Erap to students: Im a detention graduate

GOA, Camarines Sur – Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada called himself a “graduate” during graduation rites of some 600 students from the Partido State University which he helped establish seven years ago.

“I also ‘graduated’ from detention (from) more than six institutions like Camp Crame, Veterans Memorial, and my own beloved alma mater, the Tanay University,” he said.

Estrada is a college dropout of the Ateneo de Manila University and was involved in street gangs when he was a young boy.

But he admitted that his “learning curve” has improved since his “graduation.”

“This is a signal honor for me because it is not often that a prestigious institution such as yours would invite an ex-detainee and an ex-convict to be the commencement speaker. I am happy, however, to be an ex-convict who is close to the people than a president isolated in Malacañang.”

Estrada signed Republic Act 9837 for the conversion of Partido State College to a university before he was ousted from power in 2001, despite a moratorium on the conversion of state colleges to universities in the country.

He thanked the graduates during the 7th commencement exercises of the only state university in Camarines Sur Sunday morning for “their persevering efforts.”

Estrada congratulated the graduating students, their families, and faculty members who were sweating under heated galvanized iron sheets at the university gym and an extended shade of tarpaulin sheets.

But the former president added: “I cannot come to terms, however, that I was removed only to be replaced by a corrupt administration which to this very day has refused to be accountable and to be transparent.

“Today, I am saddened that the regime that so arrogantly promised our people good governance has remained insensitive to the conditions and plight of the majority of our people. It is a government that has isolated itself in the web of lies and deception from our people, protected by containerized vans and electric fences in Malacañang.”

“I wish to make (it) very clear that I stand before you not to campaign or seek your votes. I speak before you as a citizen (who) is seriously concerned about our situation, hoping that I can arouse your conscience and sound out a loud call for activism.”

Estrada questioned the country’s seven percent growth rate as he claimed that the country still lags behind other fast growing economies in the region like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“Unfortunately, the fruits of the growth the government is claiming are not felt by the poor and hunger is everywhere,” he pointed out.

He gave his own solutions to help the country catch up with the dynamic economies of the region.

He said the peace and order situation must be addressed “with a deep sense of urgency,” considering the fact that the country has the longest running insurgency in the world, the secessionist movement in Mindanao.

Once insurgency is neutralized, the Armed Forces can speed up development efforts in the countryside by becoming “the soldiers of the people and not the dogs of war or of any powerful politician.”

“We have therefore to lure back the investors, both local and foreign. We have to bring back lost investors’ confidence by also restoring transparency at all levels of government to reflect a level playing field,” Estrada said.

“We must resist and not allow such scandalous deals as the ZTE-NBN, the South and North Railways to impair our collective determination to restore economic activity in this country. We must have a government that is transparent, that will be credible, that will not dispense selective justice and that will enjoy the support and confidence of our people.”  – With Jose Rodel Clapano