Estrada Pardon : Big Insult to Justice System
Filed Under General Nonsense
I’m deeply saddened with the recent actions of the Arroyo administration on Erap’s case. We all know that the disgraced president was convicted of plunder beyond reasonable doubt. Why, all of a sudden, this administration who pushed for the prosecution of the plunderer is the same administration that is planning to free Estrada out of his detention?
Let me state, however, that I do not totally disagree with the pardon to the plunderer. For humanitarian reasons, they can let Estrada free BUT NOT NOW!. I personally feel that doing this would put to waste all the hard work of the solicitor general (Marcelo), the procecution team and everybody who risk their lives and security of their families. That’s totally unacceptable.
The decision of the Sandiganbayan very clearly showed that he committed plunder by amassing P545 million from illegal gambling payoffs and a P189-million commission from stock market purchases using the SSS and GSIS funds (for Belle Resources and EPCI). And yet he would have all these offenses wiped out from the record, and make it appear that he did not commit any crime against the people whose interest and welfare he was supposed to promote and protect as president.
Another thing to consider that I can’t really take is the pronounciation of Sec. Puno that what they offered to Erap is an absolute pardon. He further explained that it means Erap can go with his loot. Damn! What’s is this court proceedings all about, then? A sarswela?
On a separate interview by Inquirer on the acting justice secretary Devanadera, absolute pardon means restoration of civil and political rights of the convicted. Are we talking about Erap running for president again? And then knowing his appeal to the so-called “masses”, he will definitely win and then back to old business…. women… drinking spree in Malacanang… kickbacks… official intimidation… and a lot more until the civil society will go back to EDSA for the nth time and we go back in circle. Instead of moving forward, we’ll go back to square one.
Erap has not even showed remorse of what he did. He has not expressed any repentance and admission of guilt and probably never will.
I’m just hoping that all these are not for compromise agreement. An agreement that in the remainder of Arroyo’s regime, there will be no more impeachment. An agreement that after her term ends in 2010, there will be plunder case waiting for her. Or is it?