estrada wiping sweat from his face with a handkerchief while sitting with other prominent opposition figures, including Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Also aired were footage taken from building tops, showing rallyists crowding at the rally site and occupying the Ayala Avenue-Paseo de Roxas intersection and both lanes of Ayala Avenue extending to both directions. - GMANews.TV/ 02/29/2008 | 04:46 PM The Opinion: Sham and Vengeance.

These are the two descriptions I had in my mind that would definitely suit the staging of today’s political icons. An interfaith rally being played in one of the most convenient cities in the world is an absolute representation of unity invested from pride and survival. I had beseeched myself on the certainty of dubious participants of the said rally. Would they even know the real definition of “interfaith?”

An event such as this would still connote the credibility of the Filipino culture when it comes to democracy. But the misconception being targeted on the areas of the government such as implying a government of hypocrites would denounce the original significance of it. Organizers should at least be humble enough to attach their motives (ousting President Arroyo, Neri, etc.) with spirituality. For sure, these political icons including the formers have little understanding about my point.

The Issue:

The pardon granted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to former President Joseph Estrada last October is not a ground for stopping Estrada from running in 2010, Malacañang’s top legal eagle admitted Thursday.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said they would bank more on the 1987 Constitution and seek to disqualify Estrada once he files his certificate of candidacy.

“He is not bound by it kasi ‘whereas’ lang yan. Hindi yan condition. Wala yan, di nakalagay na condition yan (He is not bound by the pardon because the paragraph saying he will not seek public office is just a ‘whereas’ clause. That is not a condition),” Apostol said in an interview on dzMM radio.

In her order, President Arroyo cited her administration’s policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of 70. Estrada turned 70 last April 19.

She also noted that Estrada had been under detention for six-and-a-half years, and “publicly committed he will no longer seek any election office.”

On the other hand, Apostol said Estrada’s bid will be legally messy as the Supreme Court traditionally takes a long time to decide on such matters.

“Matagal nga iyan (That will take a long time),” he said in a separate interview on dwIZ radio. - GMANews.TV/ 01/03/2008 / 09:55 AM

The Opinion:

Estrada’s recent public display of his reputation as “Erap para sa Mahirap,” gave not only the administration a hint of him possibly contesting the presidential elections this 2010 but also gave the people an awareness that Erap still have so much to give.

That is just for the fooled eyes only.Like that of a song chirping the notes “will you ever learn?,” today’s people are not that gifted to see the political motives and blunders a certain politician has already showcased.

In Erap’s case, He was summoned to prison and sentenced because of having proven guilty on the plunder case. P-L-U-N-D-E-R. Plunder.

The issue is not only about will try to attain the top spot. It is about how people will try to react on anyone’s certificate of candidacy. I would like to commend the positivity the Administration has in regards to this issue since they were never surprised and moved about Erap’s potential maturity on the seat. This current Administration have formulated a certain method of lurking the public to act vigorously and at the same time wisely.

The Issue:

The camp of former President Joseph Estrada has asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to grant him pardon now that his lawyers have withdrawn their appeal to the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on plunder charges.

Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Estrada withdrew his motion for reconsideration and appealed for a “full, free and unconditional pardon.”

Excerpts of the defense panel’s three-page letter to President Arroyo, signed by Estrada’s counsel Jose Flaminiano, was read on dzBB radio. The letter was dated October 22.

It stated: “Today we filed a withdrawal of his motion for reconsideration. President Estrada, himself, believes that appeal to the Supreme Court would be futile or even the possibility of a favorable judgment will not justify several more years of detention.”

Flaminiano also wrote that the “delicate condition” of Estrada’s 102-year-old ailing mother, Doña Mary Ejercito, “deteriorated when she learned of what has befallen her son.”

He added that Estrada’s ouster from the presidency and the “humiliation” that came with it was enough punishment already.

Warning of “bad feelings” that may “boil” should Estrada be locked up at the National Penitentiary, Flaminano appealed to Mrs Arroyo, “In the highest national interest, which President Estrada is always willing to subordinate his own, we appeal to Your Excellency to grant him full, free and unconditional pardon.”

Estrada faces up to 40 years imprisonment after the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of plunder last September 12. He continues to maintain his innocence.

Lost cause?

Interviewed on dzBB radio, Flaminiano said Estrada gave his consent to send the letter to Mrs Arroyo.

“I’m leaving my faith entirely in your hands, I have faith and confidence in your good judgment,” Flaminiano quoted Estrada as telling him.

Flaminiano said the defense panel felt that the motion for reconsideration was doomed, after Presiding Justice Teresita de Castro allegedly stated that the Sandiganbayan Special Division will stand by its “original guilty verdict.”

Devanadera said three-page letter signed was dated October 22, or a day after Estrada ended his four-day extended furlough.

