On October 26, 2007, President Gloria Arroyo pardoned former President Joseph Estrada who was convicted by the Sandiganbayan antigraft court on September 12, 2007 of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua.
Below is Arroyos’s order in full:
Whereas, this Administration has a policy of releasing inmates who have reached the age of seventy (70),
Whereas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has been under detention for six and a half years,
Whereas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office,
In view hereof and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights.
The forfeitures imposed by the Sandiganbayan remain in force and in full, including all writs and processes issued by the Sandiganbayan in pursuance hereof, except for the bank account(s) he owned before his tenure as President.
Mr. Estrada is the first former president ever convicted of any crime in Philippine history.
References: Philippines News Agency archives
Arroyo grants pardon to Estrada, http://newsinfo.inquirer.net
(Filed By JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)