Iloilo anti-Erap groups oppose pardon on jailed president
Groups that were part of a broad multi-sectoral movement that helped oust former president Joseph Estrada called for the rejection of a presidential pardon on the former president.
The groups which earlier lauded the conviction of Estrada for plunder had warned that the guilty verdict handed down by the Sandiganbayan last month could still be reversed by the Supreme Court or a presidential pardon.
"What gives a person, though elected, the right to help himself to the money of the people for his whims and caprices while (the people) languish in poverty? Now, he want us to have the conscience to pardon him?" said Kristin Treñas, one of the leaders of the Estrada Resign Movement in Iloilo in 2001.
Treñas said Estrada's request to be granted an a full and unconditional pardon proves his guilt.
"Why ask for pardon when you're innocent?" said Treñas.
The Catholic Church also questioned the granting of pardon to Estrada.
"It is his (Estrada) right if he is entitled to it. But for government to give it to him right away is morally questionable if not wrong outright," said Msgr. Meliton Oso, executive director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center.
The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Panay said granting pardon to Estrada will "only benefit Arroyo who is trying to win-over Estrada's supporters to stem the growing movement to oust her from office."
Estrada on Monday asked President Macapagal-Arroyo to be granted a "full, free and unconditional" pardon for the sake of "national interests." Estrada through a letter to the President signed by his lead counsel Jose Flaminiano also said they had withdrawn their motion for reconsideration filed before the Sandiganbayan.
The Sandiganbayan had sentenced Estrada a prison term from 20 to 40 years.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines earlier said that the guilty verdict against Estrada was a "warning sign" against graft and corruption.