Hero’s Welcome For Plunderer
October 30, 2007 -- Got something to say?
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Jailed former President Joseph Erap Estrada was released from detention hours after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pardoned him despite criticisms from various sectors of Philippine society, including former President Fidel V. Ramos who warned that Arroyo could suffer the same fate as Estrada.
Brass bands played and thousands mobbed Estradas car, holding banners and portraits of him as president, when he arrived at his home in San Juan from his Tanay, Rizal villa outside the city where had spent 6 years under house arrest.
Arroyo pardoned Estrada on Oct. 25, more than a month after the Sandiganbayan convicted him of plunder and sentenced him to life imprisonment on Sept. 12, 2007. She said the pardon was in line with her bid to bring about reconciliation among the various sectors of society. But the suspicion is that she did it to shift away the focus of public attention from the ongoing probe of bribery and corruption in her own administration.
There is no substitute for freedom, Estrada, 70, told reporters after his formal release, insisting that he was innocent of the charges.
People lined the streets to cheer as he motored to the San Juan Medical Center where his ailing 102-year-old mother was on life support.
Leading the opposition to the pardon is former President Ramos who said this could result in her own downfall. The business community was also dismayed over the pardon. We are disappointed, especially with the haste with which it was done. The timing is very suspect, said Albert Lim, executive director of the Makati Business Club. But former President Corazon Aquino welcomed the pardon in the spirit of reconciliation.
Reuters news agency said Arroyo, Estradas vice president who deposed him in an army-backed revolt in 2001, is herself facing fresh controversy over accusations of government kickbacks in a $330 million telecoms deal and allegations of cash handouts to allies.
But analysts say that unless dramatic new evidence is unveiled, Arroyos position is secure, saved by a middle-class fed up with political squabbling, no obvious candidate to replace her and record economic growth,” Reuters said.
Ramos himself had said during his recent visit to Washington D.C. that the lack of a possible successor is whats stopping another popular revolt.
I dont think there is going to be a hell of a lot of popular fallout for her other than just giving more ammunition for the opposition to beat her up a little bit,” said Tom Green, executive director of Pacific Strategic Assessments, a risk consultancy.
Although the executive clemency restored Estrada civil and political rights, he said he would not to seek public office, but would only continue with his pro-poor crusade. I reiterate my wish to spend the rest of my life as plain citizen Erap. However, this does not mean turning my back on my commitment to our people, Estrada said in a statement.
Three bishops have called for Arroyos resignation and an online petition calling for her and vice-president Noli de Castro to stand down to allow a snap election has gathered 250 signatures since it went live five days ago.
Arroyo, who has survived two impeachment bids and at least two coup plots, has a track record of shrugging off challenges.
No doubt my decision to grant executive clemency to former president Joseph Estrada will be debated, welcomed, criticized and given all sorts of meanings and motives,” she told a business meeting.
Ramos said She has barely three years left to stabilize the economy while contending with the present political instability created by divisions among the political leaders, graft and corruption, peace and order problems, political killings and human rights violations.”
Ramos also admitted to cracks in the administration coalition composed of the Lakas-CMD, of which he is chairman emeritus and Speaker Jose de Venecia is chairman, and Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, Partner of the Free Filipino), which was founded by Arroyo in 1996.
On Oct. 23, Ramos was photographed with Arroyo and De Venecia to show that all was well between the two officials, who were reportedly at odds after the Speakers son, Jose de Venecia III, told a Senate hearing about the alleged corruption that accompanied the granting of the national broadband network deal to Chinese telecom firm ZTE Corp.
Ramos also said the requisites for executive clemency had not been met, and even Estrada had not admitted his guilt. And granting Estrada pardon just a month after his conviction could send a signal to other convicts to seek the same privilege.
Ramos said Arroyo may find herself suffering the same fate as that of Estrada who was forced to vacate his office in the face of mounting protests.
Opposition politicians in the Senate and House of Representatives were divided over the pardon.
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