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PLUNDER WATCH
On Solons’ Support for Erap Trip
Justice Sacrificed for Political Expediency - Plunderwatch

February 15, 2002

Saying there was no moral, political, humanitarian nor medical justification for ousted Pres. Joseph Estrada to leave the country, the watchdog group Plunderwatch today condemned members of the Senate and the House for signing separate resolutions supporting Estrada’s request for medical treatment in the U.S.

“This is a thousand times more sickening than Estrada’s plea for house arrest. Our legislators are now conniving with Estrada in his attempt to escape the justice system,” said Plunderwatch convenor Dr. Carolina Pagaduan-Araullo.

“We are shocked at Estrada’s newfound allies, many of whom come from the administration. They are willing to sacrifice justice for political expediency,” she added.

Citing a statement by the Philippine Orthopedic Association, Araullo said it was already established that the treatment required by Estrada is readily available locally.

“Clearly, the objective of Estrada’s trip is to provide him with an escape. There’s no other way to interpret it,” said Araullo.

She warned that Estrada’s trip would jeopardize the ongoing plunder case against the former president and his cronies. “This would definitely cause more delays, more confusion and would give the defense more leeway to play around with the case.”

She also warned the Sandiganbayan against being swayed by the “opportunistic and brazen influence-peddling by members of both houses of Congress,” saying it would totally shatter whatever credibility the institution still has.

Stop Erap’s Escape and the Betrayal of People Power 2

February 17, 2002

A LITTLE over a year after People Power 2, President Arroyo and pro-administration legislators have shown that they have lost all political will to prosecute and punish former President Estrada for all the grievous crimes he was accused and ousted for. The foremost beneficiaries of PP2 -- they took over the reins of power from Erap and his gang -- are exposed as party to Estrada's escape from justice via a supposed medical trip to the United States to allow surgical treatment of Estrada's diseased knees.

Hiding behind a facade of humanitarianism, the Senate and House resolutions are nothing but high-handed attempts to pressure the Sandiganbayan to allow Estrada, under "hospital arrest" for plunder and other crimes, to walk away a free man with their blessings. What this is all about is obvious:a convenient cover for a politically expedient solution to what Speaker Jose de Venecia calls "the major cause of the political poison in the air." It is an admission the warring pro-Arroyo and pro-Estrada camps cannot as of yet reach a modus vivendi as long as Erap’s fate remains unresolved.

This is the logical next step to Arroyo’s offer of exile in the last hours of Estrada in Malacañang; her cordial visit to Erap at his Sta Rosa detention center; her promise to the Iglesia ni Cristo that she will not oppose a house arrest for Erap in exchange for their holding back their church members from joining the bogus EDSA 3; her similar deal with El Shaddai's Velarde in exchange for helping torpedo plunder charges against Velarde, Estrada et al; and her panunuyo of pro-Erap urban poor communities with give-aways and showbiz personalities.

Now if all goes well and Estrada slips away, he will be a free man able to enjoy the fruits of his sordid crimes in the Land of Plenty and the memory of his anti-people rule will just gradually be forgotten. That would make all parties happy except the citizen-complainants who initiated the plunder charges against Estrada and the rest of the Pilipino people who still love this country, have some decency left and want to see truth and justice upheld.

Members of the prestigious Philippine Orthopedic Association have publicly stated that it is not true that Estrada requires medical attention in the United States because such is not available in the country. In fact, it is an insult to the more than competent orthopedic surgeons who could operate on Estrada's diseased knees anytime and replace them with prostheses that are available locally.

Moreover, Code Red for Good Governance, another group of doctors and paramedical professionals that worked for Estrada's ouster, contends that this issue is not only an insult to the those who have taken the Hippocratic oath but to the people who demand Estrada's continued prosecution as a cure to the incessant graft and corruption of those in the highest reaches of power.

We fully agree with them.

Any word from Estrada that he will not escape simply cannot be trusted. Kaya nga siya nililitis ngayon dahil malakas ang ebidensya hinggil sa walang patid na pagsisinungaling niya sa bayan!

If Estrada is allowed to go abroad, it is not farfetched to say that he will follow the lead of his crony Atong Ang who has sought political asylum in the US. Estrada would do the same given his assured conviction and the ridiculous claims raised by the People's Movement Against Poverty and the Puwersa ng Masa that the ongoing plunder trial is plain and simple political persecution.

It is incumbent upon the people especially the mass movements that worked hard in ousting Estrada to stop this impending betrayal.