Erap ready to join groups vs corruption

MANILA, Philippines – Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday that business organizations, civil society, and other groups that allegedly conspired to oust him in 2001 are “now realizing their mistakes.”

In an interview with The STAR, Estrada said that recent developments in the Arroyo administration should be an eye-opener to these individuals and groups like the Makati Business Club (MBC).

“These groups, which joined the protest rally last Friday and called for Arroyo’s ouster, are the same people who were behind the protest rallies against me that prompted me to leave Malacañang to prevent bloodshed,” he said.

He added that for the common objective of fighting corruption in the country, he is now ready to join forces with the people “who demonized him” and that he had forgiven those who did him wrong.

“They realized their mistake of removing a constitutionally elected president with the highest votes ever garnered by a president in our country. Vox Populi, Vox Deis, the voice of the people is the voice of God. But they unconstitutionally removed me from office,” he said.

Estrada contended that people expressed their voice by giving him a huge margin against his rivals in the 1998 presidential elections.

He said unlike the Arroyo administration, he did not block the impeachment complaint filed against him, and this was even heard before the impeachment court in the Senate.

“I faced the impeachment complaint, I did not block it because I am not guilty and my conscience is clear. However, I faced them, but they did not face me because the prosecution panel walked out and they brought my case to the parliament of the streets,” he said.

Estrada left Malacañang on Jan. 20, 2001 and returned to his house on Polk Street in North Greenhills, San Juan.

On April 4, 2001, the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and eight other graft charges against him, his son Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, his wife former Senator Dra. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito, Charlie “Atong” Ang, and others.

The Sandiganbayan special division was also created to try Estrada’s cases.

In the end, Estrada said the eight graft charges filed against him and his co-accused were all dismissed.

He was convicted of plunder, while Jinggoy and lawyer Edward Serapio were acquitted of the charges in September last year.

A month later, President Arroyo pardoned Estrada and freed him from detention at his rest house in Tanay,  Rizal.

Estrada started his “Lakbay Pasasalamat” by visiting slum dwellers in Vitas, Tondo, Parola, Smokey Mountain, all in Manila; resettlement areas in Rizal, San Juan, Payatas and North Triangle in Quezon City, Laguna, and Bataan.

He also visited patients at V. Luna Memorial Center in Quezon City, the prisoners at the National Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa, and residents of Alabang and San Pedro, Laguna, to thank them for their support.

“I was not given my day in court. That is why I am doing the rounds to thank them and present my case. The prosecution panel presented their pieces of evidence and witnesses in the impeachment court, but when it was my time to present my evidence and witnesses, they walked out and brought my case to the parliament of the streets and later I was unconstitutionally removed,” Estrada said.

He said the Arroyo administration, through then Justice Secretary Hernando “Nani” Perez, offered him twice to leave the country without charges.

“I turned it down. Perez told me to leave our country and go anywhere I want without being charged, and I can bring everything that I want as long as I resign as president of the land. I told him, no, I cannot leave the millions of Filipinos who trusted and voted for me in the 1998 presidential elections even if it would cost my life. So, they jailed me,” Estrada said.