Newsbreak: Erap pardon Arroyo's overdue promise to Iglesia ni Kristo

Why the apparent rush of President Arroyo to pardon former President Joseph Estrada? One possible reason, says a former Cabinet member of President Estrada, is that it is a long overdue promise given by President Arroyo to Eraño Manalo, the leader of the politically-powerful sect Iglesia Ni Kristo (INK). INK’s Manalo had reportedly negotiated the deal for Estrada in 2001. In exchange, INK withdrew its support from the anti-Arroyo protests and vowed to support some of administration’s senatorial candidates in the May 2001 elections. Arroyo had to delay the grant of pardon since one couldn’t be granted without a final court decision. The Sandiganbayan last month declared Estrada guilty of plunder. The former President recently withdrew his motion for reconsideration and admitted that there were ongoing negotiations for his pardon. The former official said that Arroyo wants to maintain good ties with Manalo as it navigates through a new political storm from the NBN-ZTE deal and the Palace’s cash handouts to local officials of provinces around Metro Manila. Asked about the INK negotiating a pardon on his behalf, Estrada told Newsbreak he has not talked to the INK but he thinks they are sympathetic to him. We also gathered that the granting of pardon to Estrada is a deal made with the opposition congressmen so that they won’t sign the impeachment complaint versus President Arroyo. - Newsbreak