Former President Estrada wins full pardon

MANILA – Former Philippine president Joseph Estrada was given a full pardon yesterday just weeks after he was jailed for life on charges of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the nation’s coffers.

The announcement came just days after Estrada, a former action movie hero, asked his successor – President Gloria Arroyo – to grant him a pardon in what his lawyers called the ‘national interest’. Arroyo’s spokesman said the pardon was granted after the popular 70-year-old agreed not to pursue any other elective office.He said the pardon was granted under a policy of releasing prisoners who have reached 70 years of age.But he made no mention of the political pressure exerted by Estrada supporters for his release, after he was sentenced to life behind bars for massive corruption.Estrada’s wife, Luisa Ejercito, told national TV he had phoned her after the pardon was announced and said: “I’ll be home for lunch (Friday).”She said preparations were now underway for a homecoming party.Estrada, who had earlier insisted he had rejected a deal offered by Arroyo, was convicted by a special anti-corruption court on September 12 after a six-year trial that he repeatedly insisted was politically motivated.The court confiscated 87 million dollars from his bank accounts that had been frozen during the trial.The funds remain forfeit, the Arroyo spokesman said.The case has marked a bitter chapter in Philippine politics that began when the one-time action hero was ousted from power in 2001, a move that led to violent street protests.The pardon was granted despite warnings from another influential former president, Fidel Ramos, who said in a television interview earlier that he warned Arroyo “not to be hasty in giving clemency” to Estrada.”It will be a terrible calamity to the great majority of the Filipino people who suffered from plunder,” Ramos said.Estrada’s son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, thanked Arroyo “from the bottom of my heart” for pardoning his father.But he added it will not change his stance of being a critic of the administration.Leftist activist Jose Dizon said the pardon was just another move by Arroyo “for political survival in the face of mounting corruption charges against her administration.”Senator Richard Gordon, a critic of Estrada, said the pardon would hurt the country’s image.”If we are going to show the world that we are for the rule of law, then there should be no pardon for Estrada,” he said.Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno denied any backdoor deals, saying “there were no negotiations with the camp of Estrada.This beautiful event was done by Arroyo not for herself but for everyone.””It was done to unite the people,” he added.Nampa-AFPArroyo’s spokesman said the pardon was granted after the popular 70-year-old agreed not to pursue any other elective office.He said the pardon was granted under a policy of releasing prisoners who have reached 70 years of age.But he made no mention of the political pressure exerted by Estrada supporters for his release, after he was sentenced to life behind bars for massive corruption.Estrada’s wife, Luisa Ejercito, told national TV he had phoned her after the pardon was announced and said: “I’ll be home for lunch (Friday).”She said preparations were now underway for a homecoming party.Estrada, who had earlier insisted he had rejected a deal offered by Arroyo, was convicted by a special anti-corruption court on September 12 after a six-year trial that he repeatedly insisted was politically motivated.The court confiscated 87 million dollars from his bank accounts that had been frozen during the trial.The funds remain forfeit, the Arroyo spokesman said.The case has marked a bitter chapter in Philippine politics that began when the one-time action hero was ousted from power in 2001, a move that led to violent street protests.The pardon was granted despite warnings from another influential former president, Fidel Ramos, who said in a television interview earlier that he warned Arroyo “not to be hasty in giving clemency” to Estrada.”It will be a terrible calamity to the great majority of the Filipino people who suffered from plunder,” Ramos said.Estrada’s son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, thanked Arroyo “from the bottom of my heart” for pardoning his father.But he added it will not change his stance of being a critic of the administration.Leftist activist Jose Dizon said the pardon was just another move by Arroyo “for political survival in the face of mounting corruption charges against her administration.”Senator Richard Gordon, a critic of Estrada, said the pardon would hurt the country’s image.”If we are going to show the world that we are for the rule of law, then there should be no pardon for Estrada,” he said.Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno denied any backdoor deals, saying “there were no negotiations with the camp of Estrada.This beautiful event was done by Arroyo not for herself but for everyone.””It was done to unite the people,” he added.Nampa-AFP