Jinggoy Estrada

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Jinggoy Estrada
Jinggoy Estrada
Incumbent
Assumed office 
2004
Senate President Pro-Tempore
Incumbent
Assumed office 
2007
In office
1992 – 2001
Vice Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila
In office
1988 – 1992
Born January 23, 1963 (1963-01-23) (age 45)
Manila, Philippines
Political party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino
Spouse Ma. Presentacion Vitug
Relations Joseph Estrada (father)
Residence San Juan City

Jose Pimentel Ejercito (born on February 17, 1963), better known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, is a senator in the Philippines. He was born to former President Joseph Estrada and former senator Luisa Estrada. He is the brother of incumbent San Juan City Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito.

He was born as Jose P. Ejercito in Manila, Philippines. He attended elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Manila University, and obtained a degree in economics from the University of the Philippines. He was mayor of San Juan from 1992 until 2001. He was elected to the senate in 2004, where his term is set to expire in 2010. Estrada married Presentacion "Precy" Vitug-Ejercito in 1989.

On July 23, 2007, Jinggoy was voted Senate president pro tempore, while Kiko Pangilinan is majority leader (following the assumption of Sen. Manny Villar to the chamber's leadership of the 14th Congress). [1]

On August 15, 2007, the Supreme Court (Voting 13-0), in an 18-page decision upheld the Sandigabayan's decision to grant bail to Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada in connection with his plunder case now awaiting promulgation before the graft court.[2]

On September 11, 2007 Estrada introduced Senate bill 1556, proposing to make ROTC mandatory for all college students, male and female.

Contents

[edit] Plunder Trial

Teresita De Castro heads the anti-graft court’s special division on the Erap plunder case. The Sandiganbayan, has 90 days or until mid-September 2007 to decide the case of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, but the decision could be issued much sooner than that. Leonardo-de Castro was candidate for the vacant post of Supreme Court Associate Justice, duly nominated by the JBC for the vacancy due to retirement of Romeo Callejo, Sr. and will be a very strong candidate for the vacancy due to the forthcoming retirement of Cancio Garcia on October 20, 2007[3]

On September 6, 2007, Leonardo-de Castro, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Francisco Villaruz were assigned 2 extra bodyguards 3 weeks ago per initiative of the Sheriff (after getting threatening messages from an anonymous person). Renato Bocar, executive clerk of court confirmed the “new face" in De Castro’s office who has been “acting like a bodyguard."[4]

On September 7, 2007, the Sandiganbayan's Teresita De Castro announced that the graft court will promulgate the judgment on September 12, 2007 in the 6-year-old plunder trial (October 2001 to June 15, 2007) of ousted President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. The verdict will also inclued his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada; and lawyer Eduardo Serapio. Court Sheriff Ed Urieta said tight security will include 4,000 police and 2,000 soldiers, and military. Estrada is accused of stealing 4 billion pesos (US$81 million; €62 million) in illegal funds and falsely declaring his asse.[5]

[edit] The Decision

The Joseph Estrada Verdict: on September 12, 2007, Joseph Estrada was acquitted of perjury but found guilty of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua with the accesory penalties of perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth.

On September 12, 2007, Sandiganbayan's Presiding Justice Teresita De Castro and 2 other magistrates unanimously acquitted his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and a lawyer Edward Serapio of plunder charges. The Fallo of the 262-page Decision declared the forfeiture in favor of the government: P542.701 million (bank accounts including interest), P189 million (Jose Velarde accounts including interest) and the Boracay mansion in New Manila, Quezon City.[6][7]

Only the fallo or dispositive part of 2 judgments were read (resulting to only 15 minutes judicial proceedings).[8]During the reading of the judgment, witnesses said Joseph Estrada cried; his wife, Luisa Ejercito Estrada, Jackie Ejercito Lopez, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, (Estrada's son with Guia Gomez), other family members and mistresses (including, Laarni Enriquez) all wept during the promulgation by the clerk.[9]

Estrada's lawyer Estelito Mendoza stated that Estrada will file a motion for reconsideration (before September 27) of the 262-page Judgment and then appeal the verdict to the High Tribunal. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it will support a presidential pardon for Estrada. Jinggoy Estrada said The people will receive this with moral outrage and disgust. The time of reckoning will come. That time may not be too far now. ``This verdict is intended to legitimize the occupancy of an illegal tenant in Malacanang[10][11]

Estrada, in Filipino Barong Tagalog (pineapple fibre dress shirt and cream trousers) with his trademark wristband stated that "I thought the role of justice would prevail here but really it's a kangaroo court." President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stated that the court's decision must be accepted: "We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail." Estrada's counsel Rene A.V. Saguisag issued the statement:"VICTORS' JUSTICE" - "It's victors' justice. It's ruling class justice. The special division (of the court) was programmed to convict. We never had a chance." Estrada will appeal the verdict and would be under automatic review at the Supreme Court of the Philippines.[12]

Estrada told Agence France-Presse that he was resigned for the latest drama in his presidency: "last and best performance of my life." The prosecution's lead counsel Dennis Villa-Ignacio proudly asserted: "It shows that our judicial system really works.This is the last chance for the state to show that we can do it, that we can charge, prosecute and convict a public official regardless of his stature."[13]

Joseph Estrada rose from obscurirty to having been top Filipino film star, then hit the mark, by claiming the Presidency until destiny sent him to jail. He stated to AFP "I feel depressed, but it's my style not to show it." Before the release of the fatalistic judgment, he warned that he prevent his fans from making street protests.[14]

Estrada returned to his villa in Tanay, Rizal (driven on from a golf cart), to the helicopter)[15] The court permitted him to return to his villa, "until further orders".[16]

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy stated that the arrival of the USS Chung-Hoon and USS Milius, Missile destroyers was a goodwill visit to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and the Philippines.[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Jinggoy voted senate president pro-tempore
  2. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, SC upholds bail for Jinggoy
  3. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Sandigan may rule sooner on Estrada case; acquittal 'unlikely'
  4. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Sandigan justices get extra guards over threats
  5. ^ IHT, Philippine court to rule on ex-president's plunder trial Sept. 12
  6. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Sandigan forfeits Erap's 'Velarde' accounts, Boracay mansion
  7. ^ New York Times, Philippines Ex-President Convicted
  8. ^ Reuters, Philippines' Estrada deadpan when sentenced to life
  9. ^ GMA NEWS. TV, Erap plunder drama: The wife cried, and mistress, too
  10. ^ Bloomberg, Philippines' Estrada Guilty of `Plunder,' Faces Life
  11. ^ Inquirer.net, Estrada to file motion for reconsideration--lawyers
  12. ^ Reuters, Philippines' Estrada gets life
  13. ^ CNN.com, Deposed Philippine president given life sentence for plunder
  14. ^ AFP.google.com, Estrada: from movie star to Philippine president -- to jailbird
  15. ^ Inquirer.net, Estrada back in Tanay resthouse
  16. ^ Washington Post, Philippines' Estrada gets life
  17. ^ Inquirer.net, US warships arrive in RP

[edit] External links

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