Estrada’s b-day wish: Let Arroyo go home

All Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada wants for his 78th birthday today is for his successor to be granted house arrest.

In a phone interview yesterday, Estrada said that his birthday wish was for the Sandiganbayan to allow former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, to be placed under house arrest rather than remain detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City since she is “growing weak and losing weight.”

“She’s no longer a flight risk. As Filipinos, we respect our women,” Estrada said of his successor, adding that “we should be compassionate [and allow her] to be with her family, children and grandchildren.”

In December 2000, Estrada faced impeachment on charges of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution. The following month, his presidency was cut short by the second People Power revolution, forcing him to leave Malacañang and paving the way for Arroyo, then the vice president, to take over.

Under Arroyo’s presidency, Estrada was tried by the Sandiganbayan on plunder and perjury charges. In September 2007, he was found guilty and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or a jail term of up to 40 years. A month later, she granted him pardon and restored his civil and political rights.

Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the VMMC while she undergoes trial for plunder at the Sandiganbayan for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds during her presidency.

Her camp has asked the court to grant their petition that she be detained at her house in La Vista, Quezon City, in the hopes that her surroundings would “help her recuperate and heal more quickly and fully.” Arroyo has undergone surgery several times for a spine ailment.

Estrada yesterday said that he had heard that Arroyo’s condition has worsened since his last visit to her last year.

“I pity GMA. I’ve been there. At least [when I was detained], I was healthy,” he said, adding that allowing her to be placed under house arrest would help “unite” the country, since Arroyo still has loyal followers.

Estrada also said that he wished that the Mindanao conflict would be resolved “so that there would be lasting peace in the country.”

“I wish to see a united and progressive country under one flag, one Constitution and one democratic republic,” he said.

Earlier this week, Estrada said that he would once again run for mayor next year so he could “bring back the old glory of Manila.”

Asked what made him change his mind after he said that he would seek just one term as Manila mayor, he replied that he didn’t have much room for implementing programs and projects in the first half of his term since he inherited “a bankrupt city.”

“I had to raise our real property tax to pay off our P4 billion debt,” Estrada said in an earlier interview.

He added that he “wish to see Manila regain its stature as the premiere city of the country, with disciplined residents and a progressive business climate.”

As for his promise to Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso that he would step aside after just one term to support the latter’s bid for the mayoralty, Estrada said that he would endorse Domagoso as a senatorial candidate instead.

According to Estrada, Domagoso was a strong contender for senator because of his track record.