Press Release
February 20, 2006
PALACE IS OFFERING FREEDOM TO ESTRADA WITH STRINGS ATTACHED -- PIMENTEL
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban)
today said Malacañang
s offer to help former President Joseph
Estrada get out of detention on a temporary basis was intended to
dissuade him from supporting various groups that have consolidated
their forces to press for the ouster of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.
Pimentel said Estrada was right in turning down the offer, made
through Presidential Chief-of-Staff Michael Defensor, believing it
was a trap and another political gimmick of the administration.
Why are they now telling Mr. Estrada that they can do something to
secure his temporary liberty? Werent they always saying before that
it was the policy of Malacañang
not to interfere in the court case
against the former president because they respect the independence
of the judiciary? the minority leader said.
Pimentel suspected that Malacañang
is merely floating a trial
balloon by having Secretary Defensor publicly announce the proposal
for Estradas temporary liberty even before it could be presented to
the deposed president.
Why is Secretary Defensor, whose credibility is doubtful, the one
saying so many things about the offer? If this is the idea of
President Arroyo, why has she not said anything in favor of the
proposal? Is it because this offer nothing but a bait for Erap which
they can instantly withdraw once they have already gotten what they
wanted? he said.
Pimentel said that if the proposed temporary liberty for Estrada
does not come directly from the President, it should not be taken
seriously, saying the Palace is apparently only testing the waters.
The lone senator from Mindanao said the Palaces attempt to meddle
in the plunder case has only put Mr. Estrada in a difficult
situation because he has a pending motion with the Sandiganbayan to
be granted temporary liberty or be put under house arrest to prepare
himself for his testimony before the anti-graft court.
Pimentel said that even if Estradas motion is meritorious, the
justices of the Sandiganbayan special division will be hard put
making a favorable ruling because they are wary of the impression
that they are under the influence of Malacañang
.
Given this situation, he said it would be advisable for Malacañang
and Secretary Defensor to stop interfering in the case. |