Joseph Estrada

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Joseph Ejercito Estrada
13th President of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
Vice President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Fidel Ramos
Succeeded by	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
11th Vice President of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998
President	Fidel Ramos
Preceded by	Salvador Laurel
Succeeded by	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Senator of the Philippines
In office 1987 – 1992
Mayor of San Juan
In office 1969 – 1986
Born	April 19, 1937 (1937-04-19) (age 72) Tondo, Manila
Birth name	Jose Marcelo Ejercito
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Nacionalista (1986-1992) NPC (1992-1998) Partido ng Masang Pilipino (1998-present)
Spouse(s)	Loi Estrada
Alma mater	Mapua Institute of Technology
Occupation	Actor
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature
Website	Official website

Joseph Ejercito Estrada (born Jose Marcelo Ejercito on April 19, 1937) was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until his ouster in the 2001 EDSA Revolution.

Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in an acting career spanning 33 years. He leveraged his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor of San Juan for seventeen years, as Senator for one term, then as Vice President of the Philippines under the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other challengers, and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. However, allegations of corruption spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from power after the trial was aborted. In 2007, he was found guilty of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, but was later granted a pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Early life and career

Joseph Marcelo Ejercito, popularly known as Erap, was born on April 19, 1937 in Tondo, the poorest district of Manila. He belonged to an upper middle class family, and was the eighth of ten children of Emilio Ejercito, a government engineer, and his wife Maria Marcelo.^[1] He finished his primary studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, but was expelled in his sophomore year of high school for unruly behavior.^[1] He went to Mapúa Institute of Technology to continue schooling with an engineering course, but dropped out from studies altogether two years later.

In his twenties, he began a career as a film actor. He adopted the screen name "Joseph Estrada", as his father objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling.^[1] He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on the Tagalog word "pare", meaning buddy) from his good friend Fernando Poe, Jr..

Film

He played the lead role in more than 100 movies, and was producer of over 70 films. He was the first FAMAS Hall of Fame awardee for Best Actor (1981) and also became a Hall of Fame award-winner as a producer (1983). He often played heroes of the downtrodden classes, which gained him the admiration of a lot of the nation's many unschooled and impoverished citizens. This later proved advantageous to his political career.

In 1974 he founded the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund) which helps movie makers through medical reimbursements, hospitalization, surgery and death benefits, livelihood, and alternative income opportunities and housing. Its educational arm, the Mowelfund Film Institute, has produced some of the most skilled and respected producers, filmmakers, writers and performers in both the independent and mainstream sectors of the industry since its inception in 1979.^[2] He also founded, together with Dr. Guillermo De Vega, the first Metro Manila Film Festival in 1975.^[3]

Early Political Career

Mayor of San Juan

Estrada entered politics in 1967 when he ran for mayor of San Juan, a municipality of Metro Manila, in 1968 and ended up losing his bid for mayor. He was only proclaimed mayor in 1969, after winning an electoral protest against Dr. Braulio Sto. Domingo. As mayor of San Juan he turned it to one of Metro Manila's outstanding municipality (now a city). He built public schools both for elementary and high school and having children go to school for free. He also built parks, playgrounds, modern police stations and ensuring peace and order.^[4] When Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency in 1986, all officials of the local government suspected of malfeasance and anomalies were removed and replaced by appointed officers-in-charge. Estrada was then removed from his position as mayor.

Senator of the Philippines

The following year, he ran and won a seat in the Senate under the Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD). He placed 16th place in the said elections (out of 24 winners). As senator he became chairman of the senate committee on cultural minorities and passed a bill on commission on ancestral domain. He also sponsored bills that were signed into law, namely, The Preservation of the Carabao (Republic Act no. 7307)^[5] and The Construction of Irrigation Projects (Republic Act no. 6978)^[6].

Vice-Presidency

See Also: Presidency of Fidel Ramos

In 1992, Joseph Estrada ran for vice-president as the running mate of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. under the Nationalist People's Coalition party. Though the latter lost to former National Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos, Estrada won the vice-presidency garnering more votes than his closest opponent, Ramon Mitra, Jr.'s running mate, Marcelo Fernan.

