Cory's sorry draws flak, 'understanding' remarks

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Aquino's apology to deposed President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday drew flak from some government leaders who said she should not have apologized for the EDSA uprising that led to Estrada's ouster in 2001. In a press conference, Sen. Richard Gordon said he was disappointed by Aquino's apology, which she made during the launch of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr's authorized biography on Monday. "I cannot agree na sasabihin na I'm sorry na tinanggal ka namin, panindigan mo yan (I do not agree with her saying I'm sorry we ousted you. She should stand by it," Gordon said. Gordon said a number of his friends called him up to express disappointment over Mrs. Aquino apology to Estrada, adding that they have called her now "Sorry Aquino," instead of Cory Aquino. "You have to speak up and say what is wrong and what is right," he said, adding the older generations should give the younger ones a good example. "We cannot have a double standard. We have to put closure. The question is: Was wrong done? I think it was (wrong). Was he replaced? Yes. Are we sorry? No," Gordon said. Gordon likewise pointed out that it was the second time that Aquino apologized to Estrada, the first time being in October when she said in a Jesus is Lord Movement gathering that she regretted joining the 2001 uprising against Estrada. "Yung nuances ng pulitika palagay ko hindi niya nakikita masyado (I think the nuances of politics is not clear to her) besides she's sick. I'm sorry, I hope she won't get mad at me, but you ask me, I have to give an opinion. As a leader I should say it," Gordon said. Mrs. Aquino was recently diagnosed to have colon cancer. Even as he said he respects Mrs. Aquino's point of view, Gordon said he personally does not regret taking part in Estrada's ouster. "She is entitled to her opinion but she was a President of the Philippines. I think President Fidel Ramos was there. I don't think he said that. I don't think she should have been put in a position where she had to say that," the senator said. "I'm not sorry. I used to bring 5,000 people everyday during the (2001) rallies not because Estrada took me out but because I did not agree with the way he was handling the government," said Gordon. Speaker Prospero Nograles likewise said many anti-Estrada protesters who took part in the so-called second EDSA Revolution do not agree with Mrs. Aquino's sentiment that it was a mistake to oust the former actor. "Many of those who participated in that event do not agree with Tita Cory," Nograles said in a text message, even as he added that it was "best" to just respect each other's opinion on the matter. The House leader also said Mrs. Aquino's apology came in a little too late, as the massive protest action in EDSA occurred nearly eight years ago. "Personally I feel that the 'mea culpa statements' or a realization of the same were much too late, the event having occurred early 2001 and we are soon entering 2009," Nograles said. Meanwhile, Malacañang virtually belittled Mrs. Aquino's apology, with Press Secretary Jesus Dureza saying President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the "greatest" reconciliatory move by pardoning Estrada. "Remember that it is a conciliatory decision that she (Mrs. Aquino) is taking, and let us not forget that the President herself, PGMA, early on had made the greatest, supreme reconciliatory move by exercising the presidential prerogative of pardon on former president Joseph Estrada," Dureza said, even as he said Malacañang respects Mrs. Aquino's opinion. Not everyone, however, hit Mrs. Aquino for her apology. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, the chairman of President Arroyo's political party Kampi, said he hopes Mrs. Aquino's apology will pave the way for political unity in the country. "I think that any development towards a unification of contending political groups in the country is a good development. I think we should all make an effort to reconcile with one another even as we are approaching the period of election," Puno said. "Hopefully this will open the way towards calming down the political fires that rage in our country so that at least we can start to think about positive solutions to our problems rather than always the matter of political competition and bickering," added the DILG chief. House deputy minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, meanwhile, placed the apology in its context. He said they understand why Aquino would apologize to Estrada given the public's disappointment with the administration of President Arroyo. "We can understand why former president Aquino apologized to former president Estrada, in light of the huge public disappointment turned into outrage over the administration of GMA, whom she has urged to resign," said Ocampo in a text message to GMANews.TV. Ocampo, however, added that "the future, not the present events, will show whether EDSA 2 was correct or not." During the launch of de Venecia Jr's biography written by American journalist Brett Decker on Monday, Mrs. Aquino said she was "guilty" of joining the 2001 uprising that eventually lead to Estrada's ouster. "Lahat naman tayo nagkakamali. Patawarin mo na lang ako (We all commit faults. Please just forgive me)," Mrs. Aquino said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV