BY WENDELL VIGILIA
THE United Opposition yesterday said Palace
statements proposing temporary liberty for President Joseph
Estrada on recognizance only aim to deodorize the
administration’s image as the May election nears.
"If GMA really wants it, then why doesn’t she
personally say so and do something about it? Ang hirap naman ng
puro press release at lip service lang," House minority leader
and UNO secretary general Francis Escudero said.
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor
floated the idea in a recent radio interview, saying the
President is not against temporary liberty for Estrada.
Defensor said Estrada or any of his friends
from the religious sector should first file a petition before
the Sandiganbayan. He said a religious leader could serve as
guarantor that Estrada would not escape.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said Defensor’s
pronouncements "smack of hypocrisy and crass electioneering."
"All Defensor is after are the votes of
Erap’s supporters. He knows that his opinion doesn’t matter
because the issue is for the courts to decide. Namumulitika lang
siya," he said.
Casiño called on the opposition not to bite.
"I hope huwag magamit si Erap sa pakanang ito
ng pinaka-loyal na tauhan ni Gloria," he said.
Escudero said Defensor should just resign if
he could not convince the President to agree to his to his
proposal.
Malacañang officials denied Defensor’s claim
that the President supports the granting of temporary liberty to
Estrada.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a
phone conference with reporters, said he was surprised by
Defensor’s claim.
"Wala akong alam diyan. Nagulat nga ako dahil
di naman iyan napag-uusapan (in the Cabinet)," he said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in a
statement, said "It is premature to discuss the issue at this
time."
Ermita told reporters to ask Defensor to
explain his statements.
When informed that Defensor went to the
Malacañang press office Thursday afternoon to explain his
statements in the radio interview, Ermita laughed.
He said: "Si Mike gagawa ng statement tapos
ako ang tatanungin ninyo…Loko-loko naman iyan. Hindi naman
nagsasabi sa akin kung ano ang sasabihin niya. Tapos ako ang
kakalampagin ninyo."
Administration congressmen urged Defensor to
be cautious in his statements, saying the anti-graft court could
cite him for contempt.
Reps. Antonio Cuenco (Lakas, Cebu City) said
the administration should just wait for the completion of the
judicial process. "It’s too early to talk about his (Estrada)
freedom even by way of recognizance," he said.
"Secretary Defensor’s statements may be taken
as pressure on the court or even meddling in the judicial
process," he said.
Rep. Exequiel Javier (Lakas, Antique) said
Estrada’s case should not be subject to a political compromise.
"Reconciliation should be based on justice. We are always
open to reconciliation with Erap but this does not mean
disregarding his plunder case because the case is a matter that
falls under the jurisdiction of the court," he said. –
With Regina Bengco
