Erap, Lim dig up old wounds in UP Manila debate

Former President Joseph Estrada and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who will be facing each other in the 2013 mayoral polls, seemed to be more interested in digging up each other's pasts than in answering questions during a debate organized by the University of the Philippines Manila on Wednesday.

 

During the debate, which was aptly dubbed "Thrilla in UP Manila," Lim raised the issue of why Estrada would be convicted by the Sandiganbayan by in 2007 if he really was innocent as the former Philippine leader claims.

 

"[He had] three of the best criminal lawyers in the Philippines, Estelito Mendoza, [retired] Chief [Andres] Justice Narvaza, Atty. [Jose] Flaminiano. Sa galing ho nitong mga criminal lawyers na ito eh bakit ho hindi na-acquit? He was sentenced reclusion perpetua, lifetime sentence for plunder," he said.

 

 

Estrada, now 75, was tried by an impeachment court in 2000 for allegations of bribery and graft and corruption, specifically of receiving millions in jueteng protection money and kickbacks from a state program for tobacco farmers.

 

The trial was not concluded but Estrada was ousted by a mass uprising in January 2001. In April of the same year, the Arroyo administration arrested him on plunder charges. In September 2007, the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of plunder. A month after his conviction, then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned Estrada.

 

But Lim, now 83, said that "any right thinking lawyer or any law student can state for a fact" that any innocent person would not accept a pardon.

  

"You will appeal to the Supreme Court to reverse the decision... bakit ho hindi inapela sa Korte Suprema? Bakit siya nagmakaawa [for a pardon]?" he said.

  

After this, the debate's emcees asked Lim and Estrada to move on from the topic and instead explain how they intend to address the security concerns in Manila.

 

"Ang gusto lang po namin ay masolusyunan yung mga katanungan namin," said one of the emcees.

 

But Estrada, who was asked to answer the question first, opted to answer Lim regarding his conviction.

 

"Sinabi po niya na ako'y nagmakaawa hindi po ako nagmakaawa," he said.

 

He likewise said that it marked the first time in the history of the Philippine judiciary that a special court was created just to convict an official. 

 

"Sa ating yumaong Ninoy Aquino, tatay ng ating Pangulo ngayon, he was sentenced by a military court and the generals [were] chosen by the administration. Ninoy Aquino was [given the] death sentence, naniniwala ba kayo? Kamukha nung sa akin pinili ang mga justices," he said.

 

"Yung sinasabi niyang ako nagmamakaawa...kahit na kanino hindi ako nagmamakaawa," he added.

 

Estrada added that it was actually Lim who begged him for forgiveness while he was still being detained in Tanay.

 

"Kung ako may kasalanan [bakit] nung ako po ay nasa Tanay, siya [Lim] mismo pumunta sa akin sa Tanay at humihingi po siya ng tawad... umiiyak pa siya?" he said.

 

The former president claimed that Lim had asked for his forgiveness for deserting him in 2001. Estrada had appointed Lim as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government after the 1998 presidential polls.

 

At this point, Lim was standing up and was talking to one of the organizers while shaking his head.  

 

Estrada, however, was bent on continuing his answer. "Kung anu-ano sinasabi nito," said Estrada.

 

Before the debate became even more personal, the two Manila mayor candidates were already asked about their opinions on several issues.

 

Included in these issues is the alleged increase of carnapping incidents in Manila, which Estrada said was true.

 

"To attract more tourists, the slogan [of the the Department of Tourism] is more fun in the Philippines but in Manila [what's] more fun [is] kidnappan, carnappan, holdapan at kahirapan," he said.

 

But Lim said that according to newspaper reports, there were only a few carnapping incidents in Manila, with some vehicles already recovered.

 

"Magbigay ka nga report, walo lang po pala ang reported na carnapping cases at sa dun walo hong iyon tatlo ang narecover at yung iba ito daw ho nireport nung mga mga bumili ng mga motorsiklo na hindi makabayad utang eh dahil kukumpiskahin ang ginawa nagreport na nawala daw yung motorsiklo para magamit nila," he said.

 

While Lim was giving his response, Estrada was holding up and showing to the audience newspaper clips of stories on the increasing number of carnapping incidents in Manila, which elicited laughter from them. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News