Joseph Estrada

Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada (born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937) is a Filipino politician who was
the 13th President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. He has been Mayor of the City of Manila, the country's
capital, since 2013.Estrada was the first person in the present Fifth Republican period to be elected both
President and Vice-President.

Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over a hundred films in an acting career
spanning some three decades. He used his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor
of San Juan for 16 years, as Senator for one term, then as Vice-President under President Fidel V. Ramos.

Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other challengers,
and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front and captured its headquarters and other camps. However, allegations of corruption
spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted by "People Power 2" after the
prosecution walked out of the impeachment court when the Senator-Judges voted "no" in the opening of the
second envelope. The EDSA 2 protests resulted from the concerted efforts of political, business, military, and
church elites who were displeased by Estrada's policies that included removal of sovereign guarantees on
government contracts.In October 2000, the Daily Tribune reported about elite plans to "'constitutionally' oust
President Estrada under 'Oplan Excelsis." Emil Jurado of the Manila Standard reported as early as 1999 about
a PR demolition work designed to embarrass Estrada "by attributing to his administration all sorts of perceived
faults and scams with the end in view of covering up anomalies and scams also committed during the Ramos
administration." Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo also admitted in an interview with Nick Joaquin that he
and then-Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson and certain military officials plotted plans to oust Estrada in January
2001, with the alternative "plan B" being violent "with orders to shoot. And not only in Metro Manila."

In 2007, Estrada was sentenced by the special division of the Sandiganbayan to reclusión perpetua for the
plunder of stealing $80 million from the government and was sentenced a lifetime in prison, but was later
granted pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He ran for president again in the 2010 presidential
election, but placed second behind Senator Benigno Aquino III.

Early life and career

Joseph Ejercito Estrada was born at 8:25 PM on April 19, 1937 at Manuguit Maternity Hospital (now known as
Amisola Maternity Hospital) in Tondo, an urban district of Manila. His family later moved to the wealthy suburb
of San Juan. He belonged to an upper-middle-class family, and was the eighth of ten children of Emilio Ejercito
and his wife, Maria Marcelo. He was expelled during his primary studies at the Ateneo de Manila University
and subsequently enrolled in an engineering course at the Mapúa Institute of Technology in an effort to please
his father, but dropped out.

In his twenties, he began a career as a drama actor. He adopted the stage name "Joseph Estrada", as his
mother objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling. He also acquired the nickname "Erap"
(a play on the Tagalog slang "pare", meaning 'buddy') from his friend, fellow actor Fernando Poe, Jr..

Personal life

Joseph Estrada is the first President to have previously worked in the entertainment industry, and for being the
first to sport any sort of facial hair during his term, specifically his mustaches.

Family

Estrada is married to former First Lady-turned-senator Dr. Luisa "Loi" Pimentel, whom he met while she was
working at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City, and has three children with
her:

 Jose "Jinggoy" Ejercito, Jr, Mayor of San Juan (1992–2001); Senator (2004–present) (married to Precy
Vitug)
 Jackie Ejercito (married to Beaver Lopez, son of Meralco chairman Manuel Lopez)
 Jude Ejercito (married to Rowena Ocampo)

He also has nine children from several extramarital relationships.

With former actress Peachy Osorio:
 Joel Eduardo "Jojo" Ejercito
 Teresita "Tetchie" Ejercito
With incumbent San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez:
  Joseph Victor Ejercito; Mayor of San Juan (2001–2010), Representative of San Juan City (2010–2013)
and Senator (2013-present). (married to Cindy Lotuaco)
With former actress Mary Ann Murphy:
 Joan Ejercito
With a former air hostess who is publicly known only by the name "Larena":
 Jason Ejercito
With former actress Laarni Enriquez:
 Jerika Ejercito
 Juan Emilio "Jake" Ejercito
 Jacob Ejercito
With former air hostess Joy Melendrez:
 Joma Ejercito
Other relatives
Several of Ejercito's relatives became prominent figures in politics and showbiz.
 Jorge Ejercito ("George Estregan"), brother; actor
 ER Ejercito ("George Estregan Jr."), son of George Estregan and nephew; actor, Mayor of Pagsanjan,
Laguna (2001-2010) and Governor of Laguna (2010–2014).
 Gary Ejercito ("Gary Estrada"), nephew; actor and Board Member of Quezon province.
 Gherome Ejercito, nephew; basketball player

Film

Estrada played the lead role in more than 100 movies, and produced more than 70 films. He was the first
FAMAS Hall of Fame recipient for Best Actor (1981) and also became a Hall of Fame award-winner as a
producer (1983). He often played heroes of the lower classes, making him popular among several
impoverished citizens. This proved advantageous to his political career.

