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Friday, October 26, 2007
Erap accepts pardon
MANILA (Updated 3:45 p.m.) – Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada has accepted the executive clemency granted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Citizen Erap signed and accepted the pardon at 3:39 p.m. Friday, minutes after it was handed over by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno.
Estrada pardoned
Malacanang's pardon order
Decision on Estrada's Plunder case
Post comments here on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's grant of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada.
Personnel of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) brought back the signed pardon to the Sandiganbayan for the immediate implementation of Estrada’s release from detention.
Once the release order is signed, Estrada is set to proceed to San Juan City Hall to speak and thank his supporters and later to the San Juan Hospital to visit his ailing mother.
Earlier in the day, Estrada in a statement read by lawyer Edward Serapio thanked Arroyo for granting him “full, free, absolute pardon” and declared that he would spend the rest of his life as a plain citizen.
The former president explained that he went through difficult times before finally deciding to accept Arroyo’s "long-standing peace overtures."
He said “history will vindicate not only this executive action but my innocence as well with regard to these charges.”
“In the meantime, though, I ask for our people’s continued support, patience and understanding by allowing me to attend to my foremost business at hand, which is to take care of my long ailing mother,” he said, referring to the bed-ridden Mary Ejercito, 102.
President Arroyo in an earlier talk during the 33rd Philippine Business Conference defended her decision in granting pardon to the former president.
Arroyo told businessmen that national unity and advancement, along with the rule of law, justice and accountability have guided her decisions and positions taken in the Estrada case until today.
“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,” Arroyo said.
She said the Department of Justice highlighted both legal and humanitarian arguments, including the former President’s age, the condition of his mother, his express willingness not to contest proceedings to recover the fruits of plunder, and not to seek public office in the future.
“For many years now this administration has been pardoning inmates who have reached the age of 70. When that policy was announced at a forum of senior citizens many years ago, it was met with loud applause. Former President Estrada is now more than 70 years old. It is time to release him as well, and time for him to be at the bedside of his dying mother. Many of our leaders, public and private, agree,” Arroyo explained.
“If I have showed concern for the personal circumstances of the former president, it is not a sign of diminished determination to see justice done. It is out of sensitivity to the feelings of the segments of our masa who continue to identify with his personal circumstances,” the President further said. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
(October 26, 2007 issue)
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