‘Truth will triumph in the end’

Insisting that he was still president, Joseph Estrada said yesterday he would face all accusations against him before the Sandiganbayan and expressed confidence that "truth will prevail."

The former movie actor made the statement in a taped message broadcast over radio and television as hundreds of his supporters formed human barricades outside his home in North Greenhills in San Juan to prevent police from arresting him.

"I will face and answer the charges of those who are persecuting me. I believe that in the end, the truth will prevail. Our Constitution will prevail," he said.

Estrada, the first former Philippine president to be jailed for corruption, condemned what he called "the government’s systematic violation" of his human rights "as guaranteed under the Constitution."

"I strongly condemn this systematic violation of my human rights as enshrined in the Constitution and our laws," he said.

He stressed the Filipino people, along with the whole world, has witnessed how he was deprived of justice and his human rights ignored when he was arrested.

"I was not given the chance to present my side before the Filipino people, and now, you can witness for yourself how I was oppressed in violation of our laws," he said.

It was his first public statement since the third division of the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest at noon yesterday on the non-bailable charge of plunder.

The pro-Estrada Puwersa ng Masa-Lakas ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PnM-LDP) charged that Estrada’s arrest was meant "to stop him from campaigning for the opposition bets and seal their victory in the May elections."

The coalition also pointed out the assignment of some 6,500 policemen and over 5,000 Marine soldiers to carry out the President’s arrest was "tantamount to declaring a state of emergency."

Former press secretary and senatorial candidate Ricardo Puno Jr. condemned Estrada’s arest as a "travesty of justice" and lashed out at the military for the violent dispersal of Estrada supporters.

"This is a travesty of justcie of the highest order," said Puno. "Mr. estrada’s hasty arrest and the violent dispersal of his supporters is sending the wrong signal to teh world that constitutional Rights are no longer sacrosanct in this country."

"Mr.Estrada’s hasty arrest has only bolstered public suspicion that such a move betrays an 11th hour scheme by certain pro-administration quarters to stop him from campaigning and helping spell the landslide victory of teh Puwersa ng Masa senatorial ticket in the May 14 elections," Puno added.

Former executive secretary and PnM-LDP senatorial candidate Edgardo Angara lashed at the "precipitate" arrest of Estrada, saying it smacked of a political maneuver.

Angara, who was in Mindanao campaigning with his fellow opposition candidates for senator, questioned in a radio interview why the police could not have waited until after the elections to arrest Estrada.

"The election is just a few weeks away. They should have waited. There is politics involved in this," he said.

But senatorial candidate Orly Mercado appealed for calm and sobriety.

"Let us all remain calm and sober during this crucial period when political passions are running high. Our democratic institutions and judicial processes are in place. Let us respect and preserve them," Mercado said.

Meanwhile, Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr said Estrada’s arrest will boost the election campaign of the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC).

He said the arrest of the former president shows that democratic process are working in the country under the new national leadership.

"That creates an image that will favor the administration coalition and its candidates," he said. Belmonte is running for mayor of Quezon City under the PPC banner.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, on the other hand, said Estrada’s arrest may boomerang on the PPC’s senatorial ticket which is now conducting what it calls a "victory run" in various parts of the country.

"We should not hurry up the cases. We must study it thoroughly so that there will be no back-pedaling by the government," Pimentel said.

The senate president said the government prosecutors should thoroughly study the graft cases to ensure an airtight case against Estrada.

"The government must insure that the former president is being prosecuted for graft cases and not politically persecuted by the government," he added.

Economic managers, on the other hand, expressed hope the business community would benefit from Estrada’s arrest.

"That should BE good for business," Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo said, adding the move should restore investor confidence and attract new investments.

The arrest of Estrada is unprecedented, being the first president thrown out of office to have actually been jailed for allegations of economic plunder.

Romulo said the move sends a clear message to the business sector and to investors, both foreign and local.

"What it means is that we are following the law. For so long, we have been criticized for treating the powerful differently. This is a good signal, we mane business this time, it should restore confidence," Romulo said.

He added Estrada’s arrest also emphasizes that the Arroyo administration has a firm leadership that adheres to the law. – Rocel Felix, Efren Danao, Jess Diaz, Perseus Echeminada