Former President Joseph Estrada
"As we expected, this is a special court that was created to convict me. My lawyers and friends warned me before but this is the only forum I can tell the Filipino people of my innocence. I took a gamble. I thought the rule of law will be observed here but this is a kangaroo court."
Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Ejercito Estrada
"This verdict is intended to legitimize the occupancy of an illegal tenant in Malacañang. No doubt, our people will receive this with moral outrage and disgust knowing that it was a decision contrived to avoid the anomalous situation where a legitimately elected president was charged and illegally removed, but only to be subsequently exonerated."
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
"We bow to the decision of the Sandiganbayan. We hope and pray that the rule of law wil prevail. Meantime, we have a country to run, an economy to grow, and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from these goals."
Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio
"This is a triumph for the judicial system in the country. We can convict even the highest officer of the land."
Sen. Mar Roxas
"Nalulungkot ako at nakikisimpatiya ako kay Erap at sa kanyang pamilya sa naging hatol ng Sandiganbayan. Bilang kaibigan at nagsilbi sa kanyang gabinete, masasabi kong ni minsan ay walang iniutos o inilapit sa akin (na tiwali), ang experience ko sa kanya ay tuwid ang aming relasyon, (the case was) highly politically charged at hindi natin malalaman anong bahagi ang papel ng pulitika na pumasok sa isipan ng mga justices."
Sen. Loren Legarda
"Nakita ko sa Sandiganbayan si Erap, he was very humble. Hindi pa tapos ang laban, malakas pa ang laban niya Pwede magkaroon ng People Power to show support, love for Erap pero hindi na violent people power, ayaw din (ni Erap) mangyari yan."
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon
"This decision did not end the issue, we may need to examine the possible ramifications of this related to the stability of the country, the question of peace and order."
Sen Panfilo Lacson
“I may choose to disagree or be disheartened by the sentence of reclusion perpetua but the justices obviously had better access to all the information and evidence they need to arrive at their unanimous decision…. The next legal battle for the former president is just about to unfold. I hope that the Supreme Court can arrive at a decision that is fair and just to all concerned.”
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
“Erap’s commitment to the rule of law deserves praise. The government must now show that it didn’t single out. Other cases of plunder involving administration should now follow.”
ING Asia chief economist Tim Condon
"This is a positive. It removes uncertainty. It's a signal that the Philippine court makes strong decisions against corrupt practices. This is going to be positive for the currency and stock markets."
Standard Chartered economist Frances Cheung
"I think this is positive for the longer term. In the near-term, sentiments may be cautious or even bearish due to any violence from streets protest. This (court decision) showed the capability of the government to touch anyone, including the former president. It shows the administration's intention to battle corruption."
DBS currency strategist Philip Wee
"Investors are comingback from the selling yesterday. High-yielding currencies succumbed yesterday due to some risk aversion. We were not surprised by the verdict. The government's focus is to improve the economy. I think the peso should stay below 47. Entering into the fourth quarter, more investors will come back and the peso would gain more strength supported by remittances from overseas workers."
AB Capital Securities research head Jose Vistan
"I think the business sector is happy with the ruling. It only shows Sandiganbayan's courage to come up with an unpopular verdict."
CitisecOnline research head April Lee
"With the market up, based on investors reaction, I would say that they were happy about the verdict and somehow relieved that this is now over."
2TradeAsia.com research head Grace Cerdena
"Investors were earlier fearing that a non-guilty verdict would question the legitimacy of President Arroyo's administration. Had he been acquitted, the market would query on who should really hold the ball, Estrada or Arroyo."
Mayor Jejoma Binay
“We knew that Erap was bound to be convicted regardless of the facts of the case, or else GMA's ascension to the Presidency in 2001 cannot be deemed anything else but illegal and contrary to proper procedure. Within that context, they had to find him guilty.”
Emmi de de Jesus, secretary general of GABRIELA National Alliance of Women.
"The Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict of former president Joseph Estrada on the crime of plunder, is indeed a landmark decision that should serve as a precedent. On the same breath, we expect justice be served on the crimes against the people committed by the Arroyos. We expect this to commence immediately."
William Esposo, COPA
The court decision was the best development that happened in our country. It was a landmark decision - the conviction of a president no less for plunder - and the decision should send shivers down the spine of other plunderers.
OPINION
Wetness
TWINK MACARAIG/abs-cbnNEWS.com 9/18/2007 5:13:10 PM
Foreign correspondents who ostensibly hold themselves to higher standards are supposed to know better. But I honestly couldn’t think of any conflict-of-interest or similar ethical predicament arising from the circumstances that taking a one-day leave from work wouldn’t address. Television people aren’t that deep, you know.
Plunder score is 2-2, but not a tie for Erap
FEDERICO PASCUAL JR./The Philippine Star (9/18/2007 2:16:51 AM)
He was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the Sandiganbayan said. Its decision is sure to be challenged, but as of this writing it has not been overturned.
Gloria and Erap bring out the worst in Filipinos
WILLIAM ESPOSO/The Philippine Star (9/18/2007 2:15:22 AM)
If hitting rock bottom means that we have no other way to go but up, then being ruled by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo right after Joseph Estrada can be regarded as providential.
The historic impact of the Estrada conviction
WILLIAM M. ESPOSO/The Philippine Star (9/16/2007)
Notwithstanding the length of the trial which lasted all of six years and despite all the political color that surrounded it, I am morally convinced that Joseph Estrada was meted his just dues. Just as the ANC legal panel of the Wednesday trial coverage pointed out – the Estrada defense underestimated the weight of the evidence heaped against the former president.
A jail of his own?
MIRIAM CORONEL FERRER/abs-cbnNEWS.com (9/15/2007)
The conviction of former president Joseph Estrada is a first in our history. As such, what we do now that the ex-president has been sentenced will also set a precedent for future cases.
Finished
ALEX MAGNO/The Philippine Star (9/15/2007 4:42:57 AM)
The verdict on the Estrada plunder case was predictable; the sheer calm that followed its rendition was not.
Erap’s undoing
ALEJANDRO R. ROCES/The Philippine Star (9/15/2007 4:47:42 AM)
The long-awaited verdict on the plunder case against former president Joseph Estrada was finally handed down by the Sandiganbayan.
Sic transit gloria mundi
CARMEN N. PEDROSA/The Philippine Star (9/15/2007 4:45:43 AM)
That is the ready Latin aphorism when the mighty are fallen.
The Erap case: A lawyer’s perspective
KATRINA LEGARDA/abs-cbnNEWS.com (9/10/2007 3:01:16 PM)
The Sandiganbayan, in hearing the celebrated Estrada plunder case was faced with really one issue: The credibility of the principal witness, former governor Luis “Chavit” Singson.
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