I have nothing much to say against Joseph aka Erap Estrada. My late grandmother and the rest in the clan (maternal side) are fanatics of Joseph the Artista (the actor) but not so of the Erap the politician. Though I have witnessed how is it possible to love the politician that he is by association of being a charismatic actor. When I was in college, I remember how my family abhored when they found out that I was campaigning for Manila Mayor Fred Lim. I was bringing glossy campaign materials and even asked my younger cousins to put the stickers around-- at night so that no one would notice. Then the following day, I remember how the citizens in our neighborhood reacted violently (verbally only, not physically :p) as if I was some criminal who dared to campaign in Estrada's homecourt. :p My family sheltered me from these reactions. Of course, they love me! Or was it because they can't take the embarrassment of being associated to a Lim campaigner? :p Which I later on, after several years, confessed to some friends back home that it was me :p
Pardon me for the long introduction. I just can't forget that chapter. I hope you found it trivial, anyway :p I am doing this post to signify my interest on Estrada's promulgation. I can imagine how uneasy he is right now because the long-awaited decision on the plunder case will be handed down on September 12. I heard the newsbits that he has been having sleepless nights (that's human!) and allegedly the situation was aggravated by the ailing condition of his 102 year-old mother. On the other hand, as I was having breakfast I heard from Unang Hirit that President GMA was advised not to be visible in any function then. In short, magkulong sa bahay (to just stay home). Kidding! Of course, whatever the decision will be- conviction or acquittal, we can expect some political disturbance.
I was following the plunder and perjury cases years ago especially when I was still at the previous office, much particularly the consequences it caused to some industries (anti-money laundering, bank secrecy, backslide in stocks, etc.) Months ago before the promulgation, there has been talks to give a pardon to Estrada. Well, I am not some lawyer here. But how will you give pardon to somebody who never and would not want to ask for it. He claimed that he would not accept pardon because that would mean acceptance of guilt. Good point.
On the other hand, even if Estrada wants a pardon, personally I am not in favor of granting it to him. Why? Because this may send a wrong signal to the Filipinos, and to the world actually. It would be like the government is run by kids. Kids who are not serious in penalizing the corrupt officials and grafters.
The impeachment trial was televised but the promulgation won't be. Are you amenable to that? Again, I am not some lawyer. But I checked some of my basic law readables and it says that promulgation must be done in public. Now I don't know what they mean by "in public". Anyway, I will be in the office during the promulgation. But of course, we want to have the audio, not just the satisfaction from the broadsheets.
So, let us just await the decision-- hours to go. Let us pray that there would be no violence after that.
Again, as I mentioned in my Supemaid blog, "I just wanted to think out loud".
