Estrada gets executive clemency from Arroyo

“The Executive Clemency granted to former President Joseph Estrada by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a clear sign, not of mercifulness on her part, but of weakness in her rule and it smacks of political pragmatism, a survival instinct for her dying regime.”

This was the reaction of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center to the granting of pardon today to Joseph Estrada after the Sandigan Bayan ruling found him guilty of plunder.

“This Arroyo regime is continuously being isolated due to massive human rights violations, widening of poverty among the populace and massive corruption. Again and again, multi-million scandals are being exposed and all strings are leading to the Malacañang-based mafia. This recent move is made to buy her more time against the growing calls of resignation from the Filipino people,” said Prestoline Suyat, spokesperson of the KMU.

According to Suyat, the supposed policy of releasing inmates beyond 70, one of the reasons cited for the pardon, is lip service. “How can the people believe this was the reason when in the case of Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, who was more the the age of 70, it was the decision of the Supreme Court which set him free and the Arroyo regime was hell-bent on keeping him in detention despite his age,” opined Suyat.

“As they say, in politics there exist no permanent friends nor enemies, only permanent interest and the Arroyo's interest is to hold on to power permanently,” ended Suyat.