The Estrada Pardon: A Mockery of the Philippine Justice System
Since Estrada’s conviction as guilty for the charge of plunder, there have been speculations that he will be asking for executive clemency from Arroyo. Set aside all other excuses that the Estrada camp has given, it’s all apparent that the Estrada and his cohorts are doing all that they can possibly do with money and connections just to keep him out of jail (and I mean, a real jail, a prison cell behind prison bars, not some comfortable two-storey summer mansion). And after a short while of denying that he’s asking for a pardon (even vehemently saying he refuses to think of asking for it), finally his lawyers have pleaded for the clemency from the President, despite the flowery language that Estrada do not actually acknowledge the legitimacy of Arroyo’s presidency but only is asking for pardon from someone who could give it to their client (and I think only the president of the country could do that isn’t?). Arroyo, on the other hand, has always been open to the idea of negotiating granting clemency for Estrada. I mean, what a grand way of exhibiting her advantage over the enemy right?
And now, the pardon has been granted to Estrada.
He got the conviction guilty of plunder but did not suffer from it really. Has he ever languished inside a real prison cell during the years of which his case was tried? No. In fact, he has transferred residences, stayed in expensive hospitals, and even went abroad for some medical treatment.
What happened to the penalty that is the result of the conviction? Will he simply walk away without serving a portion of it? He haven’t even seen the inside of a prison cell and here comes the pardon on a silver plate, courtesy of the Malacañan. How will this reflect upon the integrity of our justice system?
I speak as an ordinary citizen with a very ordinary grasp of Philippine politics and laws. What does this issue tell me? That in the country where I live, those who have the money and the connections can buy or negotiate their way out of serving prison term? While us, ordinary citizens are always kept on our toes to make sure we do not violate any laws, some arrogant few swagger, without care as to whom they hurt or trample along the way. How can I believe in the justice system if the President herself can easily overrule it?
Equality under the law… it doesn’t seem to make sense anymore. It’s almost a myth.
Filed under: News And Social Issues by Prudence
I don’t really care how Estrada was ousted of his Presidency, but under the Philippines Justice system he was charged of Plunder, a capital crime then, and was convicted in a due process.
But first here we have a man who was not qualified for bail and held in Custody with all the comforts money can buy. Never spent a day in “real jail” even after conviction. And now the Pardon…She might as well empty the jails, nobody was convicted of any lesser crime.
BTW, heard about the case of Conrad Black? He’s a very, very wealthy Canadian (before he became the Lord Black of Crossharbour) and was recently convicted in Chicago by the Jury for Fraud and Racketeering (milking his own businesses in millions) and now wanted his Canadian Citizenship back as he wants to serve his sentence in Canadian Jails instead of the U.S. just in case he gets a long sentence comes November.. He fought tooth an nail even suing former PM Chretien, because he wants to retain his Citizenship while being conferred a tittle by the Queen..
No Canadian Citizen is allowed any Royalty Peerage or Title, as per l919 Nickel Resolution as it is against the Democratic Principles to which the country subscribes and now re-enforced by the Charter, that says every Individual is Equal before and under the Law..no titles please…
The Government has already give notice that it will not reconsider his claim for his old citizenship…let him serve his sentence in U.S. jails, rather than the comfortable and liberal (conjugal visits allowed) Canadian Jails..
[...] “Dura lex, sed lex”? With the fake President still the occupant of Malacanang, the rule of law, the administration of justice for all has been, as Doc Tess puts it: The Estrada pardon is a mockery of the Philippine Justice system. [...]
to vic:
“but under the Philippines Justice system he was charged of Plunder, a capital crime then, and was convicted in a due process…”
— Exactly. If somebody is convicted of something, he should be paying the penalty for such a crime. And plunder is one big crime. So why let him off the hook so easily? And did I hear him paying back all those money he plundered? No. It’s as if he’s simply walking away from all of it. That is just so unfair.
I’m sorry but I haven’t heard about that case of Conrad Black.
Prudence, what happens now when the likes of Joey Marquez says, “…ba’t si Erap lang? sana ako rin; ga-tinting lang naman kaliit kaso ko kumpara sa kay Erap ah?”
[...] bloggers shared Mr. Villa-Ignacio’s and Mr. Singson’s sentiments as well, like Prudence and Madness, who went as far as saying that it made a mockery of the Philippine judicial system. The Four-eyed [...]
So the six years of hard work was all for nothing. Ipa-pardon din pala. Naloko tayong lahat ni pandak. I hope the private prosecutors who did pro bono work during the Estrada trial would now make it their mission to prosecute Gloria when her time is up.
I feel so cheated! It’s so obvious that this is purely politically motivated. Ganun na lang yun? After proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Estrada is indeed a plunderer, he is simply “set free”.
Nakakapikon! Nakakainis! It’s not as if he’s actually JAILED!
Tsktsk!! We’ve got one very twisted government. Surprise, surprise.
to Ormocanon:
That’s what I fear. Some people might just begin clamoring for an executive clemency if they got convicted. I think the president is setting up herself in case she gets convicted of the same or similar charges.
It makes one wonder if the whole thing was just staged by the government so that PGMA can have a show of her power. Or does she fear Erap supporters that much to do it?
Estrada is not allowed to run for elective positions in the government…that’s part of the conditions of the pardon? Makes you wonder if this move is part of a political deal.
And according to my dad, he has lost all respect (or what’s left of it) for PGMA because of this pardon.
Pro bono lang pala ‘yun? Hmmm…kawawa naman.
Yeah, I also feel that we’ve been played fools by the government. Sana man lang hinayaan muna ni PGMA na makulong si Estrada for a while. Ni wala man lang admission of guilt. How arrogant of him to even ask for a pardon when he wouldn’t admit he is guilty.
I wonder if Jinggoy and Loi will drop from the opposition…
to psychogoddess:
“It’s not as if he’s actually JAILED…”
- In Estrada’s dictionary, living in a secluded, airconditioned mansion and receiving treatments in local and foreign hospitals constitute prison life. Pity him because he cannot have his nightly “inuman” sessions anymore. :-p
to Joni:
Nothing’s new. But it’s very, very disappointing
“That in the country where I live, those who have the money and the connections can buy or negotiate their way out of serving prison term? While us, ordinary citizens are always kept on our toes to make sure we do not violate any laws, some arrogant few swagger, without care as to whom they hurt or trample along the way.”
This thought always reminds me of one man: Lucio Tan.
No president has ever gotten him to pay his taxes, yet I have to pay mine.
to Frances:
Yup, I heard a lot of things about this Lucio Tan. Add to that my bf’s rantings about him and what he had done to the pilots and other employees at PAL before. Yes, it is unfair that those who have the big money can get away with a lot of unpaid taxes while we have to work our butts off and still the government can take a substantial amount from what we’ve earned. But the story of Lucio Tan goes way, way back I think.
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