Estrada now busy writing memoirs

A bestseller may yet be the silver lining to Joseph Estrada’s ignominious ouster from the presidency.

Now that he is out of office, Estrada has been busy attending to cases filed against him by the new government — and writing his memoirs.

"A time comes when a president should write his memoirs, his recollection of the historical events that took place... the recollection of a man at the center of events would be different. Only he can do that," former executive secretary Ronaldo Zamora, one of Estrada’s closest allies, said yesterday.

Zamora said he has coaxed the ousted leader to write down his recollection of events that took place from the day he assumed the presidency to the day he was forced to leave Malacañang.

He said he has encouraged Estrada to take time each day to write down thoughts on his presidency, including his final hours at the Palace.

Zamora said the former president has time to write his memoirs now that he has returned to the family residence on Polk street in Greenhills.

The former executive secretary pointed out that in writing his memoirs, Estrada would definitely put it on record that he did not resign from office.

"It is better to put things in proper perspective when we write history. It is better to put things on record on what really happened. And what really happened was that he did not resign," Zamora said. – Marichu Villanueva