Sunday, October 4, 2009

"Erap para sa mahirap."

Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada

Photo taken from Google.
Personal / Family Background:
  • Married to Luisa Pimentel.
  • Has three kids: Jinggoy, Jacqueline and Jude Estrada..
  • Was born at Tondo, Manila.
  • Studied in Ateneo de Manila University and Mapua Institute of Technology.
  • Was a former actor.
Political Background:
  • Entered politics during the year 1967 as Mayor of San Juan. (San Juan, during his term was awarded as an outstanding municipality.) 
  • Was awarded as the Most Outstanding Metro Manila Mayor by the Philippine Princeton Poll.
  • Was removed from the position during Corazon Aquino's Presidency (due to anomalies.)
  • During 1987, he ran and won as a Senator and became the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Vice-Chairman of the Committees on Health, Natural Resources and Ecology and Urban Planning.
  • Was responsible for the legislation of Irrigation Bills and Protection and Propagation of Carabaos.
  • Was one of the "Magnificent 12" who voted the withdrawal of US Military servicemen at Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Zambales.
  • Won as a Vice-President in 1992.
  • Became the Chairman of Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.
  • Funded the Philippine Drug Abuse Resistance Education during 1993.
  • Was elected President on May 11, 1998 (11 Million votes, marking the biggest victory ever on Philippine electoral history.)
  • Ordered the investigation of big-time tax evaders.
Controversies:
  • Was charged Plunder and Corruption and was put under the first Impeachment trial.
  • Was also accused of being involved in Jueteng, an illegal gambling game and maintenance of secret bank accounts during 2000 (under the name Jose Velarde.)
  • During 2001, the senate voted (under 11-10) that the brown envelope (containing evidence against Estrada) must be kept closed.
  • This event ignited the People Power Revolution II where Estrada was kicked-out of his Presidency and was replaced by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
  • Was arrested in April of the following year.
  • On September 2007, Sandiganbayan made its decision, not guilty on his perjury case but was "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" on plunder and was sentenced to Reclusion Perpetua (which means life-imprisonment.
  • Was the first President to be impeached and convicted.
  • After 7 years of detention, Estrada seeked Pardon from GMA during October 22, 2007 and was granted 3 days after, thus restoring his civil and political rights.
Vote Wisely! :-) For more information on Erap, visit http://www.erap.ph/

- Tuds Siazon.

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