Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):
October 26, 2007
At noon of October 26, 2007, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was set free from his Tanay resthouse, after almost seven years of detention.
A day earlier, on October 25, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo granted a presidential pardon to Estrada who was convicted of plunder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Estrada was under house arrest since he was ousted as president in 2001. Arroyo, his vice-president, took his place. An anti-graft court convicted him for life but allowed him to remain under house arrest pending an appeal.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the pardon was granted under an existing government policy of releasing prisoners who are 70 years old, and because Estrada has publicly committed to not run for office again.
"Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by Sandiganbayan (anti-corruption court) of plunder and imposed the penalty of reclusion perpetual. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights," said Bunye.
Estrada came home to a hero's welcome as he was driven to his home in San Juan, Manila. Brass bands were playing and thousands of people celebrated his homecoming while holding banners and portraits of him as president.
(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved
Photo credit: wikipedia.org
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