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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Erap guilty of plunder; acquitted of perjury
MANILA (2nd Update 10:15 a.m.) – Deposed President Joseph Estrada, who once pulled off the biggest election victory in Philippine history, was convicted Wednesday after a landmark 6-year-old trial on charges that he took bribes and kickbacks in office.
Estrada was convicted of plunder - a capital offense - though the death penalty was recently abolished. He was acquitted of perjury for allegedly falsely declaring his assets. It was unclear when he might be eligible for parole. He was given credit for the time he has spent in detention.
Decision on Estrada's Plunder case
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Finding no mitigating or aggravating circumstances, the court sentenced Estrada to a penalty of reclusion perpetua and all the accessory civil penalties provided and his perpetual and absolute disqualification from seeking any public office.
Pending any motion from Estrada’s legal panel on the legal remedies they opt of avail following the conviction of the former president, the court ordered the continued detention of Estrada in Tanay. Rizal.
But prior to the ruling, Estrada made it clear that he will abide by whatever decision of the court on his place of detention, whether in Muntinlupa or any assigned detention facility or in Tanay, Rizal where he is detained at present.
The anti-graft court also ordered the forfeiture of P542 million inclusive of interest deposited under the Erap Muslim Faith Foundation, P189 million inclusive of interest deposited under the Jose Velarde account and the real property in New Manila known as the Boracay mansion.
At present, Estrada and his legal panel are holed in one of the holding room of the Sandiganbayan discussing their moves on the conviction of the former president.
In the same ruling, the court ordered the acquittal of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and lawyer Eduardo Serapio after the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt their involvement in the plunder case.
The court ordered the lifting of the hold departure order against the two and the cancellation of their bond in their favor.
The Estrada plunder trial lasted for six long years and promulgation of the decision only lasted for less than 20 minutes.
Should the whole decision was read, the promulgation could have lasted for five hours however, the defense lawyers asked the court to only read the dispositive portion of the two decisions – perjury and plunder.
Riot police and troops kept hundreds of flag-waving Estrada backers several blocks from the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court in Manila that the former action film star inaugurated before he was ousted in January 2001 by the country's second "people power" revolt.
Security also was very tight around the presidential palace as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo worried about a repeat of violent protests that followed Estrada's arrest in April 2001.(Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (September 12, 2007 issue)
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