Citizen Joseph Ejercito Estrada
October 30th, 2007 Shobe_ceo
The life of Mr. Joseph Ejercito Estrada is full of surprises and the whole Philippines witnessed the ups and downs he went through in life. From being the famous action star, he entered the world of politics, which made him and broke him, at the same time. I, personally, pity the plight that he had to go through. Many believe that Estrada is, indeed, a good man but was too kind and gullible, thus, was swayed easily by people surrounding him.
He was born in April 19, 1937. His birthplace, Tondo, is one of the poorest parts of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Took up Engineering at Ateneo de Manila. He was expelled. His family was displeased with his dropping out of college and his involvement in a street gang that they forbade him from using his family name, thus, he adopted the surname “Estrada” (Spanish for ‘road’) as a last name.
He used to work as an ambulance driver before trying his hand on acting. When he entered the showbizness, he often played heroes of the downtrodden classes, which gained him the admiration of a lot of the nation’s many unschooled and impoverished citizens. This later proved advantageous to his political career. He was the first actor to be inducted in the FAMAS Best Actor Hall of Fame of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in 1982. He also became a Hall of Fame awardee as a producer. A double feat that no one has ever achieved such so far. He played the lead role in more than 100 movies, and was producer of over 70 films.
Estrada entered politics in 1967 by running for mayor of San Juan. He came to be known as the ‘Man of the Mass’. He had a heart for the poor and the downtrodded loved him, making him win as the President of the Philippines in 1998. As a President, he faced a lot of criticisms. A lot of people questioned his capabilities to run the country, some even attacked his personal capacity and background, but one thing is for sure, he did really won the 1998 election with the mass support he got. Later in 2001, he was accused for corrupt practices with his involvement in some jueteng money and was imprisoned for six years until his final verdict, which affirmed his conviction last Sept. 12, 2007.
Sandiganbayan declared him not guilty on the count of perjury but was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt on his plunder case and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua (or imprisonment of 20 to 40 years, carrying with it the accessory penalty of civil interdiction for life or during the period of the sentence as the case may be, and that of perpetual absolute disqualification which the offender shall suffer even though pardoned as to the principal penalty, unless the same shall have been expressly remitted in the pardon ~ Art. 41 of RPC)
Upon the imposition of the final verdict against the former president, Estrada even told the AFP that he was resigned for the latest drama in his presidency, the last and best performance of all. While the prosecution’s lead counsel Dennis Villa-Ignacio (by beloved professor in Criminal Law 1 at the Ateneo Law School, Rockwell) proudly asserted: “It shows that our judicial system really works.This is the last chance for the state to show that we can do it, that we can charge, prosecute and convict a public official regardless of his stature.”
However, another episode arose from the supposed ending of Mr. Estrada’s story. He was recently granted pardon by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and again many people criticized the grant given to him. From the standpoint of SP Villa-Ignacio, he told us once, in class, that he has no problem with the grant of pardon if ever, it is up to the President. For them, they have proven that there is still justice and that what’s most important is that the money that Estrada got from illegal transactions be recovered and be given back to the the sovereign, where it truly belongs. After all things said and done, the end is yet to be uncovered. We all have to be part of this ending, not by doing protests and creating noise that put no end to controversies, but by starting peace within ourselves. If the real players in the battle can forgive and time can heal, who are we to play the judge. I am no Estrada fan nor a supporter. I was one among the first who condemned and hated him from the day he stepped his foot at Malacañang. But nothing has happened, and nothing will happen if we’ll all stay in one corner and gnashed our teeth in dismay for the government or for the people in the government. We’ll have to step up and take our own roles as part of this State. Mind you, but we all have a role to play (or at least a role not to play). Everyone simply wants peace and order for the nation.
Oppositions may play an important role at times but too much oppositions brings out nothing. Our government is being crippled by too much criticisms that it is no longer able to do its job, which the people elected are well capable of doing, but they can’t because of too much politicking, publicity, criticisms, etc. The People Power we had, indeed proved a lot about the sovereign’s capacity to oust an unwanted or improper official. But even that power, when put into abuse as a threat to all officials, becomes evin in itself. We scare away good servants. We drive away sincere public service. And worst of all, we throw justice away to the pit of greed and self-interest. I am not saying that we should all forgive Estrada and put behind the wrong things he has done to the country. But it might be helpful to look forward than backwards, and help each other to move on and sail the country back on its way. IT IS TIME TO GO! As the former Pres. Estrada has gone away from his jail. It is time for the Philippines to head on from the bad memories of the past. We must all take our role and take the lead…on our own little way.
Entry Filed under: For the Mind, Life of Law, Philippine Cases, Philippines, Shobe_CEO
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