As Vice-President, President Ramos appointed him as the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC). Estrada arrested criminal warlords and kidnapping syndicates^[7]. He resigned as chairman of the PACC on 1997. In 1997 Vice-President Estrada, together with former President Corazon Aquino, Jaime Cardinal Sin, Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other political leaders, led an anti-charter change rally brought in an estimated half a million people to Rizal Park against the charter change moves by supporters of President Fidel Ramos^[8].

1998 Presidential Elections

The 1998 presidential election campaign, like most presidential election campaigns in the Philippines, had hardly anything to do with a contest between political platforms and programs. Estrada’s political strategists and financial backers were aware that a large share of the Philippine electorate, the "masa" (the poor and undereducated masses), were looking for a leadership they could relate to. Estrada’s financial backers designed a campaign strategy that reflected Estrada’s pro-poor image that he had built up throughout his movie career. Central in the campaign was Estrada’s campaign slogan "Erap para sa Mahirap" (Erap for the poor) that succeeded in inspiring the masses with the hope that Estrada would be the president of and for the masses. Estrada's running mate, Edgardo Angara, was defeated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. During the campaign, Estrada's political rivals tried but failed to discredit him while publicizing his womanizing, drinking and gambling.

Presidency

The inauguration of President Estrada on June 30, 1998, featured in the Philippine piso centennial commemorative legal tender banknote.

Estrada was inaugurated on June 30, 1998 in the historical town of Malolos in Bulacan province in paying tribute to the cradle of the First Philippine Republic. That afternoon the new president delivered his inaugural address at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. He assumed office amid the Asian Financial Crisis and with agricultural problems due to poor weather conditions, thereby slowing the economic growth to -0.6% in 1998 from a 5.2% in 1997.^[9] The economy recovered by 3.4% in 1999 and 4% in 2000.^[10] In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured it's headquarters and other camps^[11][12]. However, allegations of corruption spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from power after the trial was aborted.

In his Inaugural Address, Estrada said:

Administration and Cabinet

Other cabinet-level and high posts

Cabinet level:

• Executive Secretary
  • Ronaldo Zamora (1998-2000)
  • Edgardo Angara (2000-2001)
• Press Secretary
  • Rodolfo Reyes (1998-1999)
  • Ricardo Puno (1999-2001)
• Presidential Spokesman
  • Fernando Barican (1998-2001)
• Presidential Chief of Staff
  • Aprodicio Lacquian (1999-2000)
• Head of the Presidential Management Staff
  • Leonora de Jesus (1998-2000)
  • Macel Fernandez (2000-2001)

Others:

• Flagship Programs
  • Robert Aventajado (1998-2001)
• Director General, Philippine National Police
  • Gen. Roberto Lastimoso (1998-1999)
  • Gen. Roberto Lastimoso (OIC)(1999)
  • Gen. Panfilo Lacson (1999-2001)

Domestic Policies

Agrarian Reform

Estrada administering the oath to Florentino Floro.

The Estrada administration widened the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to the landless peasants in the country side^[14]. The latter's administration distributed more than 266,000 hectares of land to 175,000 landless farmers, including land owned by the traditional rural elite. (Total of 523,000 hectares to 305,000 farmers during his 2nd year as President)^[15]. On September 1999 he issued Executive Order(EO) 151, also known as Farmer’s Trust Fund, which allows the voluntary consolidation of small farm operation into medium and large scale integrated enterprise that can access long-term capital. President Estrada launched the Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo or MAGKASAKA. The DAR forged into joint ventures with private investors into agrarian sector to make FBs competitive^[16]. In 1999 a huge fund was allocated to agricultural programs^[17]. One of which is the "Agrikulturang Maka Masa", through which it achieved an output growth of 6 percent, a record high at the time^[18], thereby lowering the inflation rate from 11 percent in January 1999 to just a little over 3 percent by November of the same year^[18].