In 1974 Estrada founded the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), which helps filmmakers through
medical reimbursements, hospitalization, surgery and death benefits, livelihood, and alternative income
opportunities and housing. Its educational arm, the Mowelfund Film Institute, has produced some of the most
skilled and respected producers, filmmakers, writers and performers in both the independent and mainstream
sectors of the industry since its inception in 1979. He also founded, together with Guillermo de Vega, the first
Metro Manila Film Festival in 1975.

Mayor of San Juan

Estrada entered politics in 1967, running for mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila, then a municipality of Rizal,
failing and only succeeding in 1969 after winning an electoral protest against Braulio Sto. Domingo. His
administration was marked by unequaled accomplishments in infrastructure development. These included the
establishment of the first Municipal High School, the Agora complex, a modern slaughterhouse, a sprawling
government center with a post office, a mini-park and the paving of 98 percent of the town's roads and alleys.

As mayor, he paid particular attention to the elementary education of children by improving and renovating
school buildings, constructing additional school structures, health centers, barangay halls and playgrounds in
all the barangays and providing artesian wells to areas with low water supply. He relocated some 1,800
squatter families out of San Juan to Taytay, Rizal, at no cost. He was also the first mayor to computerize
assessment of the Real Estate Tax in the Municipal Assessor’s Office. When Corazon Aquino assumed the
presidency in 1986, all elected officials of the local government were forcibly removed and replaced by
appointed officers-in-charge, including Estrada

Senator of the Philippines

The following year, Estrada won a seat in the Senate under the Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) placing
16th in the elections (out of 24 winners). In 1987, he set his sights on a Senate run and handily garnered a
seat. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public Works. He was Vice-Chairman of the
Committees on Health, Natural Resources and Ecology and Urban Planning.

In the Senate, Estrada was credited with the passage of, among other major pieces of legislation, the bills on
irrigation project and the protection and propagation of carabaos, the beast of burden in the rural areas.

As a senator, he was one of the so-called “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the RP-US Military Bases
Agreement leading to the withdrawal of American servicemen from the Clark Air Base in Pampanga and the
Subic Naval Base in Zambales.
In 1989, the Free Press cited him as one of the Three Outstanding Senators of the Year. He was conferred the
degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the Bicol University in April 1997, and the University of
Pangasinan in 1990.

Vice-Presidency
In 1992, Joseph Estrada initially ran for president with Vicente Rivera, Jr. as his running mate but he withdrew
his bid and instead ran for vice-president as the running mate of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. under the Nationalist
People's Coalition. Though Cojuangco lost to former National Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos, Estrada won
the vice-presidency garnering more votes than his closest opponent, Ramon Mitra, Jr.'s running mate, Marcelo
Fernan.

As Vice-President, Estrada he was the chairman of President Ramos' Presidential Anti-Crime Commission
(PACC). Estrada arrested criminal warlords and kidnapping syndicates. He resigned as chairman in 1997.

In the same year Estrada, together with former President Corazon Aquino, Cardinal Jaime Sin, Senator Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo and other political leaders, led an anti-charter change rally brought in an estimated half a
million people to Rizal Park against the charter change moves by Ramos and his supporters.

Presidency
Estrada was inaugurated on June 30, 1998 in the historical town of Malolos in Bulacan province in paying
tribute to the cradle of the First Philippine Republic. That afternoon the new president delivered his inaugural
address at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. He assumed office amid the Asian Financial Crisis and with
agricultural problems due to poor weather conditions, thereby slowing the economic growth to −0.6% in 1998
from a 5.2% in 1997. The economy recovered by 3.4% in 1999 and 4% in 2000. In 2000 he declared an "all-
out-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured its headquarters and other camps. However,
allegations of corruption spawned a railroaded impeachment trial in the Senate courtesy of house speaker
Manuel Villar, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from a coup after the trial was aborted.

