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Philippines' Estrada given pardon | Philippines' Estrada given pardon |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Disgraced former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been granted an official pardon by his successor, a government spokesman has confirmed. | Disgraced former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been granted an official pardon by his successor, a government spokesman has confirmed. |
President Gloria Arroyo's office said the decision was reached after Estrada agreed not to pursue political office. | President Gloria Arroyo's office said the decision was reached after Estrada agreed not to pursue political office. |
Estrada was given a life sentence last month after being convicted of corruption following a six-year trial. | |
The 70-year-old ex-film star was found to have embezzled $80m (£42m) before being forced from office in 2001. | The 70-year-old ex-film star was found to have embezzled $80m (£42m) before being forced from office in 2001. |
'Demeaning' decision | |
Ms Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said Estrada's age and the fact he had spent six years under house arrest were taken into account when awarding the pardon. | |
The former president, who analysts say retains huge popularity among poor Filipinos, will officially be freed on Friday. | |
If we are going to show the world that we are for the rule of law, then there should be no pardon for Estrada Senator Richard Gordon | |
He had been serving his sentence at his sprawling country estate near the capital, Manila, rather than a jail cell. | |
Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said he thanked Ms Arroyo from the bottom of his heart for releasing his father. | |
But political opponents of Estrada were highly critical of the move. | |
"If we are going to show the world that we are for the rule of law, then there should be no pardon for Estrada," said Senator Richard Gordon. | |
Prosecutors involved in the Estrada case said the president had no right to pardon him, and claimed the move had "totally demeaned" their efforts to combat corruption. | |
Ms Arroyo is fighting corruption allegations of her own | |
After his conviction for plunder in September, Estrada denounced the verdict as a "political move" and said he had been tried in a "kangaroo court". | |
A successful movie star with populist appeal, Estrada was elected president in 1998 by the biggest margin ever. | A successful movie star with populist appeal, Estrada was elected president in 1998 by the biggest margin ever. |
He was seen as a refreshing change from the wealthy elite that had previously dominated political life. | He was seen as a refreshing change from the wealthy elite that had previously dominated political life. |
But it was not long before his presidency ran into trouble amid allegations of corruption. | But it was not long before his presidency ran into trouble amid allegations of corruption. |
He was ousted three years after coming to power in a revolt backed by the army and the church. Mrs Arroyo - who was his vice-president at the time - took over. | He was ousted three years after coming to power in a revolt backed by the army and the church. Mrs Arroyo - who was his vice-president at the time - took over. |
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