Erap urges people to defy ban on rallies

Ousted President Joseph Estrada yesterday called on the people to continue holding protest actions against the administration, especially in the wake of Proclamation 1017 placing the entire country under a state of national emergency.

"Nanawagan din ako sa ating mga kababayan na huwag pumayag at huwag tigilan ang protesta at pagtutol laban sa pangaabuso ng gobyernong ito," he said in a statement read by his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, at the San Juan Medical Center.

"Nasa panig natin ang dakilang lumikha at sa ating pagkakaisa, kaya nating malampasan ang mga krisis na ito ng ating bansa. Mananaig tayo at magtatagumpay laban sa anumang diktadurya at panggigipit. (God is on our side and in our unity we can overcome any dictatorship and oppression)."

As Jinggoy read the statement, Estrada, in the background wearing a lime green jacket and with cotton gauze covering his left eye, waved to reporters.

A thanksgiving Mass was offered yesterday at the hospital by Estrada’s family and friends following the successful surgery last Saturday night that removed a cyst from his left eye.

"He is now okay," said Estrada’s personal physician and San Juan Medical Center director, Dr. Lorenzo Hocson. "The cyst was removed and he is now recovering."

The operation was performed by Dr. Amadeo Veloso Jr., an ophthalmologist at the Asian Eye Institute.

Estrada, in his statement, also expressed sympathy with sectors which have been affected by Proclamation 1017, including the media.

He also called on Mrs. Arroyo to put an end to the declaration of the state of national emergency and to step down.

"Kasama ng ating mga kababayan, taimtim ako ngayong nanawagan sa rehimeng Arroyo na tigilan na ang walang basehang pagaaresto sa mga kalaban nito; tigilan na ang panunupil sa kilos protesta ng ating mga kababayan; tigilan na ang pananakot, lalo na sa media at ibat-ibang sector na humahadlang sa isang nagbabantang diktadurya (I call on the Arroyo regime to stop its warrantless arrests and dispersal of protests and crackdown on media, signs all of a creeping dictatorship)," Estrada said in his statement.

"Nananawagan ako sa rehimeng Arroyo na bawiin na ang deklarasyon ng state of national emergency at makinig sa tinig ng higit na nakararami nating mga kababayan at bumaba na sa pwesto. Ibalik na ninyo ang kapangyarihan sa sambayanang Pilipino."

Estrada called on members of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to join the protests and to uphold the Philippine Military Academy’s motto of "Courage, Integrity and Loyalty."

"Sa pagkakataong ito, nananawagan din ako sa mga opisyal at mga tauhan n gating sandatahang lakas at sa ating kapulisan na huwag pumayag na pagamit laban sa kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino. Nananawagan ako na ipagtanggol ninyo ang motto ng PMA na courage, integrity at loyalty sa bayan," he said.

Senator Estrada told reporters that his father is prepared and ready to lead another "people power" revolt should the people call for it.

"He is always available for the Filipino people," the younger Estrada said.

Meanwhile, Estrada’s spokesman, former Maguindanao representative Didagen Dilangalen said Proclamation 1017 is unconstitutional as Congress alone could declare a state of national emergency and set the guidelines for its declaration.

"Only Congress can declare a state of war or a state of emergency," he said.

"Congress should be the one to set the guidelines for its declaration. Right now, it is not defined. It is practically a dictatorship headed by the military. It should not happen in a democracy. This is unconstitutional."

Estrada arrived at the hospital late Thursday afternoon from his place of detention in Tanay, Rizal after his doctors told the Sandiganbayan that surgery must be performed to remove the cyst on his left eye.

Hocson said doctors who had performed an oculoplasty or removal of excess eyelid skin on Estrada earlier this month noticed the cyst but did not remove it.

"This was the cyst that we saw but we did not remove," he said. "We were hoping that it would get smaller within a month."

Hocson said the cyst had to be removed immediately as it could trigger an infection of Estrada’s surgical scars.