The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today lambasted the Sandiganbayan decisions dismissing Erap’s illegal use of an alias case and favoring his petition for house arrest. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “this is part of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s policy of political accommodation to gain the support of her chief political opponents. She has already done this with Imelda Marcos and is now extending it to the plunderer Estrada,” 

“The Sandiganbayan decisions can be attributed to the fact that GMA is insecure of her hold on Malacanang and is doing all she can to maintain it. