Tingog.com

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada, or Erap as he is fondly called by his supporters and allies was rightfully convicted last September. But only a little over a month after that conviction, Erap was pardoned by Arroyo. Had Erap finally been made accountable, we would have seen a Supreme Court decision concur with the conviction, and we would finally have seen justice as Estrada, forgo the life in Tanay for a more just punishment in Mutinlupa.

This week, Tingog.com will be looking into the issues and major News Events that have occurred during the almost 5 months that we have been away. One of these events, of course, is the much analyzed Pardon of Erap. The reactions were indeed varied, but I believe that the outcome was yet another step back for our nation and our democracy.

Justice should not be about personality, rather it should be about nation. I believe this, but sometimes belief does not translate into reality. Case in point, many probably believe the guilt of Erap, but it’s an altogether different decision to imprison the man for life. But if it is our heart that aches for this man, then what more the ache do we feel as we have millions of Filipinos under the spell of poverty? Many of which are still poor because of men such as Erap raping our nation of its wealth and prosperity.

The Pardon of Erap was a political decision, as with most things that are happening in front of our very own eyes under this Arroyo Administration. It was for political survival, a political decision, which in the end, worked for Gloria for that specific moment in time.

History will no doubt remember Gloria as yet another Filipino Politician gone astray, or maybe even a politician who was never right from the get-go. In hindsight, maybe, we will say of these two political opposites, that at the end of the day, they were the tag team Presidents who instead of moving our nation forward, stalled it and put it in reverse for over a decade. It was another decade that we could have slowly but surely progressed. Or worse, Gloria could put this nation in perpetual reverse if she morphs herself into Prime Minister.

The Erap Pardon was a mistake and it is yet another mistake which will further embolden even more Filipino politicians and government officials to continue plundering our nation’s wealth. For this reason, I neither support Erap or Arroyo. I did not feel sorry for what Erao had to “endure” during his lavish house arrest. Why feel sorry for a man that took so much from our nation? Why feel sorry for a man that could have done so much from the millions he plundered? The only people I feel sorry for are the poor and misrepresented Filipino people, who puts up with Judicial killings, graft and corruption, no proper health care, sector after languishing sector whose only fault is that they are not as greedy and corrupt as the leaders who think they are actual leaders.

We languish in inequity because our leaders hold on to the status quo that make them powerful and rich. For that, I pardon no one in this big mistake, especially the pardoned criminal and the other criminal who executed that pardon.

There is no other principle that we should adhere to as a nation except to do what is just, legal, and right for our nation. This includes bringing to justice, no matter how popular they are, those who have participated in illegal acts against our Republic and its people. This is the only principle we should adhere to, and to the degree that we can do this as a nation, is to the degree that we will finally prosper as a nation.

The Pardon

Whereas this administration has a policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of 70;

Whereas Joseph Ejercito Estrada has been under detention for six and a half years;

Whereas Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office;

In view hereof and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted of plunder and imposed a penalty of Reclusion Perpetua.

He is hereby restored his civil and political rights.

The forfeitures imposed by the Sandiganbayan remain in force and in full, including all writs and processes issued by the Sandiganbayan in pursuance hereof, except for bank accounts he owned before his tenure as President.

Upon acceptance of this pardon by Joseph Ejercito Estrada, this pardon shall take effect.