Singson on Erap pardon: I feel 'used'

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson feels he was "used" as a pawn now that his bosom buddy-turned-nemesis, former President Joseph Estrada, will potentially gain pardon on plunder charges. Singson told dzBB radio on Wednesday that extending pardon to Estrada would serve as an injustice to witnesses who mustered the courage to testify against one of the most powerful men in the country. "If you set him free, why did we file charges against him in the first place? What were we up in arms about? Then it seems that the pardon was already in the pipeline. This will set a bad example for our children," said Singson in Filipino. Singson, the alleged "smoking gun" in the Estrada trial, expressed bitterness that a deal for Estrada's pardon was already being forged, adding that witnesses became unwitting "actors" in a "stage play." "The witnesses were used. So next time nobody would want to speak up in court about anomalies in our country," he said. He warned that accomodating the deposed leader's request for "full, free and unconditional pardon" would have serious, far-reaching implications. "Our presidents will not be afraid anymore to do their mischief in the same way that Estrada made himself wealthy," he added. The Sandiganbayan sentenced last September 12 the 70-year-old Estrada to up to 40 years imprisonment. He was found guilty of pocketing P545 million in illegal jueteng collections as well as profiting P189-million from the acquisition of Belle Corp. shares. Militant and civil society groups warned that Estrada should also be made accountable for P3.1 billion allegedly withdrawn from the infamous "Jose Velarde" account days before his impeachment. Letting Estrada get the pardon, Singson said, would allegedly turn the Philippines into the laughing stock of the international community. He said in other countries, convicts are handcuffed and are dressed in prison clothes. "But here in the Philippines they go on vacations and eventually go free," he said. GMA News on Tuesday asked Singson if he will sever ties with the administration. He replied: "I will make an announcement, a formal announcement, kung nandiyan na yan (if it's there already)." - GMANews.TV