Erap: Give Noy time to solve problems

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada urged the public yesterday to give President Aquino more time to solve the problems faced by his administration, including the recent allegations of retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa of rampant corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Let’s not rush the President... give him enough time to solve these problems,” Estrada told the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum.

He said that the President has just been in office for seven months.

Last week, Rabusa told the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that AFP chiefs, like former chief of staff and Defense secretary Angelo Reyes, traditionally receive hefty sums upon assuming office and upon retirement.

Estrada said that the incumbent President is still burdened with the “sins of the past administration.”

“With so many problems left behind by the previous administration, you surely would have headaches too,” the former chief executive said in Filipino.

Estrada added that among the controversies hounding the Arroyo administration are the P728-million fertilizer fund scam; the $2-million extortion case filed against Arroyo’s former justice secretary Nani Perez; and the P10-billion Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (Peace) bonds involving a sister of Arroyo and former Finance secretary Isidro Camacho.

He said that his Cabinet secretaries had been better than those appointed by the former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as they had never been involved in any graft charges.

Estrada was elected by a landslide vote in 1998, only to be ousted in a popular uprising in 2001 over corruption charges, which later led to his conviction and subsequent pardon.