FORMER president Joseph Estrada was found not guilty of perjury, but has been found guilty of plunder. He has been sentenced to reclusion perpetua or a maximum of 40 years in prison.
His co-accused in the plunder case, his son Senator Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Edward Serapio, have been found not guilty.
Visit INQUIRER.net Breaking News and The Estrada Trial special site for updates.
What do you think of the decision? Weigh in on the issue in our Vox Populi blog.
September 12th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
The fact of the matter is, he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the bigger offense- that is plunder. The good thing about that is the gov’t will be able to confiscate all the ill-gotten assets. I think that is more important than whether serving or nor serving time in prison (which is most likely his resthouse). I-pardon na siya kung gusto nila, mabalik lang ang nakulimbat na SSS/GSIS contributions.
September 12th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
for me, mlabo ang naging hatol, kayalang talagang ganun, bakit si Chavet hindi nakulong? napakaramimg gumagawa sa gubyerno ng katiwalian….Kyalang mabait masyado si former Pres. Estrada…dahil alam nia wala siang kasalanan.! makunsensia ang lahat ng gumagawa ng katiwalian
September 12th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I do believe that former Pres. Estrada is not guilty…
September 12th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Some of us really didn’t get it….its a case of “damm if you do or damm if you don’t”. If Erap was not found guilty…then this present administration will loss its legal mandate to rule. On the otherhand if Erap was proclaimed guilty then the goverment has only to deal with a handful of Erap symphatizers and oppositionist. So in the spirit of reconciliation the administration is following it up with a pardon….to appease any protest. But Erap’s camp is not DUMB to accept it. They know that their client is innocent and evidences against him are weak. Accepting pardon is tantamount as in accepting your guilt. I still say Erap can still appeal to the highest court of the land…but up to what extent and how long? Before another decision can be handed down…Erap will suffer another 5-6 years in jail and this present administration will finish it’s tenure already.
September 12th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
their fam. is the fam of trouble makers…they always persuade Filipinos to show their anger through rallies w/c is not good for the economy…they’re after the position, ofcourse the power they could get, imagine they got the highest positions in d govt. starting from the father down to his sons…if you really are concerned for the Filipino people, please educate them to be well disciplined,but then no one’s perfect but we can always change for the better, to us Filipinos please let go of the issue and move on with our lives and think of ways on how we could help our economy, ourselves, stop focusing on their lives, bein pity on them, the best thing we could do is to be responsible citizens, the very best thing we could do is to pray, ask god to help our country, guide us to vote wisely, think twice the next time you’ll put someone in position, the first criteria we should look on is if that person allows God to work for him & for the country, cuz if we choose someone who’s Godly, who’s God fearing, all things will fall into the right place, ” The real power comes from God and not from us.”..Let’s just pray for their family, hoping that all of us will do everything to live in peace with everybody.