Erap feels vindicated by Yasay’s apology

by RIO ROSE RIBAYA (Manila Bulletin)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/243724/erap-feels-vindicated-yasay-s-apology
 
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard-bearer former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada said Monday he felt vindicated from the corruption and plunder allegations hurled at him that led to his ouster in 2001 when Bangon Pilipinas vice presidential bet Perfecto Yasay Jr. apologized to him after 10 years.

“I’m touched and it feels like I’m vindicated,” the former president told reporters immediately after the presidential forum held at the Centro Escolar University (CEU) in Mendiola, Manila, Monday afternoon.

Estrada accepted and “positively responded” to the personal apology of Yasay, who was chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the former’s short-lived term from 1998 to 2001. Yasay was one of the key witnesses to the corruption charges against Estrada that led to EDSA People Power II.
In a separate interview, Yasay confirmed that he apologized to the deposed president for “hurting and offending him” when the now vice presidential candidate did his duty as SEC chair.

“I also apologized to the president for being so naïve in not realizing that even as I stood up against him for abuse of authority and corruption, I was being used by some unscrupulous politicians who had the intention of grabbing power,” Yasay said.

“I never had the opportunity to do this before because he was avoiding me. I only got the opportunity last night (Sunday) when we were at (Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo) Quiboloy and it was Valentine’s Day and the environment was such that we were talking about love, we were talking about restoring friendship,” he added.

The former SEC official clarified that he did not apologize because of the political season, noting that he felt “used” by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “in her scheme to grab power from the President.”

“But this is not to condone what he did. I am not retracting what I said before. I only apologized to him because I hurt his feelings. As a Christian, I feel I owe that to him. And no, it was not a retraction at all,” he stressed.

At the same presidential forum dubbed CEU 2010 Tapatan sa Mendiola, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro vowed to discontinue the practice of President Arroyo of creating task forces to address the country’s problems.

But Teodoro said he would pursue noble projects such as President Arroyo’s cash transfer program for the poor and the implementation of infrastructure projects that have contributed to the country’s economic stability.

Meanwhile, Estrada rekindled his “sentimental connection” with Davao after finding himself mobbed by people in his party's kick off campaign in Mindanao on Sunday evening here.

A crowd of 7,000 people coming from Davao City, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur ignored almost four hours of light drizzle just to attend the opposition party's proclamation rally.

Rosita Ravolsa, 68, was among Estrada's supporters, who rushed to the stage as others in the audience gave the former president a standing ovation, while some jostled to get a glimpse of Estrada. (With a report from Ben R. Rosario)