Anti-Crime Task Forces

In 1998, by virtue of Executive Order No.8, President Estrada created the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) with the objective of minimizing, if not totally eradicating, car theft and worsening^[19]kidnapping cases in the country^[20]. With the help of this task force, the Philippine National Police for the first time in history achieved a record-high trust rating of +53 percent.^[18]. Panfilo Lacson was its first head. He also created the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) in 1999, with the objective of formulating and implementing a concerted of action of all law enforcement, intelligence and other government agencies for the prevention and control of transnational crime^[21].

However in November 2000, during the Juetenggate scandal of President Estrada, high officials of the PAOCTF - Cesar Mancao, Michael Ray Aquino, Glen Dumlao, and PAOCTF chief Panfilo Lacson - were implicated in the murder of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito at the Cavite province^[22]. Dacer at that time was accused to be behind a black propaganda against President Estrada^[23]. A charge Dacer denied^[24].

Charter Change

Under President Joseph Estrada, there was a similar attempt to change the 1987 constitution. The process is termed as CONCORD or Constitutional Correction for Development. Unlike Charter change under Ramos and Arroyo the CONCORD proposal, according to its proponents, would only amend the 'restrictive' economic provisions of the constitution that is considered as impeding the entry of more foreign investments in the Philippines.

There were once again objections from opposition politicians, religious sects and left wing organizations based on diverse arguments such as national patrimony and the proposed constitutional changes would be self serving. Like his predecessor, Estrada's government was accused of pushing Charter change for their own vested interests.

International Relations

President Joseph Estrada with U.S. President Bill Clinton at the oval office.

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines Thomas Hubbard (left) and Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen (center) visit with President Joseph E. Estrada (right) at Malacanang Palace, Philippines, on Aug. 3, 1998.

The Estrada administration upheld the foreign policy thrusts of the Ramos administration, focusing on national security, economic diplomacy, assistance to nationals, and image-building. The Philippines continued to be at the forefront of the regional and multilateral arena. It successfully hosted the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998 and undertook confidence-building measures with China over South China Sea issue through a meeting in March 1999^[25]. President Estrada strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries with visits to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.^[26]

On 1999 a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, which was ratified in the Senate^[27]. The country also sent a delegation of 108 observers to the Indonesian parliamentary elections, and engaged in cooperative activities in the areas of security, defense, combating transnational crimes, economy, culture, and the protection of OFWs and Filipinos abroad.

Economy

The Estrada administration is said to have a strong economic team, however the latter's administration failed to capitalize on the gains of the previous administration. Foreign investors' confidence was damaged during the BW resources scandal when Estrada was accused of exerting influence in an investigation of a friend's involvement in stock market manipulation. Economic performance was hurt by the Asian Financial Crisis and climatic disturbance that caused extremes of dry and wet weather^[28]. Toward the end of Estrada's administration, the fiscal deficit had doubled to more than P100 billion from a low of P49 billion in 1998. Despite such setbacks, the rate of GNP in 1999 increased to 3.6 percent from 0.1 percent in 1998, and the GDP posted a 4.0 percent growth rate, up from a low of -0.5 percent in 1998^[29]. Debt reached P2.1 trillion in 1999. The inflation rate came down from 11 percent in January 1999 to just a little over 3 percent by November of the same year. This was in part due to the agricultural program Agrikulturang Maka Masa, through which it achieved an output growth of 6 percent, a record high at the time.^[18]However a major bank failure in April 2000 and the impeachment and subsequent departure of President Estrada in the beginning of 2001 led to lower growth.

