Erap insistent on UN apology

MANILA, Philippines – Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said the United Nations owes him an apology for tagging him as the 10th most corrupt leader in the world during the UN’s anti-corruption conference held in Indonesia last month.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said his lawyers are studying what possible charges can be filed against the UN.

“There was no proper basis for UN to tag me as the 10th most corrupt leader in the world. We will file a protest because it was baseless and a direct affront upon my person. One of their (UN) members, who is based in the Philippines and a former judge in Philippine courts, has written the UN asking it to correct the mistake,” Estrada said.

Estrada was convicted for plunder in September last year but was granted executive clemency about than a month after he was meted the sentence.

To this day, the former President maintains that he is innocent of the said plunder charges.

Upon hearing the UN’s label of him, Estrada vowed to file charges before the International Court against the UN.

“They should lay down their basis for tagging me as the 10th most corrupt leader in the world,” Estrada added.

The UN anti-corruption conference tagged Estrada as the 10th most corrupt leader in the world for allegedly raking in an estimated $78 million to $80 million during his presidency from 1998 until he was ousted on Jan. 20,  2001.