Philippines Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada Granted Pardon
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to former President Estrada today via a live broadcast through Acting Executive Secretary Ignacio Bunye. I must say that I’m really surprised with this move by the administration. They’re opening themselves up for more political problems and the last thing the President needs is Estrada roaming freely! Imagine - he can go around and meet with his allies openly. Let’s hope that the former President has no plans of launching destabilization plots in the near future. Watch the broadcast and read the transcript after the jump!
Sec. Bunye Reads the Pardon Order
Via INQ
Here’s the transcript as well as written on INQ:
“Whereas, this Administration has a policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of seventy (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 by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to 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 the bank account(s) he owned before his tenure as President.â€
What will happen next? Only God knows.
October 26th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Now to hear the side of the opposition and the others. But somehow, I’ve come to realize that Justice system here is really hard to find.
October 26th, 2007 at 3:52 am
nagdeal siguro sila ni GMA, “bigyan mo ko pera palalayain kita”, GMA
“sige, magkano?” ERAP “***** million, ok ba?” GMA “OK, Deal” ERAP
ganyan nangyari kaya yung pera niya bago presidente eh lusot, pero ewan natin kung yun lang. wakekekeke, peace y’all
October 26th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Malamang may kapalit yan… Imposible namang pakawalan nila si Erap without anything in return
October 26th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Justice in the Philippines is really flawed, imagine someone who has broken th trust of the people set free just because of some common interest of a tyrant. Just because she has the power it doesn’t give her the right to decide for everyone else. Our Mdme. President as we call her is as broken as our justice system, our political system or whatever system that our government runs of.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:33 am
pano pa matatakot ung ibang kurakot sa gobyerno nyan.
October 26th, 2007 at 9:08 am
wala tlaga kwenta pilipinas.. nakaka asar.. kaya marami nag mmigrate sa ibang bansa e..
October 26th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Siguro pinalaya si erap dahil may kondisyon. Una: Bawal na cyang kumandidato ng kahit na anong posisyon? Pangalawa: kukuhanin daw ang iba nyang yaman? weeeeeeeee bka nga wakekekekke
October 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
i smell cover up sa ibang issue ni GMA para madivert yung attention ng mga tao. patong patong na scandal yung administration ni GMA like hello garci, ZTE,500k gift bonus, iggy arroyo and PCSO scandal. oh well thats philippines for ya.
October 26th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
nooooo huhu T_T
i’ve also placed an entry about it on my blog.. hay nako talaga o_O
October 26th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
in short,
GMA and ERAP sux!!! mga mukhang pera!!! bato bato sa langit.. matamaan.. wag magagalit.. ;))
October 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Magaan sa kalooban ang mag bigay ng kapatawaran. try nyo rin yun minsan….
Marahil mabigat na masyado ang dinadalang guilt ni PGMA, malapit na syang abutan ng bad karma. tingnan nyo na lang ang tingin sa kanya ng taong bayan, at ang nangyari sa health ni jose pidal. Marahil nagpatawad sya sa pag-asang balang araw mapapatawad din sya ng langit.
October 27th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
@ bokbok Amen…. peace \/ ^_^ \/
October 30th, 2007 at 8:59 am
so this website do care ’bout Phil. politics after all…lol..joke
well, as far as my ego is concerned….I’m looking at Arroyo’s move as “playing safe” type… We all know how powerful Estrada still is.. he has these thousands of minions all around us..all around Phil. I mean maybe it includes one of u..hehe, anyway, granting pardon seems a good way for Arroyo to evade any distabilization that could’ve happen if she were not to grant it… guys, look at this situation as a move of reconciliation between both sides ok?? I mean… Oh sure!! we all have these critiques…. but look at the bright side, at least a reconciliation move was made…right??? meaning there’s still hope 4 our dying country??? right???