War against the MILF

During the Ramos administration a cessation of hostilities agreement was signed between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in July 1997. This was continued by a series of peace talks and negotiations in Estrada administration.^[12] However the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Islamic group formed in 1977, seeks to be an independent Islamic State from the Philippines, despite the agreements, a sequence of terrorist attacks with the Philippine military and the civilians still continued.^[12] Such of those attack are 277 violations committed, kidnapping a foreign priest, namely Father Luciano Benedetti, the occupying and setting on fire of the municipal hall of Talayan, Maguindanao; the takeover of the Kauswagan Municipal Hall; the bombing of the Lady of Mediatrix boat at Ozamiz City; and the takeover of the Narciso Ramos Highway. By doing so, they inflicted severe damage on the country's image abroad, and scared much-needed investments away. In addition to this, the Philippine government learned that the MILF has links with Al-Qaeda.^[30] Because of this, on March 21, 2000, President Joseph Estrada declared an "all-out-war" against the MILF. During the war the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) asked Estrada to have a cease-fire with MILF, but Estrada opposed the idea arguing that a cease-fire would cause more terrorist attacks. For the next three months of the war, Camp Abubakar, headquarters of the MILF, fell along with other 13 major camps and 43 minor camps, and then all of which became under controlled by the government. The MILF leader Hashim Salamat fled the country and went to Malaysia. The MILF later declared a Jihad on the government. On July 10 of the same year, the President went to Minadanao and raised the Philippine flag symbolizing victory. After the war the President said, "... will speed up government efforts to bring genuine and lasting peace and development in Mindanao". In the middle of July the president ordered the military to arrest top MILF leaders.^[31]

In his state of the nation address, popularly called "SONA", the president highlighted his vision for Mindanao:

• The first is to restore and maintain peace in Mindanao—because without peace, there can be no development.
• The second is to develop Mindanao—because without development, there can be no peace.
• The third is to continue seeking peace talks with the MILF within the framework of the Constitution—because a peace agreed upon in good faith is preferable to a peace enforced by force of arms.
• And the fourth is to continue with the implementation of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF—because that is our commitment to our countrymen and to the international community.

In addition to this the president said his administration can move with more speed in transforming Mindanao into a progressive economic center.^[31] High on the list of priorities was the plight of MILF guerrillas who were tired of fighting and had no camps left to report to. On October 5, 2000 the first massive surrender of 669 MILF mujahideen led by the renegade vice mayor of Marugong, Lanao del Sur Malupandi Cosandi Sarip and seven other battalion commanders, surrendered to President Joseph Estrada at the 4th ID headquarters in Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Bgy. Patag, Cagayan de Oro City. They were followed shortly by a second batch of 855 surrenderees led by MILF Commander Sayben Ampaso on Dec. 29, 2000.^[32]

However, the war with the MILF was severely criticized by foreign and media observers. In fact Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara bridled at the high cost of Mindanao specifically the diversion of resources from military operations that eat away from the agriculture modernization program. Angara was quoted as saying "What General Reyes asks, he gets". Moreover the fighting in Mindanao even destroyed more than P135 million worth of crops and 12,000 hectares of rice and corn fields.^[33]

Controversies

The Philippine Daily Inquirer

Estrada criticized the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the nation's most popular broadsheet newspaper^{[citation needed]}, for "bias, malice and fabrication" against him.^[34] In 1999, several government organizations, pro-Estrada businesses, and movie producers simultaneously pulled their advertisements in the Inquirer.^[34][35] The presidential palace was widely implicated in the advertising boycott, prompting sharp criticism from international press freedom watchdogs.^[35][36]

The Manila Times

Estrada launched a libel suit against the country's oldest newspaper the Manila Times over a story that alleged corruption in the awarding of a public works project. After a personal apology from an owner was published, the libel suit was dropped.^[35][36] Within three months the Manila Times was sold to a "housing magnate with no previous newspaper experience"^[35] and was quickly shut down.^[37]

BW Resources

BW Resources a small gaming company listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and linked to people close to Estrada experienced "a meteoric rise"^[38] in its stock price due to suspected stock price manipulation.^[38] The ensuing investigation led only to further confusion when the head of the compliance and surveillance group of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and his entire staff resigned ^[39][40] saying "I believe I can no longer effectively do my job."^[39] The events created a negative impression. "The BW controversy undermined foreign investor confidence in the stock market"^[40] and "also contributed to a major loss of confidence in the Philippines among foreign and local investors on concerns that cronyism may have played a part."^[39]

Corruption charges and impeachment

President Estrada in 2000.

