No immediate arrest of Estrada

No arrest is in sight yet for deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Although plunder is a non-bailable offense, Estrada will remain a free man a while longer.

Ignoring calls by militant groups for the immediate arrest of the disgraced leader, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena said it was highly unlikely he would issue a warrant of arrest soon.

"It is not our procedure to immediately arrest anyone, no matter who is charged," Garchitorena said yesterday.

He clarified that they would first have to study carefully the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman and the supporting evidence to determine if there is sufficient ground to issue a warrant of arrest for Estrada.

Garchitorena ruled out house arrest for Estrada, saying a home is not the proper place for detention.

He said the former president may be detained at the Quezon City jail in case the court orders his arrest.

He said the cases filed by the Ombudsman against Estrada will be raffled off to the various divisions of the anti-graft court

A lawyers’ group called Concerned Lawyers for Moral and Effective Leadership (Clamor) batted for the immediate arrest and detention of Estrada following the Supreme Court ruling declaring he had effectively lost the presidency.

Clamor leader Dennis Funa likened Estrada’s fate to that of embattled former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic who was arrested on criminal charges of financing Serb war efforts in Bosnia.

"Very soon, we will have 13 plunder cases filed against Estrada," Funa added.

The left-leaning Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) threatened to arrest Estrada within 72 hours if government authorities failed to file the charges and arrest him.

"This is the most logical move the people could do in the face of government’s lack of political will to prosecute, arrest and punish the deposed leader," the KMU said.

For its part, the Sanlakas held a mock arrest of Estrada in Baguio City.

Sanlakas also called on the Philippine National Police to apprehend Estrada and his cohorts to prove its loyalty to the people.

Quezon Rep. Wigberto Tañada, a senatorial bet of the ruling People Power Coalition, said "Estrada is history."

With the SC ruling, Tañada said there was no more doubt about the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration.

He said even if the opposition senatorial candidates win in the May 14 elections, they cannot hope to restore him to the presidency.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Oscar Cruz viewed the unanimous SC vote on Estrada’s petitions junking his bid to regain the presidency as a "litmus test for the justice system" in the country.

The prelate said the SC ruling was expected "because it will rather be incredulous that 13 justices who unanimously voted no to Estrada’s claim to the presidency would reverse themselves."

"Tapos na ang boksing (The boxing match is over)," Cruz said.

With the SC decision, Cruz said foreign investors and local businessmen will have more confidence in the local market.

On the other hand, re-electionist opposition Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago warned of widespread civil unrest if Estrada is arrested and detained.

Santiago issued the warning in campaign speeches in Roxas City, Capiz and in Kalibo town, Aklan.

"The Arroyo administration should study this very volatile situation. The rallies in the Visayas and Mindanao so far proved that Mr. Estrada has at the very least substantial support among the masses. It would be politically incorrect to send him to jail at this time," she said.

Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino, secretary general of the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, had said the arrest and detention of Estrada before the elections would translate to a 13-0 sweep for the opposition. –Jose Rodel Clapano, Nestor Etolle, Jess Diaz, Efren Danao, Eva de Leon