"Instead (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) emphasized that Erap said he won't run [for office] again. I believe national reconciliation and unity should be the key reason for this largely political act of clemency," Laviña said.
"Well, why not?" said Councilor Pilar Braga on the issue. "The country is so divided and needs to heal anyway. Erap has suffered enough all these years."
She added, however, that Estrada's predicament should serve as a lesson to all Filipinos especially leaders.
Councilor Leonardo Avila III, for his part, said that he hopes that act of the President would augur well for the best interest of the country.
But while the veteran councilors seem to be in an accepting mood, neophyte Councilor Karlo Bello isn't as forgiving and said he hopes Estrada will consider his time in prison and even the trial of his case as a humbling and learning experience.
"He should use this freedom granted by the President for some noble and greater purpose and refrain from acts which may cause further chaos in the country," Bello said.
According to Bello, many people belittle Estrada but he urges everyone not to forget Estrada's rich experience as a public official who climbed from the mayoralty post all the way to presidency.
"He can utilize this rich experience to make a difference in our society and to prove to his detractors that he is a changed man," Bello said.
Meanwhile, militant group Bayan considers the President's pardon to Estrada as a "mere ventilator of a regime at its terminal stage," an emergency breathing apparatus to win some time.
In an e-mailed statement, the group said that sooner or later the government would face the people's wrath because of massive corruption and human rights violations.
The group believes that Estrada's pardon will neither change Arroyo's status as the most corrupt chief executive after Marcos nor boost her credibility or legitimacy as President. (With press release)
