WWHAAAT?!

        Deposed President Joseph Estrada mulling to run for president in 2010? A convicted plunderer seeking the highest office of the land? Hudas he think he is?

        He was pardoned all right, but that does not unmake him an ex-convict who should seek forgiveness for his sins, or at least live a new life minus the scandals and indiscretions. We also expect him to show a modicum display of remorse and humility, not the way we see him now strutting like a knight in shining armor. Frankly, we expect him to be in jail and spend the rest of his life there.

        The former president, like most of his other predecessors, had screwed us and he wants to make another performance. The more embarrassing question now is: As the ones to choose the next leader of this purloined nation, are we too, like a damned hooker, enjoying the pleasure of being, well, screwed up?

        Because we Filipinos have short memory and a perverted view of crime and punishment that even the best of the world’s social scientists and philosophers can not comprehend, the need to revisit the Sandiganbayan decision on Erap Estrada’s plunder case is in order.

        According to that decision, under Criminal Case No. 26558 for Plunder, “accused Joseph Ejercito Estrada, by himself and in conspiracy with his co-accused, business associates and persons heretofore named, by taking advantage of his official position, authority, connection or influence as President of the Republic of the Philippines, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and criminally amass, accumulate and acquire ill-gotten wealth, and unjustly enrich himself in the aggregate amount of P4,097,804,173.17, more or less, through a combination and series of overt and criminal acts”.

        Such criminal acts were enumerated by the Sandiganbayan decision (and reprinted herein verbatim), as follows:

        “• by receiving, collecting, directly or indirectly, on many instances, so-called “jueteng money” from gambling operators in connivance with co-accused Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada, Yolanda T. Ricaforte and Edward Serapio, as witnessed by Gov. Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, among other witnesses, in the aggregate amount of FIVE HUNDRED FOURTY-FIVE MILLION PESOS (P545,000,000.00), more or less, in consideration of their protection from arrest or interference by law enforcers in their illegal ‘jueteng’ activities; and

        “• by appropriating, converting and mi(s)using for his gain and benefit public fund in the amount of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY MILLION PESOS P130,000,000.00), more or less, representing a portion of the One Hundred Seventy Mission Pesos (P170,000,000.00) tobacco excise tax share allocated for the Province of Ilocos Sur under R.A. No. 7171, in conspiracy with co-accused Charlies ‘Atong’ Ang, Alma Alfaro, Eleuterio Tan a.k.a. Eleuterio Ramos Tan or Mr. Uy, and Jane Doe a.k.a. Delia Rajas, as witnessed by Gov. Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, among other witnesses; and

        “• by directing, ordering and compelling the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) to purchase and buy a combined total of 681,733,000 shares of stock of the Belle Corporation in the aggregate gross value of One Billion Eight Hundred Forty-Sven Million Five Hundred Seventy Eight Thousand Fifty Seven Pesos (1,847,578,057.50), for the puspose of collecting for his personal gain and benefit, as in fact he did collect and receive the sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P189,700,000.00), as commission from said stock purchases; and

        “• by unjustly enriching himself in the amount of THREE BILLION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS AND SEVENTEEN CENTAVOS (P3,233,104,173.17) comprising his unexplained wealth acquired, accumulated and amassed by him under his account name “Jose Velarde” with Equitable PCI Bank; to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines.”

        Of course, various amended information, urgent ex parte motions, and similar legal measures, were advanced by both defense and prosecution panels during the hearing of the case, but in the end, the Sandiganbayan found the ex-President guilty as charged beyond reasonable doubt and wherefore sentenced him to an imprisonment of 40 years.

        Now, if Estrada (who still wears the Seal of the Office of the President on his wrist band as if it were a Mafia coat of arms) thinks he can run again, despite intelligent arguments to the contrary, that is understandable. He is one lucky movie star cum politician who failed to spend a reasonable time to finish college. Wanting to please him, his advisers and lawyers, like Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, by force of habit try hard to look wise by stooping down to their boss’ IQ level.

        As had been said, we can only hope that in 2010, Filipino voters will have the wisdom to grant the awesome powers of the presidency to someone who has the integrity, principle and decency to use them honorably. Then when we look in the mirror as a nation, we can truly see the reflection of the Republic of the Philippines.