In his New Year’s message from his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, where he is detained for charges of plunder and perjury, Estrada said he remains hopeful that the New Year will bring justice and progress to the country.
"We have endured the past year with much hardship, with many sacrifices and with forbearance. But we faced and survived a year of natural and man-made calamities, disasters and misfortune. Buhay ang ating pag-asa na ang taong ito ay magiging mapagpalaya, laban sa kasalukuyang rehimen ng kasinungalingan, katiwalian, panloloko at pandaraya," Estrada said.
"We pray and hope to see the dawn of a new era of peace, prosperity and justice as the new year comes. And we must gather strength to deliver it to our country because our salvation now lies in our own hands. Katulad ng lagi kong sinasabi, walang tutulong sa Pilipino kungdi kapwa Pilipino," he added.
Estrada also urged Filipinos to remain firm in the belief and conviction that the new year will deliver them from the bondage and tyranny of an "unelected government" that has denied the people their rights.
The former president will be spending New Year’s Day with his 101-year old mother Dona Mary Ejercito at her home in Kennedy St., North Greenhills, San Juan.
It would be recalled that the Special Division of the Sandiganbayan, which is trying Estrada’s case, had given him a nine-hour pass to spend New Year’s Day with his mother and family from 8 am to 5 pm.
Estrada, through his lawyer, former senator Rene Saguisag had asked the court to give him a three-day pass from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 but the court only gave him a nine-hour furlough for New Year’s Day after the Philippine National Police complained that they lack the needed personnel to secure his safety.
Last Christmas Day, Estrada was also given a nine-hour pass to spend the holiday with his mother and family although he had asked for a 10-day pass. In this case, the court also sided with the argument of the PNP that it lacked the policemen needed to secure his safety outside of his Tanay detention facility.
Estrada’s spokesman former immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez said Estrada expressed thanks to the Sandiganbayan and the PNP for granting him the nine-hour pass, although he wanted so much a 24-hour pass to spend media noche with his family.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said Estrada also would like to thank his friends, supporters and even those from the religious community and those allied with the administration for proposing his release.
"He thanked the allies of Malacañang and the religious leaders for their kindness," Rodriguez said.