Estrada buries the hatchet, all praise for justice who convicted him of plunder

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has already moved on from his plunder conviction by the Sandiganbayan in 2007.

Speaking as a special guest for the 21st annual convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA), Estrada said in jest that he will never forget Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro.

De Castro was the presiding justice and chair of the Sandiganbayan Special Division that convicted Estrada of plunder that carries the penalty of up to 40 years imprisonment. However, he was pardoned by former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I cannot forget the justice who is responsible for the…never mind,” Estrada said laughing.

He said he will never forget De Castro because she is one of the three justices who convicted her of plunder—the other two being now Supreme Court Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta and retired Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz.

READ: 3 SC justices also played part in Estrada plunder case

“Justice De Castro and I as you all know share a unique history. Sabi nga, iba na ang may pinagsamahan. Mahigit isang dekada na rin pala ang nakalipas mula noong nagkakaharap kami sa Sandiganbayan… More than a decade has passed since we encountered each other at Sandiganbayan)…I will never forget her, Justice Teresita de Castro was one of the three justices who heard the plunder case against me. Sinabi ko nga noon handa ako makulong dahil wala akong ninakaw na pera sa gobyerno, akalain ninyo, ipinakulong nga ako, si Ma’am naman hindi na mabiro (I have said before that I was ready to be imprisoned because I didn’t steal money from the government and as you know, she really sent me to jail),” Estrada said which solicited loud laughter from the audience including De Castro and Chief Justice Sereno.

However, Estrada said that is all water under the bridge.

“It is a chapter now relegated to the past. Between that time and now, Justice De Castro has risen to be part of our nation’s highest court while I have returned to the city of my birth to heed the call of public service once again,” Estrada said.

Estrada also thanked De Castro because she was the ponente in the 2015 decision dismissing a petition seeking his disqualification as mayor of Manila.

READ: Estrada stays as Manila Mayor as SC dismisses disqualification case

“In truth, I would not be here today, delivering these welcome remarks, were it not for the probity and impartiality of that decision by the Supreme Court. Neither would I have had the authority nor the power to put in place the reforms necessary to resurrect a bankrupt city and steer it back on the road to progress,” said Estrada.

In his speech during the PWJA, Estrada assured the women judges that he is in full support and very vocal against any form of abuse against women, especially those entailing violence against women and children.

Tulad ng lagi kong sinasabi, ang kababaihan ay ginagalang at inaalagaan. Ang kababaihan ay iniingatan at minamahal. At si Erap, noon at ngayon, ay likas na mapag-mahal,” he said.

(As I always say, women should be respected and taken good care of. Women should be protected and loved. And Erap, before and now, has been loving by nature.)

Meanwhile, De Castro acknowledged Estrada as “the quintessential gentleman, most kind-hearted, public servant and most-loved by the poor.”

She also thanked him for providing security during the 2015 Bar examination where she is the chairperson. RAM