In his Inaugural Address, Estrada said:

“ One hundred years after Kawit, fifty years after independence, twelve years after EDSA, and seven years
after the rejection of foreign bases, it is now the turn of the masses to experience liberation. We stand in
the shadow of those who fought to make us free – free from foreign domination, free from domestic
tyranny, free from superpower dictation, free from economic backwardness.

Economy
By the end of Estrada's administration, debt supposedly reached P 2.1 trillion in 1999. Domestic debt
supposedly amounted to P 986.7 billion while foreign debt stood at US$52.2 billion. The fiscal deficit had
reportedly doubled to more than P 100 billion from a low of P 49 billion in 1998. Despite such setbacks, the
GDP by 1999 posted a 3.2 percent growth rate, up from a low of −0.5 percent in 1998. Moreover, domestic
investments started to increase from 18.8% of GDP in 1999 to 21.2% of GDP in 2000.

War against the MILF

During the Ramos administration a cessation of hostilities agreement was signed between the Philippine
Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in July 1997. This was continued by a series of
peace talks and negotiations in Estrada administration.The MILF, an Islamic group formed in 1977, seeks to be
an independent Islamic State from the Philippines, and, despite the agreements, a sequence of terrorist
attacks on the Philippine military and civilians still continued.It was later divulged in a Senate Hearing by then
Lt. (now Senator) Antonio Trillanes that the Military was behind these terrorist attacks to justify the "all-out-war"
policy of the government which was masterminded by Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, and which included the
kidnapping a foreign priest, namely Father Luciano Benedetti; the destruction by arson of Talayan,
Maguindanao's municipal hall; the takeover of the Kauswagan Municipal Hall; the bombing of the Lady of
Mediatrix boat at Ozamiz City; and the takeover of the Narciso Ramos Highway. By doing so, they inflicted
severe damage on the country's image abroad, and scared much-needed investments away. For this reason,
on March 21, 2000, Estrada declared an "all-out-war" against the MILF. During the war the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) asked Estrada to negotiate a cease-fire with MILF, but Estrada opposed
the idea arguing that a cease-fire would cause more terrorist attacks. For the next three months of the war,
Camp Abubakar, headquarters of the MILF, fell along with other 13 major camps and 43 minor camps, and
then all of which became under controlled by the government. The MILF leader Hashim Salamat fled to
Malaysia. The MILF later declared a Jihad on the government. On July 10 of the same year, the President
went to Minadanao and raised the Philippine flag symbolizing victory. After the war the President said, "...  will
speed up government efforts to bring genuine and lasting peace and development in Mindanao". In the middle
of July the president ordered the military to arrest top MILF leaders.

In his state of the nation address, popularly called "SONA", the president highlighted his vision for Mindanao:

 The first is to restore and maintain peace in Mindanao—because without peace, there can be no
development.
 The second is to develop Mindanao—because without development, there can be no peace.
 The third is to continue seeking peace talks with the MILF within the framework of the Constitution—
because a peace agreed upon in good faith is preferable to a peace enforced by force of arms.
 And the fourth is to continue with the implementation of the peace agreement between the government
and the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF—because that is our commitment to our countrymen
and to the international community.

In addition to this the president said his administration can move with more speed in transforming Mindanao
into a progressive economic center.High on the list of priorities was the plight of MILF guerrillas who were tired
of fighting and had no camps left to which to report. On October 5, 2000 the first massive surrender of 669
MILF mujahideen led by the renegade vice mayor of Marugong, Lanao del Sur Malupandi Cosandi Sarip and
seven other battalion commanders, surrendered to President Estrada at the 4th ID headquarters in Camp
Edilberto Evangelista, Bgy. Patag, Cagayan de Oro City. They were followed shortly by a second batch of 855
surrenderees led by MILF Commander Sayben Ampaso on December 29, 2000.

Controversies

Corruption charges and impeachment

President Estrada in 2000.

