.this has been on every filipinos mind even before the verdict was handed down. now it is still being played in the media more so because the government seems bent on following the public's pulse of pardoning the former president. i have been thinking of this post for quite some time but only lately did i make up my mind to finally provide my two cents worth thru this blog.
so here are my top ten (+1) serious and frivolous reasons on why erap is not worthy of a pardon:
- no special treatment. he was always advocating to be treated equally as other accused and that’s what should be done. the fact that he was a former president should not be a pre-qualification for an immediate pardon. what about ordinary citizens convicted of lesser crimes but still rotting in jail? will they be granted pardon as well? let us give him what he is asking for. wasn’t his six-year incarceration at his well-appointed tanay resthouse consideration enough while other prisoners are packed like sardines in our decaying jails?
- he said he didn’t want one. early on he was saying that he didn’t want a pardon from the president because that would be tantamount to an admission of guilt. this statement was even repeated several times in the days leading to the promulgation of his case. and his camp, including his pool of lawyers and his oh-so-good-looking son jinggoy, have arrogantly disqualified any talk of a pardon from a president whose legitimacy they question! so be it. give them what they want. give them what they’ve been shouting to the world at every chance they get. furthermore, doesn’t mr. estrada and his camp continually question the legitimacy of the current president. so how can he be given a pardon by an illegitimate leader. wouldn’t that result to an illegitimate pardon as well?
- it will set the wrong precedent. the most celebrated conviction of an elected official on plunder should not end with a presidential pardon immediately. not this early anyway. let him part of his sentence just like what they did to two former presidents in south korea…… or is gloria just setting up her own pardon beyond 2010 with this precedent? eerie thought.
- he might go back to show business and do another movie or two, or three. who knows how many. well, on second thought, that’s not so bad. better in show business than a return to politics. in fact, i have some movie suggestions for him to consider: how about a remake of “the good, the bad and the ugly” with dolphy, himself and jinggoy in the title roles, respectively! ha ha ha. or “kasal, kasalo, kaso”, a movie chronicling his philandering life and his plunder case. or something for the kids, “the ugly ducklings”, a story about his children, with erap in a supporting role as their real-life dad. ha ha ha. (forgive me, i couldn’t resist).
- this might send the wrong message to the country and the world. i have reiterated this in a previous post. i don’t think that a pardon at this point will convey a positive sign to the country, and the rest of the world, about our justice system. should it happen, a pardon will only amplify the fact that the balance of justice is tipped in favor of the rich and powerful in this country.
- the case isn’t finished yet. we should let this plunder case run its course. after all, nothing is final yet. there is a motion for reconsideration to be filed in the sandiganbayan and an appeal to the supreme court if that fails. i bet a final decision won’t be at hand in the next twelve months or so. let us stop this pardon talk because it is way too premature. who knows, he might even win in the appeal........a thought just crossed my mind. is the arroyo government pushing this pardon issue because this might be their only opportunity for pogi points? what if erap wins his appeal later? opportunity lost. what do you think?
- wristbands will be in fashion again. ha ha ha. specially those orange ones. yuck! plus all those erap jokes that will proliferate afterwards as well. some of them weren’t even jokes. started out as erap’s blunders and miscues. a product of ateneo kasi! ha ha ha.
- he might run for public office again. what if he wins, again? with our voters’ preference for martyrs, underdogs, show business celebrities, and dubious personalities (not issues), that is a very clear possibility. woe to us. woe to the country.
- he doesn’t want any admission of guilt attached to his pardon. who is he kidding? there is no admission of guilt necessary! he was found guilty by a legitimate court. and even if he was found innocent by the same court, we all know he is guilty of plunder (and corruption) like all government officials who got rich while in office. how could he have maintained such a luxurious lifestyle for his wives and families (let me reiterate the plural form)? from a measly government salary? ha! we’re not that stupid! we all knew he was guilty even before the case began. it was just a question of how good his lawyers were, how they would be able to stretch the limits of the law to its farthest extreme for the benefit of their client. that’s what lawyers are for. don’t talk to us about admitting guilt mr. estrada, there is no need for that. we already knew.
- he has no remorse. isn’t his the most important prerequisite for any pardon? shouldn’t there be remorse on the part of the prisoner? how can forgiveness be bestowed on someone who is not even a bit regretful of his sins or crime? someone who has continuously denied any wrongdoing?
- let’s just spare him. spare him the trouble of making up his mind as to which wife and family he will go home to if he is freed. ha ha. will it be to loi in polk street, to guia in san juan, to laarni wherever she is, to the former stewardess, etc., etc. or maybe there’s a new one we haven’t heard of? ha ha. di malayo (highly possible).
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