UPDATE: Taken from Jimmy Soriano’s blog:
If you wish to view and read the full text of the Decision of the Sandiganbayan Special Division in Criminal Case No. 26558 convicting former President Joseph Estrada of the crime of plunder, you may visit any of the following websites: [http://www.soriano-ph.com] [http://sandigan.supremecourt.gov.ph/] or [www.lawphil.net/]
At about 9:20 am today, the promulgation of the decision on the perjury and plunder cases of the Sandiganbayan was made. Former President Erap was found not guilty of perjury, but guilty of plunder beyond reasonable doubt.
The court allowed his continuous stay at his current place of detention until further order of the Court, taking into consideration his former position as President of the country. The Court allowed the Counsel’s request for the use of library and holding room until copy of the court order is given to explain to him the decision of the court.
Penalties include reclusion perptua to death. Since dealth penalty has been abolished, penalty will be reclusion perpertua meaning not more than 40 years in prison . He is required to return large sums of money running in the hundreds of millions to a billion pesos.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada was found not guilty of perjury.
Justice has prevailed!
BUT: The people were ready to listen to both sides, and that includes that of the defense, which was never read. The Court said it will be available in the Internet—hey! not all people have access to the Internet!
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9 responses so far ↓
i, batangueño // Sep 12, 2007 at 10:41 am
honestly, i’m sad a little bit. speechless
Jayme // Sep 12, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I am glad that justice has been served but part of me pities him because he is old and ailing. Then again, he brought this upon himself.
I respect Erap’s supporters. I just wonder if they know and truly understand the crime he has done.
Had they known and understood that Erap is stealing money from the Filipino people to live a life of luxury, would they still support him?
Just thinking aloud.
msor // Sep 12, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I can’t understand us pinoys.
We complain about corruption and the lack of action our courts are doing about it and yet when one is convicted not just of simple corruption but of plunder,we are already thinking and even some are demanding pardon for the convicted official.
What a shame if Mr Estrada would be pardoned just because he was an ex-pres.Dapat nga doble ang bigat ng setencia kapag elected govt official ang found guilty.
carlotta // Sep 13, 2007 at 10:22 am
honestly, i don’t care. later on he will still be granted privileges that other prisoners don’t enjoy.
ann roxas // Sep 13, 2007 at 11:16 am
everyone i know was sad but this is how justice works, and atleast it was proven again that our judicial system is independent from malacañang influence. i do believe that GMA has nothing to do with the decision and i also think that the thee magistrates’ decision if not influenced by the executive was influenced by their own share of frustration on how our government worked in the past. the case is not yet over, and what a pity for ERAP.
haze // Sep 14, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Justice prevailed ! He deserves it after fooling his countrymen ! Filipino people voted for him but he was abusive of his power! Instead of improving our economy hindi eh lumala pa po !
Rowena // Sep 14, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Hi Dine, I think he deserves it. Now, me example na sa mga corrupt politicians so they’ll stop treating the taxpayers’ money as theirs to enjoy with.
pauline // Sep 15, 2007 at 11:41 pm
i remember when erap was on his way to the sandiganbayan, whenever his whereabouts were mentioned, my sister and i would panic because we were on the same locations! (haha, the quirks of living in a subdivision in batasan)
i was already in school when i heard that he’s guilty. for a moment i was rejoicing because there were signs of justice screaming all over the place. but then, after a while i thought about imelda marcos and the extravagant life she continues to live. sigh, there goes justice.
KK // Sep 20, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Oh that’s why his face was on Wikipedia the other day.
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