In October 2000, Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, a close friend of the President, alleged that he had
personally given Estrada P400 million as payoff from jueteng, a grassroots-based numbers game, hidden in a
bank account known as "Jose Velarde", as well as P180 million from the government price subsidy for the
tobacco farmers' marketing cooperative after Estrada ordered a full blown investigation into Chavit Singson's
alleged misuse of millions of pesos in public funds. Singson's allegation caused controversy across the nation,
which culminated in the House of Representatives' filing of an impeachment case against Estrada on
November 13, 2000. House Speaker Manny Villar fast-tracked the impeachment complaint. The impeachment
suit was brought to the Senate and an impeachment court was formed, with Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. as
presiding officer. Estrada, pleaded “not guilty”.

This was the first time the Filipino public witnessed, through radio and television, an elected president stand in
trial and face possible impeachment with full media coverage. During the trial, the prosecution presented
witnesses and alleged evidences to the impeachment court regarding Estrada's alleged involvement in
jueteng. The existence of secret bank accounts which he allegedly uses for receiving payoffs was also brought
to the fore.

In the 2004 Global Transparency Report, Estrada made into the list of the World's All-Time Most Corrupt
Leaders in the World. He was listed tenth and he was said to have amassed between $78 million to $80
million. Also making it to the list from the Philippines is Ferdinand Marcos,who ended up second in the list as
he was said to have embezzled between $5 billion to $10 billion during his 21 years as President from 1965-
1986.

EDSA II

Protests

On the evening of January 16, 2001, the impeachment court voted not to open an envelope that was alleged to
contain incriminating evidence against the president simply because it was not part of the impeachment
complaint. The final vote was 11–10, in favor of keeping the envelope closed. The prosecution panel (of
congressmen and lawyers) walked out of the Impeachment Court in protest of this vote. The 11 senators who
voted not to open the envelope are known as the "Craven Eleven." That night, anti-Estrada protesters gathered
in front of the EDSA Shrine at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, not too far away from the site of the 1986
People Power Revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos.

On January 19, 2001, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, seeing the political
upheaval throughout the country, "decided to withdraw his support" from the president and transfer his
allegiance to the vice president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Resignation

The following day, the Supreme Court declared that the seat of presidency was vacant, saying that Estrada
had constructively resigned his post. At noon, the Chief Justice swore in Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president
of the Philippines. Before Estrada's departure from Malacañang, he issued the following press release:

“ At twelve o'clock noon today, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath as President of the
Republic of the Philippines. While along with many other legal minds of our country, I have strong and
serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her proclamation as President, I do not wish to be
a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society.

It is for this reason that I now leave Malacañang Palace, the seat of the presidency of this country, for the
sake of peace and in order to begin the healing process of our nation. I leave the Palace of our people with
gratitude for the opportunities given to me for service to our people. I will not shirk from any future
challenges that may come ahead in the same service of our country.

I call on all my supporters and followers to join me in to promotion of a constructive national spirit of
reconciliation and solidarity.

May the Almighty bless our country and beloved people.

MABUHAY!

Post-Presidency

Estrada returned to his old home in San Juan. He maintained that he never resigned, implying that Arroyo's
government was illegitimate.

The new government created a special court and charged him with plunder and had him arrested in April.
Filipino supporters marched to the EDSA Shrine demanding Estrada's release and his reinstatement as
president but were dispersed by high-grade teargas and warning shots from automatic rifles. On the morning of
May 1, the protesters marched straight to Malacañan Palace. Violence erupted and the government declared a
State of Rebellion. Many Filipino protesters were badly injured and arrested, including politicians. The
government called out the military and was able to quell the demonstration with teargas and automatic rifles.
The bloody uprising came to be known as EDSA III.

Estrada was initially detained at the Veteran's Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City and then transferred to
a military facility in Tanay, Rizal, but he was later transferred to a nearby vacation home, virtually in house
arrest. Under Philippine law, plunder had a maximum penalty of death, however the death penalty was
eventually repealed.

Trial

On September 12, 2007, the Sandiganbayan finally gave its decision, finding Estrada not guilty on his perjury
case but guilty of plunder "beyond reasonable doubt." He was sentenced to reclusión perpetua. He was thus
the first Philippine President who was impeached and then convicted.

