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.