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TIMELINE

Key dates in Estrada plunder case

Chronology of deposed president Joseph Estrada's landmark plunder trial, conviction and pardon:

June 30, 1998: Movie star-politician Joseph Estrada is sworn in as the 13th president of the Philippines after a landslide election victory. He vows to chase crooks out of government during his six-year term.

October 9, 2000: Politician Luis "Chavit" Singson, a key political ally, accuses the president of taking bribes from illegal gambling operators and kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes. Estrada denies the allegations.

Oct 12, 2000: Vice President Gloria Arroyo quits the cabinet and joins opposition calls for Estrada to resign.

October 18, 2000: Opposition files impeachment motion against Estrada in the House of Representatives.

November 2, 2000: Key cabinet members and economic advisers resign as the peso plunges to an all-time low against the dollar. A day later, Estrada loses control of the House as key allies quit ruling coalition.

November 8, 2000: Estrada admits depositing four million dollars in bribes into the account of a charity controlled by his lawyer.

November 13, 2000: House impeaches Estrada for corruption.

January 16, 2001: Estrada's landmark impeachment trial is the Senate is aborted as his allies among the senator-judges throw out key prosecution evidence, triggering massive street protests.

January 19, 2001: Generals withdraw support and offer Estrada a safe exit. He offers to call snap elections but the opposition rebuffs him.

January 20, 2001: Estrada leaves the presidency and Arroyo is sworn into office.

April 25, 2001: Estrada and his son, Jose 'Jinggoy' Ejercito, are arrested as the former president is indicted of plundering more than 80 million dollars from state funds.

July 10, 2001: Estrada pleads not guilty as his corruption trial starts.

July 13, 2004: Estrada wins house arrest bid, leaves detention at a military camp and moves into family-owned resort east of Manila.

June 15, 2007: Corruption trial ends. Court adjourns to weigh its verdict.

September 12, 2007: Estrada is found guilty of massive corruption and is jailed for life.

Sept. 26 – Estrada’s lawyers file 63-page motion for reconsideration to Sandiganbayan to reverse guilty verdict.

Oct. 22 – Estrada files petition before Sandiganbayan to withdraw motion for reconsideration. Estrada’s lawyer Jose Flaminiano sends letter to President Arroyo asking for presidential pardon.

October 25, 2007: Estrada is granted pardon.

Agence France-Presse

People of San Juan prepare for Estrada's come back
Estrada's lawyers now in Sandigan Bayan
Atty. Serapio reads Estrada's official statement
Arroyo pardons Erap
DOJ endorses pardon for Estrada

President Arroyo's order granting pardon to ex-president Estrada
Transcript of announcement of President Arroyo's grant of executive clemency to Joseph Estrada
Statement of former President Joseph Estrada
Transcript of former president Joseph Estrada’s Oct. 26 speech

Sen Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada
I would like to thank this administration, most specifically Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for granting the pardon of President Joseph Estrada and this is coming from the heart.

Former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino
I am happy for former President Joseph Estrada and his family. I pray, that as a free man, former president Estrada will harness the lessons he has learned from the sufferings he had endured and continue to serve our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Senate President Manuel Villar
I join the great number of Filipinos in welcoming the executive clemency extended to the former president by the Arroyo government. Despite the Sandiganbayan conviction, President Estrada remains in the heart of the masses.

The executive clemency extended to former President Joseph Estrada is a great step towards reconciliation, which is vital to our country’s unhindered passage to progress. This act emphasizes the value of humane consideration and compassionate justice.

President Estrada has suffered enough, having been incarcerated for more than six years. The pardon will give him time to care for his ailing mother, Doña Mary, who needs his solace and love at this most opportune time.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Masaya ako para kay Pangulong Erap. Marapat lang at binabati ko ang dating Pangulo sa kalayaang muling makakamtan niya. Nawa'y makapiling niya ang kanyang ina habang nagpapagaling mula sa kanyang karamdaman.

Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal
The executive clemency of Erap is a double edged sword. While I commiserate with President Erap's plight, the issuance of the executive clemency by Mrs. Arroyo at a time when she and Mike Arroyo are being hit by revelations of graft and corruption, particularly the new exposé of Joey de Venecia today is a media stunt to ensure only her political survival. The pardon of Erap as definitely used as a political weapon to diffuse present controversies. We must not stop pursuing all investigations on the graft and corruption of Mrs. Arroyo. I hope that the efforts of the minority opposition in the House of Representatives to impeach Mrs. Arroyo will not be compromised.

Senator Richard Gordon
If we are going to show the world that we are for the rule of law, then there should be no pardon for Estrada. (from Agence France Presse)

Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros
By granting pardon to Erap, GMA has undermined rule of law. This is a political insurance for her and she hopes that the same privilege would be extended to her once she face accountability for her own crimes. She trampled upon the indignation that she used to get herself into power. Let us mark this day as a day of impunity, a setback against our struggle against corruption.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño
Pardon granted to Erap smacks of an opportunist political maneuver rather than a magnanimous act of justice. The least PGMA should have demanded was an admission of guilt nd some acts of remorse and/or restitution. The executive privilege of granting pardon has been reduced to a crass political move to neutralize PGMA's foes at this critical time of her administration.

Renato Reyes, secretary general Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
The early pardon of Estrada by PGMA is timed to blunt the negative impact of the damning testimony of Joey de Venecia vs Mrs. Arroyo and FG Mike Arroyo. The motive for granting the pardon is utterly self-serving for Mrs. Arroyo. we are wary of the motives of Mrs. Arroyo in granting the pardon.. Gloria is simply out to neutralize her political rivals. Expect more political tension to arise because Mrs. Arroyo's allies may not accept what PGMA did.

Alberto Lim, executive director Makati Business Club
We are disappointed especially with the timing dahil maraming nangyayaring gulo ngayon like the revelation today of JDV III at the senate ZTE hearing at ang issue ng suhulan.

Black and White Movement
Message is clear. You can steal all you want and get away with it. Nananawagan kami sa lahat ng nanunungkulan sa pamahalaan na samantalahin na at magnakaw ng husto. Tutal naman, madaling makakuha ng pardon. Ginagago tayo ni GMA.

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada waves as he leaves a court in Manila in this September 12, 2007 file photo. Philippine President Arroyo pardoned Estrada on Thursday, setting aside his conviction and life sentence on charges of plunder. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/Files