IT’S PRAYER, not protest actions, that the family of deposed President Joseph Estrada is asking for from millions of his supporters.

If acquitted, the former president will go to the nearest church to thank God for the verdict and “vindication of his name,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said, as he relayed to media Estrada’s statement three days before the Sandiganbayan is to rule on a landmark case accusing the popular former president of plunder in the diversion of tobacco excise taxes. He is also accused of accepting illegal gambling payoffs.

If convicted, Estrada will file a motion for reconsideration and then an appeal to the Supreme Court.

“He will not accept pardon as this admits guilt, and he has never been guilty of plunder and perjury,” Rodriguez told reporters.

He added: “He knows that, ultimately, justice will be secured by him as he believes that even before this promulgation on Wednesday, the people have already acquitted him.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, son of the former President and a coaccused in the plunder charges, also said the family started holding a regular vigil inside the house of his father starting Sunday until “judgment day.”

Estrada was granted a pass from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to visit his mother Doña Mary Ejercito at San Juan Medical Hospital and to go to his Polk Street residence where he met with his lawyers Jay Flaminiano, Jose Flaminiano, Estelito Mendoza and Rene Saguisag.

Asked how his father is, Jinggoy said “happy and sad.” He expressed confidence he and his father will be acquitted.

“I know that majority of the people still believe my father, based on surveys… just like him, we all believe that he will be acquitted if the Sandiganbayan will decide on the merits of the case,” Jinggoy told
reporters.

On Estrada’s statement, Rodriguez said “an acquittal will affect the issue of legitimacy of the Arroyo administration. The President and his counsel are still hoping that the Sandiganbayan will decide the case based solely on the merits and on no other considerations.”

Rodriguez reiterated that even if acquitted, Estrada will no longer reclaim the presidency, “from which he was unconstitutionally ousted.”

“He [Estrada] said he would act as an elder statesman to give advice on governance and nation-building with preferential attention to the poor,” the solon said.

Among those who took time to visit Estrada were United Opposition president and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Senate President Manny Villar Jr. who arrived with wife Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar, Sens. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Mar Roxas and Panfilo Lacson, and Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco, among others.  

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Seeing the need for a strong security force, military and civilian officials of Lamitan City, Basilan, which was once besieged by the Abu Sayyaf, have inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) mandating the activation of a company-sized paramilitary force in the area.

THE Senate, setting aside ongoing inquiries into administration anomalies, opens simultaneous hearings this morning on Malacañang-certified urgent bills, including the proposed 2008 national budget and a long-awaited legislation amending patent laws to lower medicine prices.

THE House of Representatives should not let retired Army Technical Sgt. Vidal Doble testify in any “Hello Garci” investigation because it will put question on the credibility of future legislative investigations and results, a proadministration lawmaker said Sunday.

IT’S PRAYER, not protest actions, that the family of deposed President Joseph Estrada is asking for from millions of his supporters.

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the one-year suspension imposed by the Board of Medicine (BOM) on a doctor whose incorrect diagnosis and operation led to the death of a 17-year-old boy 10 years ago.

THE Philippine Air Force (PAF), armed with an initial capital outlay of P5 billion, has opened its doors to bidders to replace its aging fleets of helicopters, light trainers and troop-and-cargo carriers.