Press Release
September 25, 2007

TRANSCRIPT OF SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
On the meeting between Sec. Puno and President Joseph Estrada

About the meeting...

SJEE: Kumain kami. Kasama namin si Mayor Lim at Sec. Puno

Meron bang agreement o wala pa?

SJEE: Well, there is no agreement per se but the mere presence of Sec. Puno is a welcome development for us. Sec. Puno is a close friend of our family and he means well in helping President Estrada get out of his current predicament.

Sana matapos na ung talks today para hindi na kayo mag-file ng MR and by next week the President will be a free man...

SJEE: Kailangan naming mag-file ng motion for reconsideration to put it on record that our family and our lawyers disagree with the decision of the Sandiganbayan. Although we have to respect it, we have point out the loopholes sa decision na ipinataw kay Pangulong Erap.

Consensus at today's meeting?

SJEE: Sa aking pagkakaintindi, talks are still ongoing. But one thing's for sure, we will file MR tomorrow before the Sandiganbyan and with regard to the absolute pardon, we are not asking for it, nor the government is giving it to President Estrada. What we want is that if they will give an absolute pardon to Pres. Estrada, walang admission of guilt. There should be no admission of guilt, because we maintain and we still believe that Pres. Estrada is innocent of the charges filed against him.

That's the condition?

SJEE: That is our position. We are not imposing any conditions.

Legal problems posed by the filing of MR...

SJEE: That can be resolved be resolved naman. As I've said earlier, talks are ongoing. There are ongoing talks with regard to the problem. We will still have to consult our lawyers on that part. And Sec. Puno as emissary of Mrs. Arroyo will still have to confer with the Dept of Justice and those concerned.

Pag nag-file kayo ng MR bukas, it means a pardon will not be given anytime soon...

SJEE: Hindi naman siguro. I hope na mapadali itong problema ni Pangulong Erap. As Sec Puno has already mentioned, Mrs. Arroyo is willing to submit to the voice of the people based on the survey that majority of the people want President Estrada want out of detention.

(more)

Ang scenario: magpa-file kayo ng MR pero mabilis ung desisyon ng Sandiganbayan.

SJEE: Hindi namin masasabi kung aaksyunan kaagad ng Sandiganbayan or whatever. Basta once we feel na hindi kami mabibigyan ng fair trial which we always felt before, wi-withdrawhin namin.

Pwedeng ma-withdraw ung MR?

SJEE: Bakit naman hindi. That is one option.

Pag winidraw ung MR, diretso na sa Supreme Court?

SJEE: Maybe. That is the problem of the lawyers already.

Magpa-file kayo ng MR bukas pero iwi-withdraw nyo rin?

SJEE: That's one option.

What's next after ma-withdraw ung MR?

SJEE: Supreme Court. Or if the talks between Sec. Puno and the lawyers of President Estrada is positive, then absolute pardon is not farfetched.

Pag nagkaroon ng agreement between the party, pwede nyo i-end ung legal battle?

SJEE: Depende sa mga kondisyon. Basta kami, we are only eyeing for an absolute pardon without any admission of guilt.

Iba-iba kasi ung pananaw dun. Even Sen. Santiago is saying na kapag pardon, may kasamang..

SJEE: Because of the Supreme Court ruling. That is a different case. President Estrada is also a different matter. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang idedesisyon nila sa kaso ng tatay ko.

News Latest News Feed