oust

This was for a Journalism 109 class under Sir Danilo Arao

Oust: Erap Hurting

Weekday afternoons will find Filipinos glued to television sets watching an event that will

determine the course of Philippine history. The impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada is the result

of an administration rocked by scandals and controversies produced by accusations of graft, corruption and

mishandling of social policies.

Rallies for and against Estrada flood the streets to air their version in the ongoing drama. Those

against Estrada want him either to resign, be impeached or face ouster. These calls are not really mutually

exclusive.

The Oust Estrada campaign actually began much earlier. Reasons cited by its supporters range

from the Marcos burial outrage, the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the coddling of cronies,

downgrading labor by favoring big businessmen like Lucio Tan, the war in Mindanao which has exacted an

enormous toll on the civilian population, to the various graft and corrupt practices and the incompetence of

Estrada.

The resign and impeachment calls started to gain force when Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit"

Singson exposed the jueteng scam. This worsened the political crisis that we are now experiencing.

Various moves to remove Estrada from the presidential seat have emerged. First to appear was the

Oust Estrada campaign, which has broadened its base under the Estrada Resign Movement. There is the

Safeguard the Impeachment Process launched in Ateneo by the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino or

KOMPIL II. There is also the Resign All call by the Sanlakas group.

The Resign All call has been criticized for being divisive and hits the air without hitting anything

at all. Prior to the Oust campaigns, Sanlakas had enunciated pro-Estrada statements. They also proposed

snap elections that known Estrada ally senator Juan Enrile proposed to the public. This was also criticized

for the possibility of it giving Estrada a fresh mandate.

Impeachment is the hottest topic inside households. It is seen by its proponents as a concrete step

towards the realization of the president's removal from office. Because of the impeachment process,

Estrada might see the light of day and resign. It is a legal process that would at the very least humble the

president and force him to reform.

But there are many who think Estrada will not resign or will not be impeached. Thus the Oust

campaign is a very valid option for its proponents. If Estrada will not be impeached and will not resign,

then people can still assert their discontent with Erap's incompetence and force him out of office.

Since the impeachment process is currently the most popular show, understanding some of its

basics is in order.

When Estrada assumed power, his inaugural speech promise was that there would be no favoritism

and coddling of relatives and cronies in his administration. People took that to heart. Estrada is now being

impeached because he violated his promise to the Filipino people. His combative attitude worsened an all-

out war in Mindanao that drained the national coffers. Estrada's moral mandate is also being questioned,

aside from his impeachable offenses, for his keeping various mistresses and chauvinistic attitude towards

women.

The four articles of the impeachment against Estrada include his committing bribery, graft and

corrupt practices, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.

In Article I of the impeachment complaint, Estrada is accused of receiving P10million monthly

when he was already president. This money which was received from jueteng lords all over the country

served as protection money.

Article II details the different dummy corporations allegedly owned by Estrada. These interests

were not filed in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The third article, betrayal of public trust narrates the president's meddling in the Securities and

Exchange Commission in favor of a friend. He also intervened in his sons' misconducts. When one

presidential son didn't pay a hotel bill, the president allegedly defended his son. Various friends and family

were also appointed by Estrada as presidential consultants. Estrada's promise of "walang kamag-anak,

walang kumpadre, walang kaibigan" was deliberately violated. Thus the betrayal of public trust.

The fourth article discusses Estrada's violation of the law when he ordered the retrieval of luxury

cars, sardines and clothing and distributed these to his Cabinet. He also appointed people to multiple

positions. This is aparently prohibited by law.



The Oust Estrada campaigns signify disillusion with an incompetent government and a corrupt

head. They are a statement that people have had enough and will not tolerate present and future

misgovernance. The campaigns also show the force that a united and politicized citizenry can bring. The

future may yet be bright and the impeachment of Estrada can only offer a less dim path for the Filipinos in

the new millennium.