Erap dares gov’t to recall pardon
Joseph Estrada is in a fighting mood.
The former president said yesterday that his conditional pardon can not be revoked by the Arroyo administration unless he violates the conditions it set in pardoning him.
“We are ready, they can recall my pardon if I committed any violation. I am also ready to go back to jail, even to Muntinlupa, if they can prove that I am guilty,” Estrada said.
In an interview over radio station dzMM, Estrada maintained that he accepted the pardon granted to him last Oct. 25 by President Arroyo because he had lost hope in the justice system in the country.
Estrada said he is ready to go back to jail should Malacañang recall his pardon.
“I know that I would have lost even if I brought my case before the Supreme Court. I think it is impossible, but they will only revoke my pardon if I commit a violation,” Estrada said.
He said he would continue to block the threat of the Sandiganbayan, through Sheriff Ed Urieta, to confiscate his legally acquired properties even if it will mean putting him again in jail.
Urieta earlier said that he will move for the forfeiture of Estrada’s legally acquired properties such as his apartment units in Cubao, Quezon City, his vehicles and the rest house in Tanay, Rizal should the latter fail to pay the exact amount that he allegedy acquired through commissions in various government transactions and jueteng.
But Estrada said he belongs to a well-off family. He said his grandmother has an ancestral home in Laguna.
“Modesty aside, my family is quite well-off. We had the biggest house, a mansion when we transferred to
He maintained that he did not steal a single centavo from government coffers and emphasized that he ruled through “service and not greed.”
“I cannot face the public if I stole a single centavo from the government’s coffers. I was twice offered by the government, through then Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, to leave the country and no charges will be filed, but I did not leave because I cannot betray the more than 11 million Filipinos who voted for me in the 1998 presidential elections,” Estrada said.
Earlier, Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio threatened to seek the recall of the pardon granted to Estrada.
He said Estrada’s refusal to pay in full the amount stated in the Writ of Execution for forfeiture issued by the anti-graft court would be a ground to recall Estrada’s pardon.
He said Estrada was not eligible for pardon because he was impeached in the House of Representatives for massive corruption in his government, adding that the pardon was done with undue haste.
Malacañang, through Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, said Mrs. Arroyo and her advisers discussed the pardon for Estrada before the latter asked for it.
Meanwhile, Urieta yesterday ordered the Banco de Oro (formerly Equitable PCI Bank) to check on the remaining balance of the more than P3 billion Jose Velarde account and turn this over to the anti-graft court as part of the forfeiture of Estrada’s assets.
Urieta had claimed that the remaining balance of the account is now down to only P2,770.69, as of
This, in turn, was revealed in a letter to Urieta dated
“It is requested that your bank furnish us with the updated total deposit, interest and income earned on the said Jose Velarde account, so that this Office can take proper action pursuant to the aforementioned Writ of Execution. Your proper action on this matter will be highly appreciated,” Urieta said in his letter to the bank.
He also said that his office is now preparing for the auction of the so-called
By next week, Urieta would be sending invitations to major dailies for the publication of the auction. Then this would be raffled by early next week as to which newspaper would publish the notices.
The notice to bid will be published in three major dailies (broadsheet newspapers) once a week for two consecutive weeks this November.
The auction, Urieta said, would probably be held in the Sandiganbayan, possibly this coming December.
Aside from the publication of the notices, three areas are being considered where the notices to bid can be posted.
These would be at the Sandiganbayan, the
Urieta also said they are currently looking into the vehicles of Estrada. He said they have already sent a letter to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to verify the ownership of about 200 vehicles allegedly owned by the former president.
They are also trying to check on the other bank accounts of the former leader, some of which were located in the Greenhills area where Estrada lives.
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