MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada yesterday commended the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for reportedly admitting its mistake in supporting Edsa 2, which toppled him and brought President Arroyo to power.
“I commend the CBCP in displaying humility and admitting their error in supporting my ouster,” said Estrada in a statement.
“At least now people are beginning to admit the truth that Edsa Dos was a conspiracy, a power grab. Former chief justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma was right when she said that Edsa Dos was an instance when the rule of law was thrown out and the rule of force prevailed,” Estrada also said.
Manila archdiocese vice chancellor Fr. Sid Marinay allegedly stated in an article that the CBCP now realizes that Edsa 2 weakened, instead of strengthened, the country’s political structures because it did not wait for the verdict of the senator-judges in the impeachment case against Estrada.
“It did not respect the rule of law. It did not give the duly constituted political institution a chance to assert itself and prove its strength to handle such a political turmoil,” said the article, as cited by Estrada.
When asked if he felt vindicated, Estrada replied, “It is not my vindication that is important, what is important is that we come together now to help solve the various crises that are plaguing our nation. With this realization (of the CBCP in admitting that they erred in supporting Edsa Dos), perhaps the forces behind Edsa 1, 2 and 3 can come together to find a solution to help the people, especially the poor, overcome the different crises that our nation faces today.”
Estrada’s spokesman Margaux Salcedo said, “Former President Estrada believes that more important than his vindication is finding justice for the Filipino masses because they are the ones who suffered and are suffering the most.”
Salcedo said the people were deprived of the leadership of the man they overwhelmingly elected when Estrada was ousted and now they are made to suffer by the corruption in the administration that took over.
“Estrada feels for the Filipino masses, as he always has, so he is willing to work with and has extended his hand even to those who plotted against him for the greater causes of alleviating poverty and helping the poor cope with the increasing prices of oil, energy and rice,” Salcedo added.
Estrada was ousted from office in 2001.
The former president questioned such ouster before the Supreme Court but it ruled that he had stepped down from office through “constructive resignation.”
Estrada was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan last year but later pardoned by President Arroyo.