Erap: No ill feelings toward De Castro

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said on Thursday that he is not harboring any ill feelings toward Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, who convicted him of plunder on Sept. 12, 2007.

In a speech delivered before the officers and members of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Estrada joked that when he received the invitation from De Castro, he immediately accepted it for fear that he would be issued a warrant of arrest and sent back to prison.

“As you probably all know, Justice De Castro was the presiding justice of the SandiganBayan which heard my case many years ago,” Estrada said.

Estrada assured De Castro that he bore no grudges or bitterness because the justices of the Sandiganbayan were just doing their duty.

“So I think this will be the first time in the history of your association where you will have an ex-convict as your speaker,” Estrada said in jest.

But he justified his being an ex-convict: “Ito ay dahil sa aking prinsipyo (This was because of my principle),” he added.

Estrada said that he was in good company with Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, Aung Suu of Myanmar and Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

“We are all convicted. That’s why I believe, we are now all men of conviction,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he has forgiven those who may have removed him unconstitutionally as duly elected president but with a request for them not to do it again.