On September 26, 2007, Joseph Estrada appealed by filing a 63-page motion for reconsideration of the
Sandiganbayan judgment penned by Teresita de Castro (submitting five legal grounds).Estrada alleged that
the court erred "when it convicted him by acquitting his alleged co-conspirators."

On October 5, 2007, the Sandiganbayan's Special Division ruled to have set for October 19, oral argument
(instead of a defense reply) on Joseph Estrada’s motion for reconsideration. Estrada asked for court
permission to attend the hearing, since it ordered the prosecution to file comment before October 11.

Perjury case
The Sandiganbayan's special division, on June 27, 2008, ordered Estrada to file comment within 10 days, on
the motion of the Ombudsman's Special Prosecutor to re-open the trial of his perjury case regarding 1999
statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). The court was also to resolve Banco de Oro's (formerly
Equitable PCI Bank), plea that it cannot determine "without hazard to itself" who to turn over to the P1.1 billion
Jose Velarde assets due to claims by Wellex Group / William Gatchalian and a Bureau of Internal Revenue
stay order.
Pardon and release from detention

On October 22, 2007, Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera stated that Joseph Estrada is seeking a
“full, free, and unconditional pardon” from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Estrada's lawyer Jose
Flaminiano wrote Arroyo: "The time has come to end President Estrada's fight for justice and vindication
before the courts. Today [Monday], we filed a withdrawal of his Motion for Reconsideration." Estrada, 70,
stressed the "delicate condition" of his mother in asking for pardon.

On October 25, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to Joseph Estrada
based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice (DoJ). Acting Executive Secretary and Press
Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye quoted the signed Order: "In view hereof in pursuant of the authority conferred
upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the
Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusión perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and
political rights." Bunye noted that Estrada committed in his application not to seek public office, and he would
be free from his Tanay resthouse on October 26, noon. On October 26, 2007, after almost 7 years of detention,
Joseph Estrada was finally released after the Sandiganbayan promulgated the historical Resolution.

Activities

When Estrada was released he gave a message to the Filipino people that he can once again help the lives of
the people, especially the poor. He also stated that he made errors as a public servant but he assured them
that corruption was not one of them. After the release he had a nationwide tour called "Lakbay Pasasalamat"
(Thank you tour) and during those trips he thanked the people for their support and gave them relief goods
such as food, medicines and clothing. In politics, he stated that he was convincing leaders of the opposition to
have unity, and that failing that, he would run.

2010 Presidential election

Joseph Estrada stated in interviews that he would be willing to run for the opposition in the event that they are
unable to unite behind a single candidate. Fr. Joaquin Bernas and Christian Monsod, members of the
constitutional commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, stated that the constitution clearly prohibits any
elected president from seeking a second term at any point in time. Romulo Macalintal, election counsel of
President Arroyo, clarified that the constitutional ban doesn't prevent Estrada from attaining the presidency in
the event that he were to be elevated from the vice-presidency, for example. However, Rufus Rodriquez, one
of Estrada's lawyers, claims that the former president is within his rights to do so because the prohibition
banning re-election only applies to the incumbent president.

On October 22, 2009 former President Joseph Estrada announced that he would run again for president with
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate.

His Senatorial lineup included Francisco Tatad, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Joey de Venecia.

Other activities

In October 2010, the magazine Foreign Policy included Estrada in its list of five former head of
states/governments who did not make "a positive difference in the world", but "faded away into obscurity." Also
included in this "Bad Exes" list were Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra, Spain's Jose Maria Aznar, and Germany's
Gerhard Schroder.

Estrada announced in November 2010 that he will be selling his 3,000 square-metre (0.74-acre) home in San
Juan, Metro Manila for nearly seven million dollars (300 million Philippine pesos) to "pursue his real estate
business." Agence France Presse reported that Estrada "has put up two high-rise residential condominium
buildings and plans to build a third soon."

Mayor of Manila

In May 2012, Estrada announced his intention to run for Mayor of Manila in the 2013 elections to continue his
political career.

Around noon of 14 May 2013, the day after the conduct of the 2013 Philippine mid-term elections, Estrada and
his running-mate and re-electionist Vice Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso were proclaimed mayor-
elect and vice mayor-elect, respectively by the City Board of Canvassers for the City of Manila.