The Estrada presidency was soon dogged by charges of plunder and corruption. He was reported by his Chief of Staff Aprodicio Laquian to have allegedly spent long hours drinking with shady characters as well as "midnight drinking sessions" with some of his cabinet members during meetings.^[41] In October 2000, an acknowledged gambling racketeer, Luis "Chavit" Singson, governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, alleged that he had personally given Estrada the sum of 400 million pesos ($8,255,933) as payoff from illegal gambling profits, as well as 180 million pesos ($3,715,170) from the government price subsidy for the tobacco farmers' marketing cooperative. Singson's allegation caused an uproar across the nation, which culminated in Estrada's impeachment by the House of Representatives in November 13, 2000 which did not succeed. The articles of impeachment were then transmitted to the Senate and an impeachment court was formed, with Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. as presiding officer.

Major television networks pre-empted their afternoon schedules to bring full coverage of the Impeachment Trial. There were three sets of cameras in the Impeachment Court (normally the Senate Chamber): one from ABS-CBN, one from the GMA Network, and one from NBN (Then, it was PTV, or the People's Television Network. (used as a pool camera).

During the trial, the prosecution (composed of congressmen and private prosecutors) presented witnesses and evidence to the impeachment court regarding Estrada's involvement in an illegal numbers game, also known as jueteng, and his maintenance of secret bank accounts. However, the president's legal team (composed of a former chief justice, former congressman, former solicitor-general and other lawyers) denied such allegations including his signing as Jose Velarde (which looked exactly like his signature as Joseph Estrada) duly witnessed by bank teller Marissa Ocampo. However in February 2001, at the initiative of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the second envelope was opened before the local and foreign media and it contained the document that stated that Jaime Dichavez and not Estrada owned the "Jose Velarde Account"^[42][43].

Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson was one of the witnesses who testified against President Estrada. The President and the governor of Ilocos Sur were said to be "partners" in-charge of the operations of illegal gambling in the country (citation needed). Governor Singson feared that he would be charged and stripped of power (there have been talks about the governor making a deal with the opposition... he was to help incriminate Estrada and he would be compensated for his service), but he was offered immunity by anti-Estrada lawmakers. He was then asked to accuse the President of having committed several illegal acts.Vice-President of then Equitable-PCI Bank Clarissa Ocampo testified that she saw the President, Joseph Estrada sign the false name "Jose Velarde" on the banking document and this was also witnessed by Apodicio Laquian.^[44]

According to Transparency International in an old survey that did not fit with newer informations^{[by whom?]}, Estrada was the tenth most corrupt head of government ever, and being the second Philippine Head of State after Marcos in terms of corruption.^[45][46] However, in a opinion perception based survey conducted in 2007 by the Pulse Asia Survey, The survey asked: "In your opinion, which president is the most corrupt in the history of the Philippines?" and followed with a list of the current and past leaders.^[47] Estrada is the third least corrupt president - only next to Corazon Aquino^[48].^{[dubious – discuss]}

EDSA II Revolution

On the evening of January 16, 2001, the impeachment court, whose majority were political allies of Estrada,^[49] voted not to open an envelope that was said to contain incriminating evidence against the president. The final vote was 11-10, in favor of keeping the envelope closed. The prosecution panel (of congressmen and lawyers) walked out of the Impeachment Court in protest of this vote. Others noted that the walkout merited a contempt of court which Davide, intentionally or unintentionally, did not enforce.^[50] The afternoon schedule of television networks covering the Impeachment were pre-empted by the prolongation of the day's court session due to the issue of this envelope. The evening telenovelas of networks were pushed back for up to two hours. That night, anti-Estrada protesters gathered in front of the EDSA Shrine at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, not too far away from the site of the 1986 People Power Revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos. A political turmoil ensued and the clamor for Estrada's resignation became stronger than ever. In the following days, the number of protesters grew to the hundreds of thousands.

