President Arroyo today granted executive clemency to former President Joseph Estrada, who was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan last month.

Estrada’s civil and political liberties are restored, according to Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, but one of the conditions set by the President for his pardon is that he should stick to his previous announcement that he would not seek any public position or office.

The government will also enforce the forfeiture of Estrada’s properties and bank accounts as contained in the Sandiganbayan verdict, “except for the bank accounts he owned before his tenure as president.” The pardon will take effect upon Estrada’s acceptance.

The lawyers who worked hard in prosecuting Estrada are disappointed. They said in a text message to Newsbreak that they “will make sure that the next president convicted of plunder will not be pardoned.” (read the lawyers’ statement here)

Minutes before Bunye announced the pardon on nationwide TV, the lawyers issued a statement denouncing the presidential move. It was signed by 21 lawyers led by former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and volunteer lawyers Arno Sanidad and Raoul Angangco.

According to the statement, an absolute pardon could not be granted under the guidelines on executive clemency because Estrada has made no admission of guilt. “If this nation is to be a Strong Republic, then it cannot be founded on compromise and accommodations in the face of threats, extortion, self-interest or political survival.”

Here’s the full text of the order signed by President Arroyo:

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.

By Carmela Fonbuena

Thursday, 25 October 2007

From Newsbreak

http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3883&Itemid=88889051

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(UPDATE)

Estrada ready to go home

TANAY, Rizal — With his bags packed, convicted president Joseph Estrada is just about ready go home this Friday, his media officers said, a day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted him executive clemency.

Estrada is expected to emerge from his resort house, which served as his prison for over six years, in this town east of Manila at around 1 p.m., and will lead a convoy to his hometown San Juan, where he is due to deliver a speech at city hall.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who mediated for the government, is expected to deliver the order anytime this morning, Estrada media liaison Ferdie Ramos said.

“He will accept it [pardon],” Ramos said in a phone interview.

After Estrada accepts the pardon order, it will be brought to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft in Quezon City, court sheriff Ed Urieta said in a separate phone interview.

Upon receiving the papers, the court will issue a release order, which will be served back to Estrada in Tanay for his release.

The anti-graft court convicted Estrada of plunder in a landmark decision last September 12. Over a month later, on Thursday, Arroyo granted Estrada pardon.

Arroyo rose to power in January 2001 after a popular revolt ousted Estrada on corruption allegations that later spawned the plunder case.

Estrada got up at around 4 a.m. And checked his bags before having coffee, media liaison Angel Gonong said.

“He packed some personal effects,” Gonong told reporters.

At 11 a.m., Estrada is set to attend a thanksgiving mass inside the estate while waiting for the release order.

The 70-year-old former action film star has been a constant thorn in Arroyo’s side since he was arrested shortly after being forced out by the Philippines’ second “people power” revolt in January 2001. He was convicted last month on graft charges and sentenced to life in prison.

The pardon Thursday is seen as part of Arroyo’s efforts to bury the hatchet with her nemesis as she faces renewed calls for her to resign and another impeachment complaint — her third so far — on allegations of bribery.

“Our unity will be the answer to all these problems,” said Puno, citing surveys reflecting Estrada’s still-overwhelming popularity.

Arroyo’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said the pardon restored Estrada’s civil and political rights and would take effect upon his formal acceptance. A court ruling that forfeited Estrada’s villa and more than $15.5 million in bank accounts believed to be owned by him would remain in effect, Bunye said.

Puno said he would fly by helicopter later Friday to Estrada’s resthouse.

The former leader said his first act as a free man would be to visit his ailing 102-year-old mother in the suburban San Juan hospital, his bailiwick in Manila, where thousands of supporters, family and friends prepared a fiesta for his homecoming.

Some supporters, mostly from the disenfranchised urban poor, trooped to Estrada’s villa in Tanay for a glimpse of the man many consider a hero.

“We want to see the president before he leaves,” said Erlinda Esteban, a 71-year-old farmer, who walked for an hour from her village because she could not afford bus fare.

“He has been our idol since he was an actor and he is a good man,” said Leticia Diocera.

State prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio criticized Estrada’s pardon, saying it amounted to a license to break the law.

“A grant of a pardon to Mr. Estrada simply means that one can commit such a grave offense and yet evade punishment,” he said in a petition filed before the pardon was announced.

Others called it a cynical effort by Arroyo to draw attention away from her own alleged misdeeds and warned it could undermine efforts to stamp out official corruption.

Former President Fidel Ramos called the pardon “a terrible calamity to the great, great, great majority of the Filipino people who have suffered from the plunder.”

Left-wing Representative Teodoro Casiño said Arroyo’s move was an “opportunist political maneuver” meant to overshadow a string of corruption scandals rocking her administration.

By Joel Guinto

INQUIRER.net

Last updated 11:02am (Mla time) 10/26/2007

With reports from Associated Press; Originally posted at 10:31am

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=96875