“As a woman, we should give her compassion as her health continues to deteriorate.” – Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada on former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
by PSR News Bureau
Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada celebrated his 78th birthday last Sunday, April 19. During the said event, he had mentioned three wishes which he hoped would come true.
Estrada hopes that Sandiganbayan will finally grant former President and current Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s petition for house arrest. Estrada believes that Arroyo deserves to rest as her health
continues to deteriorate. It will be recalled that Arroyo made a plea to have the case against her dismissed, she even asked Sandiganbayan to allow her to be detained at her residence in La Vista, Quezon City instead of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she is currently held.
“As a woman, we should give her compassion,” he said. This was Estrada’s most fervent wish, with two more birthday wishes: for peace in Mindanao and for the progress of the City of Manila that he now presides over.
The Palace has turned down Estrada’s first birthday wish with Honorable Secretary Coloma explaining that the administration has no direct say or authority on Arroyo’s detention conditions.
“Mainam na ipaubaya sa hukuman ang pagpapasya hinggil dito. Tungkulin ng mga taga-usig ng pamahalaan o ng mga prosecutors ng DOJ (Department of Justice) na tukuyin ang usaping ito kung maghahain ng petisyon sa hukuman.”
Estrada was convicted of plunder in 2007 but was later freed after a little more than a month when Arroyo granted him executive clemency.
