Erap's Trial: For President Again this 2010?

[diem]

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Palace eyes pardon for Erap before Christmas

Former President Joseph Estrada may get a presidential pardon as a Christmas gift from the Arroyo administration, a senior Malacañang official said Friday.

The Arroyo and Estrada camps are now ironing out the details of the former president's pardon, said Ronaldo Puno, interior secretary and concurrent presidential political adviser.

Radio dzBB reported that Puno said this could be the key to calm political tensions and stop political squabbling.

Puno, who also served as interior secretary under Estrada administration, also said their lines of communication with the Estrada camp remain open.

He said he was even scheduled to have a luncheon meeting with Estrada at the latter's rest house in Tanay, Rizal, but called off the visit because he was not feeling well.

Puno was quoted as saying that Estrada should find a pardon to be an acceptable offer because unlike amnesty, it does not require action from Congress.

As this developed, Puno said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself has no immediate plans to visit Estrada.

Estrada softened his stand on a possible presidential pardon earlier this week, but said he wants to read the fine print and make sure it does not mean he is admitting his guilt.

A graft court convicted Estrada of plunder last September 12 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Estrada initially said he is open to amnesty but not a pardon, which he said implies admission of guilt.

Puno expressed willingness to visit Estrada next week.

[i]Online Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/61428/Pa...fore-Christmas

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[color=navy]This is primarily because they want Erap, his camp and his supporters to just SHUT UP. If they don't do this, you could be sure that the opposition will keep parading Erap as a victim and as a martyr, even when no one cares anymore.

What Erap did was criminal, but he isn't a petty criminal. He served as Mayor, Senator, Vice President then President of this country. That's a lot of political cred and clout, one cannot deny or decry that.

Erap's still got friends, both popular and powerful. Due to the kumpare mores of our culture, Erap's still rich with family and friends holding positions of influence in the matters of our nation. These family and friends that the Administration wants to make "peace" with in order to achieve its own goals and ends, hopefully with their support. Thus, this olive branch.

Is this sound politics? Yes and no. Only time can tell. And the people are always watching this melodramatic idiotic comedy of our society.

[baby_grace]

Granted that Erap will be pardoned, it's not because the administration wants to make amends with the Erap supporters and shut them up. No matter how we look at it, Erap was still found guilty and the fact that he serves his sentence in a nice place angers most of the people.

Just thinking about Erap's application for pardon pisses me off. How much more if he'll be pardoned. His crime was not just a small time crime. He should be made answerable for it since it is the public whom he betrayed.

[j-tech31again]

if in anha nga case my pa wla nalang cla implement sa law.useless lang g hapon kung ma ngayu si estrada 2nd chance..

[fingolfin]

.. SEE. Those people who celebrated Erap's guilty verdict only wasted their energy. It again proves how stupid the majority of the people of this stupid country is. Erap to be pardoned ?? fracking ridiculous. Why do they even entertain the idea in the first place..

[harryperales]

Palace eyes pardon for Erap before Christmas

Former President Joseph Estrada may get a presidential pardon as a Christmas gift from the Arroyo administration, a senior Malacañang official said Friday.

The Arroyo and Estrada camps are now ironing out the details of the former president's pardon, said Ronaldo Puno, interior secretary and concurrent presidential political adviser.

That's B*LLSH*T why are they even thinking of doing that, it would somehow act as encouragement to the other corrupt officials of the government. Don't they ever learn how to deal with such problems of the nation

[love2travel]

siyempre, para walay daghan samok... try to please everyone...

[elvishtattoo]

well., merry christmas nalang ni erap.
mas merry kung dli na sya maka abot ug xmas!

[epson]

ahak oi kapoy bya huwat og convict niya then after all those years wala pa gani na abtan og 6months after conviction pa lakwon mn dayon i think they need to get the peoples opinion on this before makein decsions, salig mn lng na cla nga they have the power and influence bah.. its not a government transaction only, its the people's cunsensus dapat

[kamikaze426]

hahay... samot na gyud ni ma wala ang respeto sa ato political system.
Dili mana reason oi kay past president cya we need to pardon him.

[arnie121]

Pardon pero iuli to iyang mga kinawat. Kadtong mga properties i-sequester gyud to. Ang kwarta iuli pud. Pwede kaha na mahitabo?