Deposed Philippine President Not Allowed to Leave Country

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Tuesday that his predecessor Joseph Estrada must answer charges filed against him in the Philippines and that possible forgiveness comes only after repentance.

Arroyo told a press conference held in the presidential palace that the country now faces a divisive issue of whether or not Estrada should be allowed to leave the country to receive medical treatment.

Estrada said last Friday that he plans to go to the United States in March for a long-scheduled surgery on his glaucoma.

Some government officials, lawyers and militant groups are opposed to approval of Estrada's request, saying it is his ploy to escape prosecution. However, some lawmakers said Estrada could be allowed to go for humanitarian reasons, but only with iron-clad guarantees that he will return to the country.

"He (Estrada) must face his accusers in court. He must personally answer the charges. He must face the consequences of his action here, and not in some distant shore," said Arroyo, who came to power last month in a military-backed popular revolt that deposed Estrada.

"Forgiveness comes after repentance, only after repentance. This is non-negotiable," she said.

When asked of the possibility that Estrada would be forgiven, the president said forgiveness should not be contemplated at this point of time and that there can be no amnesty before conviction under Philippine laws.

"Even before we think of the possibility of forgiveness, there must be justice. So, any thought of forgiveness must be very far down the road. And it does not follow that there will be forgiveness," she added.

Last month, Arroyo said it's up to Estrada to decide whether he goes into exile or not, but he should be given his day in court. Senate President Aquilino Pimental had suggested that Estrada, who has insisted that he has not resigned and that Arroyo is only " acting president," be banished for the stability of the new administration.

"Mr. Estrada is no longer in the seat of power because of charges filed at the impeachment court. These are serious charges, and no one is above the law," Arroyo said.

Estrada, who had been accused by a provincial governor of pocketing millions of US dollars in illegal gambling payoffs and kickbacks from tobacco tax, went on an impeachment trial in the Senate in December last year.

But the impeachment trial collapsed on January 16 when his allies in the Senate voted to suppress potentially damning evidence, triggering massive street protests that culminated in his ouster.

The impeachment trial charges turned into a criminal investigation on January 22. Since then, Estrada has been barred from leaving the country and had at least one of his bank accounts frozen.

Now the former president is facing seven criminal charges filed against him, including economic plunder punishable by death.

Private prosecutors alleged that Estrada amassed 10 billion to 15 billion pesos (about US$200 million to US$300 million) stashed in 15 secret bank accounts under fictitious names.






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