Erap’s pardon; Aguinaldo doctrine

JOSEPH "Erap" Estrada, the country's 13th president who was deposed after a failed impeachment trial, finished runner-up to Noynoy Aquino in the last presidential race.

He beat such other contenders as Manny Villar and Gibo Teodoro. That, despite his record of having been evicted in 2001 as president by a "people's revolution" and convicted of plunder in 2007 by Sandiganbayan.

Erap said his past sins were removed by results in the 2010 elections--from which, in the first, place he should've been barred.

His case precisely assails the wisdom of the presidential pardon that imposed no ban on holding public office.

What stronger show of moral incapacity than one's conviction of a heinous crime punishable with life imprisonment?

A presidential pardon must bar the return of offenders to public service. On the same groove of logic, the Aquinaldo doctrine must be struck down.

No car wash

It's mind-boggling how an official found guilty of corruption is deemed morally fit for further stay in government. Why should an election wipe out administrative punishment and enable the offender to stay and steal anew?

An election is no car wash that, with water, detergent, and wax removes grime and makes the car shine.

Voice of the people is the voice of God? Not when most elections can be bought or tampered.

The convicted corrupt official should be barred for life from working in government. A priest notorious for child abuse isn't assigned as spiritual adviser to high school boys.

(paseares@sunstar.com.ph)