On January 19, 2001, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, seeing the political upheaval throughout the country, decided to withdraw its support from the president and transfer its allegiance to the vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The following day, the Supreme Court declared that the seat of presidency was vacant. At noon, the Chief Justice swore in the constitutional successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as President of the Philippines.^[51] Estrada and his family were quickly evacuated from the presidential palace.

On January 18, 2008, Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) placed a full-page advertisement in Metro Manila newspapers, blaming EDSA 2 of having "inflicted a dent on Philippine democracy". Its featured clippings questioned the constitutionality of the revolution. The published featured clippings were taken from Time^{[Full citation needed]}, New York Times^{[Full citation needed]}, The Straits Times^{[Full citation needed]}, Los Angeles Times^{[Full citation needed]}, Washington Post^{[Full citation needed]}, Asia Times Online^{[Full citation needed]}, The Economist^{[Full citation needed]}, and the International Herald Tribune^{[Full citation needed]}. Former Supreme Court justice and Estrada appointee as chairwoman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Cecilia Muñoz Palma opined that EDSA 2 violated the 1987 Constitution.^{[52][Full citation needed]}

Post-Presidency

Joseph Estrada

Estrada returned to his old home in San Juan. He maintained that he never resigned, implying that Arroyo's government was illegitimate, despite the international community's recognition of Arroyo's succession and the acknowledgment of Arroyo as the new president by all government offices, the military, and the national police.

The new government charged him with plunder and had him arrested in April. Estrada's supporters, particularly those among the poor, marched to the EDSA Shrine demanding Estrada's release and his reinstatement as president, attempting to replicate the success of the previous revolution. On the morning of May 1, the protesters marched straight to the presidential palace. Violence erupted and the government declared a State of Rebellion. Many of Estrada's supporters were arrested, including politicians accused of provoking the violence. The government called out the military and was able to quell the rebellion. The rebellion came to be known as EDSA III.

Estrada was initially detained at the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center in Manila and then transferred to a military facility in Tanay, Rizal, but he was later transferred to a nearby vacation home, virtually in house arrest. He was still facing the charges of plunder and corruption. Under Philippine law, plunder has a maximum penalty of death, though it was unlikely that Estrada would be given that sentence.

On April 2, 2005, the United Opposition movement named Estrada "Chairman Emeritus".

Trial

On September 12, 2007, the Sandiganbayan now including Justice Diosdado Peralta, finally gave its decision, finding Estrada not guilty on his perjury case but guilty of plunder "beyond reasonable doubt." He was sentenced to Reclusión perpetua. He was thus the first Philippine President who was impeached and then convicted.^[53]

On September 26, 2007, Joseph Estrada appealed by filing a 63-page motion for reconsideration of the Sandiganbayan judgment penned by Teresita de Castro (submitting 5 legal grounds).^[54][55] Estrada alleged that the court erred "when it convicted him by acquitting his alleged co-conspirators."^[56]

On October 5, 2007, the Sandiganbayan's Special Division ruled to have set for October 19, oral argument (instead of a defense reply) on Joseph Estrada’s motion for reconsideration. Estrada asked for court permission to attend the hearing, since it ordered the prosecution to file comment before October 11.^[57]

Perjury case

The Sandiganbayan's special division, on June 27, 2008, ordered Estrada to file comment within 10 days, on the motion of the Ombudsman's Special Prosecutor to re-open the trial of his perjury case regarding 1999 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). The court will also resolve Banco de Oro's (formerly Equitable PCI Bank), plea that it cannot determine "without hazard to itself" who to turn over to the P1.1 billion Jose Velarde assets due to claims by Wellex Group / William Gatchalian and a Bureau of Internal Revenue stay order.^[58]

