Estrada Found Guilty of Plunder, Jinggoy and Lawyer Not Guilty
The Sandiganbayan verdict is Guilty! Former President Joseph Ejercity Estrada (Erap) has been found guilty of plunder. On the lesser charges of perjury, they have been dismissed. If it was any consolation, his son Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Eduardo Serapio were both found not guilty.
On to The Supreme Court we go for Erap’s appeal. But as for now, it’s reclusion perpetua for Erap. I wonder if Jinggoy and Serapio could have been found guilty? Maybe this was a backroom deal and Erap did a noble thing to have both his son and lawyer acquitted, and sacrifice himself. It would make for a good movie don’t you think?
And it looks like Arroyo’s all out massive deployment of military and police was indeed a paranoid move. The amount of protesters are not as expected, and Gloria survives… to lead our nation in prayer?
It’s back to his comfortable vacation house in Tanay, Rizal for Erap. But no amount of comfort can alleviate the fact that he is now a convict. The hero of our masses, I do feel pity, but as I have said, it’s all about accountability not so much about personality.
In the end, let this be a warning to all public officials, including Gloria herself. Do our nation wrong, and we now have the capacity to prosecute.
tags: estrada verdict, joseph erap estrada
Remember how the Central Bank demonstrated the impossibility of Chavit’s claim that he carried the money to Erap’s house in bags? This could have been the reason why Jinggoy and Serapio were acquitted.
But as we all know, Gloria had to justify her ascension to the presidency back in 2001.
@Schumey, ah yes, the infamous and impossible claim by Singson. In my view, there are no clear winners between them both. Gloria suffers from lack of credibility, legitimacy, and popularity. And Erap suffers from having had dipped his hand into one too many illegalities, as well as having some of the worst friends known to man.
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In the end, Gloria will never be legitimate in the eyes of Filipinos no matter how the verdict was going to end. In this point, I agree with Erap, the people have already acquitted him… and to further this, the people have already convicted Gloria.
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Come 2010, it’s Gloria’s turn to face the music.
@Schumey, I’d rather not wait for 2010, but it seems Gloria has the lower house covered.
What specific pretexts would position Gloria as unfavorable?
Meanwhile, here’s a list of scandals and anomalous transactions that Gloria and her government have been involved in from day 1 after having toppled former President Estrada (and unresolved to this day):
The list is from DJB’s Philippine Commentary thread “After Erap, Who’s next?” http://www.philippinecommentary.blogspot.com , preceeded by a brief introduction (his).
Readers may google any of the following search terms to get an idea of the vast quagmire of corruption and malfeasance that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her diehard allies must surely be brought before the Bar of Justice for:
Jose Pidal unexplained wealth
Nani Perez, IMPSA bribery scandal
Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard
NAIA-3
Impeachment of Hilario Davide
Venable Contract Norberto Gonzales
EO 464
Oakwood Mutiny
JocJoc Bolante fertilizer scam
Comelec Automated Counting Machine scandal
2004 elections Philippines
Maguindanao Zubiri Pimentel Bedol
Hello Garci Wiretapping and Electoral Rigging Case
Kidnapping Vidal Doble Family Medy Poblador
Extrajudicial Killings
ZTE National Broadband Network Deal
Basilan Beheadings Abu Sayyaf and MILF Peace Talks
im actually glad with the verdict. now it’s high time pgma and her boys get the same.
come on guys, Erap is already been convicted. lets move on, WE ALL FAILED! when? EDSA 2. nakakahiya na tayo. wag na nating gamitin ang EDSA dahil hindi rin naman tayo natututo bilang isang bansa eh. magaling lang tayo sa simula. walang mangyayari satin kung paulit-ulit lang. its a cycle that we failed again and again.
I agree entirely with you nick. Surely, Erap has done a lot of good deeds but justice must prevail. If he really is guilty then it only proves that the Philippine legal system is still at work.
[…] Article After Erap, Who’s Next? Joseph Estrada Guilty of Plunder Tingog Estrada Guilty of Plunder, Jinggoy and Lawyer not found […]
I hope that Erap is not the last, i hope many more corrupt must be treated like erap …
he deserves it! in fact, he deserves even more. dapat nga gulity on all counts!
next!
I hope Chavit goes to jail cya madami nakurakot. d lang cya nabigyan ng malaki kaya cya bumaligtad.. nkaligtas na naging bayani pa…!
We lost a chance on the Marcoses. Erap’s case should now be a lesson for all. But the Arroyo’s connection with Greggy Araneta may have paved the way for the Marcos comeback.
The never-ending saga of corruption in the Philippines: so what’s new? Our government and all its instrumentalities have become the Filipino people’s burden and source of ultimate shame. Elective officials come and go, but “institutionalized” graft and corruption remains. Let us admit the bitter fact: the electorate shares equal responsibility and blame for all the fiascos we are in, from barangay level, up to Malacanan. Let us stop pointing fingers, restore our national pride and discipline, and for Pete’s sake: STOP SELLING OUR VOTES!!
I think people are missing the point here… the dilemma of the recent administration is simple, if Erap would be acquitted - people would ask themselves who our legitimate president is? So they would really have to convict the former president to legitimize the ascension of GMA to the presidency. I do not see the rationale of extending a pardon towards a former public official - public office is a public trust - convicted of a crime of plunder. To me, this is an indirect way of “bending” our justice system. (sorry for lack of better term, can’t think of one) If one is convicted - let him serve his sentence and this serve as a lesson to all other public officers we have. That our justice system works - just fine! (Or perhaps GMA is extending pardon so that when it’s her turn, he would expect the sitting president to extend the same.)
The crime of plunder in a nutshell is a crime committed by a public officer who amassed “ill-gotten” wealth through his positions. If we would look at the purview of RA 7080 (AN ACT DEFINING AND PENALIZING THE CRIME OF PLUNDER) Erap did not commit plunder. He amassed his wealth from Jueteng - as according to Luis Chavit Singson. The Sandiganbayan relied heavily on the testimonies of Singson in hearing and deciding the case. To my mind, the Sandiganbayan came up with a more “political” rather than rational decision; make a careful study of the elements of plunder and you might see that what Erap did, assumingly he did accept money from Jueteng, that this doesn’t fall in any way under the purview of RA 7080.
Our country will not move if we continue to dwell on the past. The past is a big mistake so let us deal with the future. Erap is past and GMA is the present but they both fail to deliver. The future is Bayani Fernando and our brightest hope for a better Philippines. Yes Mr. Fernando, you are the man. Implement the laws to the fullest as they are the solution to our problems. Anarchy reigns because laws are wantonly disregarded and nobody cares to implement it. Jail all lawbreakers, even your family members and kamaganaks and we are all behind you for the sake of our nation. Built first detention centers to accommodate all those hard headed law breakers as I am sure they will be filled to the rafters. I am wondering why a Pinoy in Singapore, in Japan, in USA and around the world follows the laws of the land, it is because they are definite to be in jailed if they break the law. Let every Pinoy feel the same when thay are in their native country. Good luck to you Mr. Fernando, you are in the right track compare to those maka masa kuno, as if the masa is the only citizen in this country. Go Bayani Go. We will be with you all the way to 2010.
wat are the crimes of erap
kindly give me ten or more…