Erap to Garci: You can’t always fool people

"You can fool the people once, twice, but not all the time."

Ousted President Joseph Estrada made this comment about former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano during a phone patch interview with reporters at the Fernandina Forum in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday.

Estrada made his comments through a cell phone call to Herman Tiu Laurel, spokesman for the Freedom (Free and Restore Erap Estrada for Democracy, Order and Meritocracy) Movement, while Tiu was speaking during the forum.

Commenting on Garcillano’s media interviews, Estrada said: "Maliwanag ang lahat na nabanggit na may pandaraya. Lahat ng nabanggit na pandaraya duon ay nangyayari at may mga ebidensiya. Pagdating dito ay wala rin silang lusot duon kahit ano pa ang gawin nila (It is clear that there was electoral fraud. Cheating did take place, and there is evidence).

"Huwag na masyadong gawing tanga ang mga Pilipino (They should stop fooling the Filipino). You can fool the people, once, twice, but not all the time. Hindi nila kayang lokohin ang taong bayan (They cannot fool the people)," he said.

Estrada said he is saddened by the country’s present situation and criticized the Arroyo administration’s alleged anomalous transactions, including the reported P728-million purchase of overpriced fertilizers.

"Sa aking mga kaibigan na media, ako’y malungkot na malungkot nga ho at mag-lilimang taon na ako dito (To my friends in the media, I am very sad, and I have been here for almost five years)," he said, speaking of his detention while undergoing a plunder trial.

"Lalong masakit sa akin dahil sa wala akong magagawa sa mga nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan. Nalulungkot dahil sa mga naghihirap ngayon. Pati nga yung ating mga magsasaka, inaagaw pa yung sa ating mga magsasaka na hirap na hirap na. (What is more hurting is that I can’t do anything about what is happening to our government. I am sad for those going through hard times. They have even taken away what should have been given to our farmers)," the former president said through the phone patch.

Estrada accused the Arroyo administration of stealing the Marcos funds intended for the government’s agrarian reform program and appealed to the media to help farmers recover their money by exposing the truth about the alleged scam.

"Ang ating tao sa media tulungan naman natin ang ating magsasaka. Huwag sana nga pabayaan. (The media should help our farmers. Don’t leave them alone)," he said.

Estrada said the number one priority of the country today is food security.

"Ang nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan pati yung sa magsasaka’y inaagaw pa (What happened is that they even took what belongs to the farmers)," he said. 

"Yung nga ho ay kinakabahan ako baka walang mangyari sa ating bansa. Sana tulungan natin ang ating magsasaka (That’s why I’m scared that nothing would happen to our country. Please help our farmers)," he said.

Estrada managed to circumvent the ban against his giving interviews to the media while his plunder case is ongoing.

"Pati ako nga hindi na ma-interview ng media (Even I can’t be interviewed by media)," he said.

"Naniniwala ako na darating ang panahon na lalabas at lalabas ang buong katotohanan. Hindi pa ako nawawalan ng pag-asa (I believe that someday the whole truth will out. I have not lost hope)."

Defending the ousted leader, Tiu said there is no evidence linking Estrada to any anomaly during his administration.  

Tiu demanded the release of Estrada, who, he said, was duly elected by the people.

President Arroyo was put in power by people and groups with vested interests, he added.