Erap: I was also a victim of Judas

Like Jesus Christ, deposed President Joseph Estrada said that he also had his own Judas Iscariot, whose betrayal led to his ouster from office three years ago.

This was Estrada’s response when asked if it was the so-called "midnight Cabinet" that caused his downfall.

"Jesus Christ picked his disciples yet one of them betrayed him," he said. How much more himself who, he now admits, did not choose his friends wisely?

However, Estrada just smiled when asked to identify the Judas who caused his ouster from Malacañang in January 2001.

Estrada, who is facing plunder charges before the anti-graft court, said he did not want to compare himself with Jesus Christ, "who suffered beyond human endurance."

Estrada admitted watching the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ" on Maundy Thursday during his spiritual retreat with Fr. Larry Faraon and was "inspired" by it. President Arroyo herself described the movie as "marvelous."

The former president said he could identify with the travails of the Christ because in the end, "the truth prevailed."

Despite being bothered by his arthritic knees, Estrada said he went through the 14 Stations of the Cross put up around his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, where he was granted a three-day furlough that ended Black Saturday. — Marichu Villanueva