Estrada used his latest furlough to visit Doña Mary Ejercito at a San Juan City hospital and attend oral deliberations on his appeal at the Sandiganbayan.

President’s call

Devanadera said the Department of Justice will review Estrada’s appeal within the week and promptly submit their position to President Arroyo.

“We must be able to determine that there is really finality and that the withdrawal is really worded in a manner that it will result in the finality of the decision … for as long as there is a final conviction, the decision is final and executory, then we can start making the recommendation,” Devanadera said.

Mrs Arroyo can decide, Devanadera said, whether or not to fully or partially restore civil and political rights to Estrada.

She added that the 70-year-old Estrada was just being practical in seeking pardon, because the court room battle may last 10 years.

Earlier this month, the Estrada camp announced that it was ending talks with Malacañang for a possible granting of pardon.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, a spokesman for Estrada, earlier said that, “We believe this government is not sincere in talking with us.”

Failed talks

Ronaldo Puno, Interior secretary and concurrent presidential political adviser, last month initiated talks for the pardon grant with Estrada at the latter’s rest house in Tanay, Rizal.

Initial discussions, however, failed and eventually prompted Estrada’s lawyers to continue their filing for a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan.

On October 3, the Estrada camp rejected the “conditional pardon” offered by Malacañang saying the conditions laid down by the administration were not acceptable to the former president.

Estrada’s lawyers then said Malacañang wanted the former leader to apply for a pardon, admit his guilt, and wait for a final conviction by the court before he is granted a presidential pardon. – GMANews.TV 10/22/2007 | 04:52 PM
(Updated 6:13 p.m.)

The Opinion:

Former President Joseph Estrada’s act of withdrawing his appeal to the Sandiganbayan is a proof that he already lowered his pride. The anxious manifestation of Estrada’s appeal to the Sandiganbayan has flushed all the accents of denial. It was an appaling decision. The noble truth that pardon does not mean guilt at all was warmly accepted by their party.

Now the verdict of Estrada’s fate lies in the hands of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The wheel has already turned for both parties. And it would be an abstract conclusion for the former commander-in-chief since the administration has interred the pardon in the past.

I am now seeing that if Estrada was given the “unconditional pardon,” our country’s judicial image would likely be a massive circus show for other countries Since justice for big people with big sins are now treated with cakes. Too bad!

To prevent further political polarization, an all-encompassing amnesty that will cover convicted former President Joseph Estrada is imperative, Speaker Jose de Venecia stressed yesterday.

De Venecia said the government must sustain the country’s continued economic growth and stability by offering peace to its enemies, including members of the political opposition led by Estrada.

Estrada, who maintains his innocence, has said he would reject a presidential pardon, saying it would indicate an admission of guilt.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal agreed with Estrada that any presidential pardon offered to him could be interpreted as an insult.

Macalintal advised his clients President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro to let Estrada ask for the pardon.

Some local officials like Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos said a presidential pardon for Estrada would help heal the nation’s wounds.
He urged fellow city chief executives to come out in the open and help snowball the idea of proposing pardon to Estrada.

Abalos also urged Estrada supporters to refrain from issuing inflammatory statements following the conviction.
Lawyers and supporters of Estrada had claimed the Sandiganbayan’s decision convicting the former leader of plunder was full of loopholes and inconsistencies.

San Juan Mayor Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito said his father has not lost hope and was “overwhelmed” by support from the public and various organizations, though he declined to name them.

By Delon Porcalla  of Phil. Star

Former President Joseph Estrada, who got the highest number of votes in Philippine history when he ran for president in 1998, was convicted of plunder yesterday and sentenced to spend practically the rest of his life in jail.

Estrada, 70, showed no emotion at first when the Sandiganbayan’s special division sentenced him to reclusion perpetua or 40 years imprisonment.

He was convicted of plunder for taking P189.7 million in commissions from the purchase of Belle Corp. shares by the Government Service Insurance System and P545 million in payoffs from jueteng lords. He was cleared though of diverting tobacco excise taxes for personal use and maintaining a bank account under a false name – Jose Velarde. Estrada was also acquitted of a separate charge of perjury related to misdeclaration of earned incomeHe later slumped in his chair, apparently when the guilty verdict sank in

Estrada, impeccably dressed in a traditional piña barong and cream trousers, listened impassively, shaking his head a few times, as a three-judge bench presided by Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro pronounced him guilty at a courthouse he himself inaugurated in 1999.

The Sandiganbayan acquitted his co-accused in the plunder case, his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Edward Serapio.

The court also allowed Estrada to serve his sentence at his spacious rest house in Tanay, Rizal or until the Supreme Court decides on his case with finality. He said he believed his case was solid, but noted that the “direct and indirect pressures” applied on the court allegedly by the government “must have been too much to bare.” But he assured his supporters that “all is not lost” as his lawyers were preparing to file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

By Sandy Araneta of Phil. Star