EDSA 2 no cause for celebration — JV

The country is marking the first anniversary of the ouster of President Joseph Estrada next week. But as far as one of his sons is concerned, there is no reason for Fi-lipinos to celebrate.

On the contrary, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor "JV" Ejercito considers the milestone as more of a mournful occasion.

Ejercito, son of the deposed leader with former actress Guia Gomez, said the mostly middle class protesters who toppled his father and installed Pre-sident Arroyo in power should apologize to the millions of poor Filipinos whose lives never improved in the past year.

"After one year nothing happened. Naghirap lalo ang buhay. The economy is getting worse and the peace and order situation is not getting any better," he said.

Ejercito said that anti-Estrada groups "destroyed the rule of law and even mocked it," when they ousted his father and installed then Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as president. He said the uprising, now known as EDSA II, only resulted in the country being labeled as a "banana republic" by other nations.

Estrada was ousted over alleged corruption and misrule after his aborted impeachment trial last year. He is now being tried for plunder for allegedly enriching himself through tax kickbacks, illegal gambling payoffs and commissions from government transactions during the 31 months he was in office.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

On Monday, he will be attending for the first time his plunder trial, but the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court has barred him from speaking to the press before and after the hearing.

Associate Justice Teresita de Castro, temporary judge of Sandiganbayan third division, has ordered the Philippine National Police to bring Estrada to the courtroom from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City where he is detained due to ill health.

However, Sandiganbayan sheriff Edgardo Urieta said Estrada would be barred from talking to the press. He also ordered photographers and television cameramen not to record the proceedings.

"We will strictly implement the gag order against Mr. Estrada," he said.

The 64-year-old Estrada did not say why he wanted to attend the latest hearing, but tighter security has recently heightened his isolation from the public.

Observers said attending the hearing would give him a chance to become more visible and confront his accusers.

Ejercito said Estrada has been saddened by the government’s decision to limit his visitors. "The visit of his family and friends is the only thing that makes him happy, yet they still took that away from him," he lamented.

Despite his disapproval of how the Arroyo administration is running the government and treating his father, Ejercito said he would never lead any move that could result in an "EDSA 4" or another popular uprising along the now historic highway that cuts through several cities and towns of Metro Manila, including his own.

Shortly after Estrada was arrested last year, his supporters launched the "EDSA III" mass riots by laying siege on Malacañang Palace. The riots were stopped the same day but it left dozens of people dead or wounded.

"Even my father would not allow violence," Ejercito said. "He made a supreme sacrifice last year just to avoid any bloodshed." – With Jose Rodel Clapano