Here is a transcript of the Grant of Executive Clemency given to deposed former President Ejercito Estrada by President Macapagal Arroyo:

Whereas this administration has a policy of releasing prisoners who have reached the age of 70,

Whereas Joseph Ejercito Estrada has been under detention for six and a half years,

Whereas Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or public office,

In view hereof, and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetua.

He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights. The forfeitures imposed by the Sandiganbayan remain in force and in full, including all writs and processes issued by the Sandiganbayan in pursuance hereof, except for the bank accounts he owned before his tenure as President.

Upon acceptance of this pardon by Joseph Ejercito Estrada, this pardon shall take effect. Given under my hand, at the City of Manila, this 25th day of October, in the year of our Lord, 2007.

Signed,
Gloria M. Arroyo

Attested,
Ignacio R. Bunye,
Acting Executive Secretary.

According to the Philippine Constitution(1987):

Absolute Pardon is the total extinction of the criminal liability of the individual to whom it is granted without any condition; it restores to the individual his civil and political rights and remits the penalty imposed for the particular offense of which he was convicted.

To be considered for Absolute Pardon a convicted person must first serve his maximum sentence or  granted final release and discharge or court termination of probation. However, the Board may consider a petition for absolute pardon even before the grant of final release and discharge under the provisions of Section 6 of Act No. 4103, as amended, as when the petitioner:

(1) is seeking an appointive/elective public position or reinstatement in the government service

(2) needs medical treatment abroad which is not available locally

(3) will take any government examination

(4) is emigrating

Now out with the legal hullaballo, what the heck are they thinking?! I have expected an absolute pardon for Erap say maybe a year after but not this!

What happened to those millions of pesos spent trying to convict Erap of his crimes? What happened to those years spent “reviewing” the case? And what happened to that so-called “triumph for Philippine Justice” day, the day when Erap was finally convicted? They are all for naught, all those money, all those time… Such a waste. And to think that those pesos are from the pockets of the Filipino people makes it a lot worst.

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought that Absolute Pardon comes with a full admission of guilt. According to the law, I am right. But since clemency is a discretionary power of the President and is almost limitless… Thus, a president can make the terms of the clemency as generous as she wants it to be.

President Macapagal-Arroyo must be feeling very generous for offering Erap Executive Clemency tailored to what he wants: No admission of guilt.

Now, what do you think of the Philippine Government and its Judicial System?