Pardon and release from detention

On October 22, 2007, Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera stated that Joseph Estrada is seeking a “full, free, and unconditional pardon” from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Estrada's lawyer Jose Flaminiano wrote Arroyo: "The time has come to end President Estrada's fight for justice and vindication before the courts. Today [Monday], we filed a withdrawal of his Motion for Reconsideration." Estrada, 70, stressed the "delicate condition" of his mother in asking for pardon.^[59]

On October 25, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to Joseph Estrada based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice (DoJ). Acting Executive Secretary and Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye quoted the signed Order: "In view hereof in pursuant of the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights." Bunye noted that Estrada committed in his application not to seek public office, and he would be free from his Tanay resthouse on October 26, noon.^[60][61][62] On October 26, 2007, after almost 7 years of detention, Joseph Estrada was finally released after the Sandiganbayan promulgated the historical Resolution.^[63]

Activities

When he was released he gave a message to the Filipino people that he can once again help the lives of the people especially the poor. He also stated that he made mistakes as a public servant but he assured them that corruption was not one of them, despite being convicted for the said crime^[64]. After the release he had a series nationwide tour called "Lakbay Pasasalamat"^[65][66] (Thank you tour) and during those trips he thanked the people for their support and gave them relief goods such as food, medicines and clothing^[4][67][68]. In politics, he is convincing leaders of the opposition to have unity in the party or, he said, he will run.^[69]

2010 Presidential Elections

Joseph Estrada has stated in interviews that he would be willing to run for the opposition in the event that they are unable to unite behind a single candidate.^[70][71]Fr. Joaquin Bernas and Christian Monsod, members of the constitutional commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, have stated that the constitution clearly prohibits any successfully-elected president from seeking a second term at any point in time.^[72]Romulo Macalintal, election counsel of President Arroyo, has clarified that the constitutional ban doesn't prevent Estrada from attaining the presidency in the event that he were to be elevated from the vice-presidency, for example.^[73] However, Rufus Rodriquez, one of Estrada's lawyers, claims that the former president is within his rights to do so because the prohibition banning re-election only applies to the incumbent president.^[70]

On October 22, 2009 former President Joseph Estrada announced that he would run again for president with Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate^[74].

Personal life

Estrada is married to (the former Doctor and first lady-turned-senator) Luisa Pimentel and had three children by her: Jose Ejercito, Jr. (better known as "Jinggoy Estrada"; former Mayor of San Juan turned Senator/married to Precy Vitug), Jackie Ejercito (married to Beaver Lopez), and Jude Ejercito (married to Weng Ocampo). Joseph Estrada met his wife Loi while working as an orderly at the National Center for Mental Health (NMCH) in Mandaluyong City.

He also has children from four out-of-wedlock relationships, including Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito (from socialite Guia Gómez) who also made a name for himself in Philippine politics by following his father's footsteps as the current mayor of San Juan City.^[75] Pagsanjan, Laguna Mayor Emilio Ramon P. Ejercito III, known in Philippine showbiz as George Estregan, Jr., or E.R. Ejercito (married by actress Maita Sanchez), is his nephew.

Awards and Honors

• 1962 FAMAS Best Actor for Markang Rehas^[76][77]
• 1964 FAMAS Best Actor for Geron Busabos^[76][77]
• 1966 FAMAS Best Actor for Ito ang Pilipino^[76][77]
• 1969 FAMAS Best Actor for Patria Adorada^[76][77]
• 1971 Outstanding Mayor and foremost Nationalist by the Inter-Provincial Information Service^[4]
• 1972 One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public Administration by the Philippine Jaycees^[4]
• 1981 FAMAS Best Actor for Kumander Alibasbas^[76][77]
• 1981 FAMAS Hall of Fame^[76][78]

References

• Joseph Estrada Ang Tanging Ama

External links

Wikisource has original works written by or about: Joseph Estrada

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joseph Estrada

• Official Website of Joseph Estrada
• Official Youtube Channel of Joseph Estrada
• Joseph Estrada Curriculum Vitae
• Joseph Estrada at the Internet Movie Database