SWS: Almost 6 of 10 Pinoys believe Erap must be acquitted

The Sandiganbayan declared former President Joseph Estrada guilty of plunder. But in the minds of most Filipinos, the 70-year-old ousted leader is innocent and should therefore be exonerated. A survey done by the Social Weather Stations showed that almost six of 10 Filipinos expected that Estrada would be acquitted of the capital offense filed against him in 2001. The nationwide SWS poll conducted from September 2 to 5 found that almost six of 10 Filipinos expected that Estrada would be acquitted of the capital offense filed against him in 2001. The same poll also showed that half of Filipinos were undecided on whether the Sandiganbayan could come up with a fair decision on the ousted leader’s case. "With only one-third (36 percent) of Filipinos believing that former President Joseph 'Erap' Estrada 'enriched himself with hundreds of millions of pesos from various corrupt practices while he was President,' a majority of 57 percent expected him to be acquitted by the Sandiganbayan," it said in a statement on its website, www.sws.org.ph. The SWS said the expectation of acquittal was dominant in all areas and socio-demographic groups. But in Class ABC opinion was split into 47 percent who were expecting acquittal, and 44 percent who were expecting conviction. On public perception about the Sandiganbayan, the SWS said opinions were "very mixed" on whether the antigraft court could make a fair judgment on the case. "Twenty seven percent had much trust that the Sandiganbayan (could) do so, 23 percent had little trust in it, and 50 percent were undecided," the SWS said. Pardon The SWS survey also found that should the Sandiganbayan declare Estrada guilty for plunder, 48 percent said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should pardon him immediately; 36 percent said that she should pardon him after some time, and 14 percent said that she should never pardon him. The SWS also said that if Estrada would be convicted, an average of five years was the amount of time that the public thinks he should be imprisoned, in addition to his past detention. In case of conviction, 75 percent said they prefer him to remain in Tanay, Rizal, while 21 percent said he should be jailed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. More than three of five (62 percent) Filipinos said they do not believe Estrada enriched himself with hundreds of millions of pesos from various corrupt practices dominated for the past four years, in seven surveys from March 2003 to the present. "This was a change from the earlier dominant belief that Erap enriched himself, in six surveys from August 2001 to November 2002," SWS said. Across areas, most people say that Erap did not enrich himself with hundreds of millions of pesos while President: 65 percent in Metro Manila, 61 percent in Balance Luzon, 59 percent in Visayas and 66 percent in Mindanao. But the SWS said class differences were very significant as 60 percent among Class D and 72 percent among Class E do not believe the Estrada enriched himself. However, 59 percent among Classes ABC believe that Estrada did. Acquittal The expectation of acquittal was dominant in all areas, with 56 percent in Metro Manila, 57 percent in Balance Luzon, 50 percent in Visayas and 63 percent in Mindanao. Class ABC had a split opinion of 47 percent expecting acquittal and 44 percent expecting conviction, while majorities of 56 percent in Class D and 62 percent in Class E expected acquittal. Only among college-degree holders did a majority (56 percent) expected conviction. Meanwhile, majority (55 to 68 percent) of those with lower education expected acquittal. In case the Sandiganbayan would declare Erap guilty for plunder, 48 percent said Mrs Arroyo should pardon him immediately, 36 percent said that she should pardon him after some time, and 14 percent said that she should never pardon him. Preference for immediate pardon for Estrada was higher in Metro Manila (52 percent) and Balance Luzon (51 percent) than in Visayas (45 percent) and Mindanao (43 percent). Those who said Arroyo should never pardon Estrada is somewhat higher in Visayas than in other areas. Lower classes have stronger feelings about immediate pardon for Estrada than higher classes: 55 percent among Class E, 47 percent among Class D, and 37 percent among Classes ABC. Jail time Asked how long Estrada should be jailed if he were convicted, 12 percent wanted him freed immediately; 24 percent said one year or less; 10 percent said 2 years; 8 percent said 3 years, 13 percent said 4-5 years; 13 percent said 6-10 years; 5 percent said 11-50 years; 2 percent said for life, and 12 percent did not know or refused to answer. "The average answer, excluding those who wanted immediate release, is five years," SWS said. Also, in case of Estrada's conviction, 75 percent said that he should remain in Tanay, Rizal, while 21 percent said he should be jailed in Muntinlupa City. "The preference that Erap remain in Tanay was dominant in all areas and socio-demographic groups," SWS said. Meanwhile, 50 percent were undecided in their trust in the Sandiganbayan to make a fair judgment on Estrada's case, while 27 percent had much trust in it, and 23 percent had little trust in it. "This is very similar to June 2007 when first surveyed: 57 percent were undecided in their trust in the Sandiganbayan to make a fair judgment on Erap's case, while 22 percent had much trust and 20 percent had little trust in it," SWS said. The SWS survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 voting-age adults. Samples for all surveys were divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with sampling error margins of plus or minus 3 percent for national percentages and plus or minus 6 percent for area percentages. - GMANews.TV