PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — A CENTRAL Luzon lawmaker yesterday said that convicted plunderer Joseph Ejercito Estrada may end up in jail if he continues with his plan to run for president again.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, a former administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA) under the Estrada administration, warned that Estrada might end up in jail if the executive clemency given to him will be revoked.
“Baka nga ganyan (makulong) ang mangyari dahil malinaw na he violated the conditional pardon given to him by President Arroyo,” said Joson.
Joson explained that part of the condition in the pardon given to Estrada was for him not to participate in any election.
“Kaya nga huwag na siyang tumuloy dahil baka sa kulungan din lang ang bagsak niya,” said Joson. “Tutal nasubukan na naman siya ng tao. Hayaan na lamang ang iba naman. Pahinga na lang siya.”
Meanwhile, an ally of Estrada has claimed that the dismissed disqualification case against the former leader shows that his rivals are afraid of him.
“Even before (former) President Estrada could file his certificate of candidacy, a premature petition has been lodged which is an indication that other candidates are threatened with him,” said Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
It will be recalled that Sandiganbayan Special Division on Sept. 12, 2007 had convicted him of plunder and was later given executive clemency.
Estrada declared to run in 2010 elections with Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running-mate.
The Comelec has junked the petition filed by Atty. Oliver Lozano to disqualify Estrada as a candidate for being premature as the latter is yet to file his CoC.
The filing of CoCs will run from Nov. 20 to 30, 2009.