People v. Estrada: The country on trial

Today I have no choice on what to write about – it is Erap’s conviction and nothing else. It is the biggest and most significant court case our republic has ever experienced since our founding and probably for the centuries to come.

On trial was former President Estrada, his son and incumbent senator Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer, Edward Serapio for the crime of plunder and another case of perjury against President Estrada. President Erap alone was convicted of plunder; all the other charges were dismissed.

The plunder law is a relatively new penal law in our statute books. It was passed in 1991 as a reaction to the excesses during the Marcos regime. Ironic that then Senator Estrada voted favourably for the passage of the law and now his conviction under it. He knew and studied this law. One more instance of truth stranger than fiction.

Read more