As jail beckons, Estrada parties with RP poor
As jail beckons, Estrada parties with RP poor
MANILA (AFP): Marking what could be his saddest ever birthday,
disgraced ex-president Joseph Estrada partied with the poor on
Thursday as government lawyers pressed to have him jailed for
corruption.
With his wife, his grown children and political allies,
Estrada hopped on a sport utility van and drove to a community of
resettled squatters in the eastern Manila suburb of Taytay to
hear mass at Roman Catholic chapel.
"My emotions are a mix of joy and sadness. Sadness because
most of our people remain poor, with no end to the crisis in
sight. Joy because I thank God for giving me a colorful life
despite the crises I now face," the 64 year-old said after the
service.
"It is my fervent birthday prayer that all the hate and
injustice that now envelop our country will dissipate and that
true justice and democracy will prevail."
He later supped with about 15 children, using his bare hands
to attack a meal of eggplant, shrimps and steamed rice.
He also gave out boxes of goodies to about 3,000 grateful
residents who returned the gesture by singing a birthday song for
the fallen leader and chanting his nickname "Erap."
Overthrown in a military-backed popular revolt three months
ago, Estrada is fighting an expensive legal battle to avoid going
to jail after being indicted of eight corruption and related
charges.
He was arrested on Monday but is now free on bail.
Estrada also went on the attack in a series of radio
interviews, accusing his successor President Gloria Arroyo of
harassment.
Prosecutors had advised the court that they were dropping some
of the charges including the one for which he was arrested, in
the hope of speeding up his arrest on the main charge of economic
plunder.
The crime is punishable by death and bail is not allowed.
"They did that to make me suffer and to humiliate me, without
even considering that I was a former president. They treated me
like an ordinary criminal," Estrada said.
Arroyo retorted in a statement: "The criminal liabilities of
an individual cannot be compromised by the state. We shall
therefore let the judicial process take its course in the case of
the former president."
Estrada said: "I am prepared to face charges against me. I
abide by the law, and I believe in the constitution, but they are
denying me justice."
His lawyers have asked the court to have the cases remanded to
state prosecutors to give their client an opportunity to answer
the charges.
Estrada said he has asked his supporters, including 1,000
camped out outside the gates of an upper class suburban Manila
enclave where he lives, to "stay calm. I told them we will
exhaust all legal means."
Luck smiled on Estrada in the courtroom Thursday when the top
judge of the special anti-graft court handling his cases scolded
state prosecutors.
Justice Francis Garchitorena said the government could not
just unilaterally drop the charges once they are filed because
the court has already assumed jurisdiction over them.
"We are not here to play yo-yo," he snapped. He ordered
government lawyers to give a written explanation of their move
within five working days.