Goodgrace of God! And now he's asking for pardon... I thought he still believes he's innocent, how come he is asking for a pardon now?

Estrada letter requesting for presidential pardon

October 22, 2007

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Malacañan Palace
Manila


Your Excellency:


On September 26, 2007 we, the lawyers of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, filed with the Sandiganbayan a motion for reconsideration to reverse and set aside its decision of September 12, 2007 convicting President Estrada of the crime of plunder and sentencing him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua with corresponding accessory penalties. The prosecution filed its opposition to the motion for reconsideration and oral arguments were heard last October 19, 2007. The matter is now submitted for resolution.

Although persuasive constitutional and legal grounds have been alleged in the motion for reconsideration which may justify the reversal of the judgment of conviction, our consensus is that there is a very slim chance that the Sandiganbayan will reconsider its original guilty verdict. The much admired Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro was quoted as saying in a press interview that the Special Division of the Sandiganbayan “stands by its original guilty verdict”.

The looming denial of the motion for reconsideration will have no other option for President Estrada except to appeal to the Supreme Court. Once an appeal is perfected, the present custodial arrangement may be put in question. The Sandiganbayan exercised sound judgment in allowing President Estrada to remain in his Tanay resthouse while his motion for reconsideration pends. His transfer to the National Penitentiary may generate bad feelings on the part of many of our countrymen which may boil over again.

Passions on both sides would be aroused. A period of prolonged fault-finding and recrimination would be disastrous for the nation. Our Republic needs recovery, not revenge.

No other issue could compete with the drama of a former President detained in the National Penitentiary serving a life sentence. It will be virtually impossible for Your Excellency to direct public attention to anything else.

Upon the other hand, the entire appeal process in the Supreme Court may require years: a minimum of two, a maximum of five. Although we are confident that we can obtain a reversal of the guilty verdict from an impartial tribunal, President Estrada will necessarily remain in detention while his appeal is being heard. An acquittal after more than ten (10) years in detention is unjust.

The time has come to end President Estrada’s fight for justice and vindication before the courts. Today, we filed a withdrawal of his motion for reconsideration. President Estrada himself believes that appeal in the Supreme Court would be futile for even the possibility of a favorable judgment will not justify several more years of detention.

His ouster from the Presidency and to live with that humiliation for the rest of his life was a severe punishment in itself and may be equivalent to serving a long jail term. He deserves sympathy, compassion and understanding. He is now 70, had borne suffering with grace and dignity, despite not being the best of health always.

He often frets about the delicate condition of his mother. Her situation deteriorated when she learned what has befallen her son. Knowing he is a free man should be one of the last thoughts a recuerdoshe could carry when she goes to her final resting place, in total serenity.

In the highest national interest, to which President Estrada is always willing to subordinate his own, we appeal to Your Excellency to grant him full, free and unconditional pardon.


Very truly yours,

The Defense Panel of
President Joseph Ejercito Estrada


By:
Jose Flaminiano


if i were the president, i will not give him pardon at this point in time because it will be a treacherous move for the filipino people. the people would feel betrayed once a pardon is granted since the people wants estrada to be incarcerated first in prison and atleast suffer the consequences of his previous action. we should be firm enough to show once and for all that juctice should be served though the heaven fall. kahit ano ang mangyari...NO PARDON TO ERAP!.