ESTRADA'S DECISION TO SEEK PARDON SHOULD BE RESPECTED
BY THE NATION -- PIMENTEL

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the decision of former President Joseph Estrada to seek presidential pardon after his conviction by the Sandiganbayan should be respected by all as Estrada believes that is the best option for him.

"It's Erap's call. It's his liberty that is at stake. If he wants to be pardoned by the President, let it be. Let us not make the situation more difficult for the nation," he said.

Pimentel said many allies and followers of Mr. Estrada may have been disappointed over his decision to request for executive clemency instead of pursuing his motion for reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan, and possibly even the Supreme Court.

But he said the former president was apparently convinced, after weighing all options, that to ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for pardon at this stage was the most practical course of action. Pimentel said Mr. Estrada should not be faulted for his decision, having suffered enough since he was thrown out of power about seven years ago.

"Whatever he feels is good for him, let us respect his decision. Let us not give anymore trouble in that respect" the minority leader said. "And so the ball is now in the hands of Gloria because she is the pardoning power."

Pimentel said the grant of pardon to Estrada will have a lot of positive effects for the Arroyo administration, specially in lessening political tensions, specially those coming from the Erap loyalists.