Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, alias Erap was acquitted in the case of perjury, but the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of the case of plunder. As such, the Sandigan-bayan meted Erap the penalty of "reclusion perpetua" (life imprisonment) of 40 years in prison and to pay the government P530,000,000.
The promulgation of judgment was held in a building Erap himself inaugurated during his incumbency on June 1, 1999 as President of the Philippines. The building, standing at the corner of Batasan and Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City has a marker which portrays the name of former president Estrada, dedicating the courthouse to the Filipino people in their fight against graft and corruption in the government.
It is ironic that Estrada himself is the first and the biggest among the Filipino "fishes" who is caught and meted out the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The decision consisted of about 1000 pages, but only its dispositive portion was read by Sandiganbayan clerk of court Teresita Pabulayan.
The court specifically created to hear the case acquitted his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward Serapio who were charged along with six others in the P4 billion plunder case.
After the promulgation of judgment, Atty. Jose Flaminiano requested the court for time in order to confer with other defense lawyers to study the options to take. Lead counsel Rene Saguisag stood up to confer with Erap. After which, Saguisag informed the court "his clients has absolutely no desire for special treatment" concerning the terms of imprisonment. "If it means he moves to Muntinlupa today, he is ready your honor," said Saguisag.
The court ordered that the former President be taken back to his detention center in Tanay, Rizal. /MP
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