Militants say Erap pardon meant to block ZTE uproar

(Updated 7:31 p.m.) The umbrella militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Friday accused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of granting pardon to former President Joseph Estrada to parry political upheaval in the wake of the $329.4-million ZTE controversy. Renato Reyes Jr, Bayan secretary general, said in a text message that, "the motives for granting the pardon is utterly self-serving for Mrs Arroyo." He said the timing of the pardon was suspect, stressing that the latest "revelations" of businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III provided a better picture of Mrs Arroyo's alleged role in the ZTE deal. "The early pardon of Estrada by Arroyo is timed to blunt the negative impact of the damning testimony of Joey de Venecia against Mrs Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo," Reyes said. He added that, "We are wary of the motives of Mrs Arroyo in granting the pardon. Gloria is simply out to save her own skin by trying to neutralize her political rivals." Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said it is the administration's policy to release inmates who have reached the age of 70, and that Estrada has already served more than six years in detention while being tried for plunder. "In view hereof in pursuant of the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights," Bunye, quoting the order signed by President Arroyo said. Interviewed on dzBB radio, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed hopes that the granting of executive clemency would put an end to political squabbling in the country. However, Reyes warned that this would not be the case. "Expect more political tension to arise because Mrs Arroyo's allies may not accept what she did," he added. Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran also believed that the President's move was a tactical one. "We have no doubt that the Arroyo government will make the most out of this issue and use it as grounds to call for reconciliation with the opposition, but there will be no such thing," Beltran said. He added that, "Pardoning Erap doesn't clear Arroyo of her own crimes. This will all backfire on Arroyo because the decision to pardon Erap is a highly unpopular one." For his part, Fr Jose "Joe" Dizon said Mrs Arroyo rushed the pardon for Estrada because she was implicated to a bribery mess in the ZTE broadband network mess in the Senate earlier in the day. "That action of giving clemency to Estrada is not right. I think Arroyo did it precisely today after what has been said in the Senate this afternoon," he said on dzBB radio. Dizon claimed that a pardon for Estrada is "not palatable and acceptable at this point" because Estrada never admitted his "crime" of plunder. As this developed, Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said the President insulted the proponents of the second People Power revolt of 2001, which forced Estrada out of Malacañang and swept Mrs Arroyo to helm of government. "This is a political insurance for her and she hopes that the same privilege would be extended to her once she faces accountability for her own crimes. She trampled upon the indignation of the people during EDSA 2," she said. Akbayan chairwoman emeritus Etta Rosales, a key player in the 2001 People Power revolt, expressed dismay over the granting of executive clemency to Estrada. "The capacity to grant an official convicted of corruption executive clemency could only come from a President who's all too willing to commit the same crime and expect the same privilege. This shameless act gives us more reason to call for her resignation," Rosales said. - GMANews.TV