The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not divided over the issue of granting pardon to former President Joseph Estrada and in fact, majority of the Catholic bishops are satisfied and respect President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to grant executive clemency to the former president convicted by the Sandiganbayan for plunder.
In a joint statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe and Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong belied rumors that the CBCP is divided on the issue.
The statement said the alleged division is more imaginary than real. The three bishops said that it is public knowledge that the CBCP welcomed the decision and even Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal had joined other prominent citizens in asking for the pardon of Estrada as a gesture of reconciliation.
“Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, incumbent CBCP president’, has a different – not an opposed – concern: that of restorative justice. It is our position that there is no contradiction in these positions,” the bishops said. “It should also be noted that many who are exceedingly vociferous against the grant of the presidential pardon are averse to it not because they desire justice, but because they see in this another opportunity to strike at President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
The bishops said that justice has been done with the former President having been tried, prosecuted and convicted. The bishops said Estrada has admitted his guilt by asking for presidential clemency and is bound to restitute the items and properties decreed by the Sandiganbayan.
Aside from being part of government policy of releasing convicts aged 70 years or above, the bishops said the grant of pardon was “a courageous and commendable gesture at reconciliation,” and added that “the nation cannot benefit from a badly divided people.”
“We therefore respect the decision of the President to exercise a power unquestionably granted her by the fundamental law of the land, considering furthermore that the Constitution itself lays down no conditions that give us reason to doubt the legality or morality of the President’s act,” the bishops added.
Earlier, two of the country’s biggest religious groups have joined the voices of support for President Arroyo’s
clemency to Estrada. In a letter dated Oct. 26, 2007, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde and Iglesia ni Kristo Spokesman Bro. Bienvenido Santiago said “the pardon will signifi cantly help in promoting national unity and political stability that our country and people badly need to improve our economic and security conditions.”
“We hope and pray that our national leaders will take your action as a positive step toward national healing and reconciliation and join hands to move our country forward,” they added.
Aside from the two religious groups among those who have expressed approval for Estrada’s pardon were former President Corazon Aquino, Vice President Noli de Castro, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Senate President Manuel Villar, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry among several other business groups.
Meanwhile, noted constitutional expert Fr. Joaquin Bernas in a radio interview last October 29 said that President Arroyo’s granting of full pardon to former President Joseph Estrada was legal and in keeping with the Constitution.
Fr. Bernas, who is also dean emeritus of the Ateneo Law School, cited three points that support the constitutionality of the pardongranted to Estrada.
Bernas said a presidential pardon is constitutional if: 1) The court has already reached a final decision; 2) in the case of election-related offenses, the Commission on Elections also recommends a pardon; and 3) the person being pardoned has not been impeached.
(PIA5 Release)
