Erap had better go off to Hong Kong while the going’s still good

Everybody knows I like my old friend, neighbor and former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada – but it was wrong of him to have grabbed the opportunity of delivering a necrological address at the final rites for Ronnie Poe (FPJ) at the Sto. Domingo Church to give a thundering inflammatory, and self-seeking political speech.

In short, the Sandiganbayan had permitted Erap to leave his place of detention – a comparatively relaxed prison dubbed "rest house arrest", since it is his ranch across from Camp Capinpin – to deliver an eulogy in memory of his bosom buddy FPJ. Instead Erap used the platform of the burol to attack the GMA Administration, charging that electoral fraud and massive public fund misuse had cheated Ronnie Poe of victory. He lashed out at his political foes as well, alleging they had conspired with the elites to drag him from Malacañang on fabricated plunder charges, etc.

Erap knew full well that the event was being covered "live" on nationwide radio and television, and turned that Church ceremony into a political "rally" – practically, it seemed to many listeners trying to summon up masa "power". For what? To sweep him back to power?

As a fiery campaign speech, admittedly, Estrada’s oration was eloquent, even brilliant – but wasn’t it a "wake" to honor Ronnie Poe, not a political rally?

Our "insider" sources told us that earlier, just before Erap and his entourage arrived, his . . . well, alipores (translate that, please) had been strongly urging FPJ’s widow, Susan Roces, to proclaim Erap the real "President" . . . is this true? (I can’t claim this is word for word): "Are you trying to turn Ronnie’s wake into a political platform?" She furiously said "No."

But Erap, when he got there, went ahead – and had his say.

At least Swanee had not proclaimed him "President".

Was Erap, who’s been surrounded by his former Cabinet members lately (did they hope to "take over" in a bunch?), disappointed that the massive funeral, which packed the streets with weeping, chanting mourners, turned out to be peaceful – and orderly? Will his . . . uh, alipores try again?

My gut feel is that, before the Sandiganbayan changes its mind about allowing the detained former President to go to Hong Kong for an immediate surgical "operation", or the Supreme Court steps in, Erap ought to fly off to Hong Kong. Get there quick before the door slams on that exit route. Who knows? He might be re-arrested, locked away in a real, barred, dirty dungeon, then "convicted". What next? As they used to say in Texas – in the movies anyway: Git, while di gitting’s good, pardner! That’s the message, and you’d better believe it.

Some foreigners have been remarking: "But Mr. Estrada might take advantage of his being allowed to go to Hong Kong to escape!" Gee whiz. Do you think an upright former President would break his "parole"? Most Pinoys – with notable exceptions – don’t voice that kind of fear. They presume, I think, that that’s the idea.

Better Erap abroad, as they quip, than "locked away" here, endlessly "plotting" to overthrow the government. Shame on them! Sure, Erap has the funds and the network. But, salamabit, do you think he’d do such a sneaky and dastardly thing? Perhaps this is a rhetorical question.

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I noticed to my surprise a report in yesterday’s newspaper. It was headlined: Noli Pushes for Shariah Court.

True, our government has been permitting Shariah law to be applied in Muslim-dominated districts in Mindanao but Vice-President Noli "Magandang Gabi, Bayan" de Castro wasn’t referring to Muslim-dominated districts down south or in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), but was promising to "push for the establishment of a Shariah court district in Metro Manila to answer the needs of the Muslims residing in the metropolis in accessing documents being issued by the court."

Gee whiz, Noli! What do you mean? A Shariah court district right here in Christian dominated Metro Manila? Sanamagan. Once again, the cry will go up that this writer belongs to Bigots, Incorporated. But why a Shariah Court, based on the Qu’ran (Koran) here in Metro Manila?

First, they wanted a Muslim Mosque in the Greenhills Shopping Center. (A "compromise" has been reached on that, which I’ll write about in a later column.) Now, they’re insisting on a Shariah or Koranic Law – court district in Metro Manila! And, what do you know, our Vice President Noli de Castro is their "prophet".

It’s well known of course, that Noli’s wife, Mrs. Arlene Sinsuat de Castro, while a Christian, comes from the powerful Muslim clan of Mindanao, the Sinsuat family. I remember years ago, when we were covering the political and other "wars" in Mindanao, we had to orient ourselves on the warlord clans and feuding "royal" families – the Pendatuns, Lucmans, Abubakars, Matalams, etc. When we came to the Sinsuats, somebody would inevitably pun, "Since what? No, since whom!" You bet. The Sinsuats were and remain big in the Bangsamoro.

I think that we’ve given our Muslim brothers and sisters more than a fair shake in this secular Republic of ours which, although 88 percent or more Christians (mostly Catholic), treats every citizen alike, irrespective of tribe, color or creed. In fact, we have instituted an "Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), enshrined in our Constitution by golly, which no other sovereign country has done.

Imagine an autonomous region based on religion in any of Europe’s states, for example. France, which has six million Muslims, counting those who are French citizens, don’t have anywhere in that country any "Autonomous Region of Muslim France". Nor are there calls for prayer from any minarets or mosques in Paris, the capital of France, despite its immense 1.6 million or so Muslim-French population in the capital region. There was even a big controversy over the French cracking down, by law, on the wearing of Muslim headscarves by Muslim female students in French schools. Despite past kidnappings in Iraq of French hostages and threats to behead them, the French government stood firm in refusing to yield to the blackmail and permit Muslim female students to wear the headscarf proclaiming their religion to their classes. In sum, the French maintain that everybody being equal (liberté, egalité, fraternité) no religious symbols should be worn.

That’s the long and short of it.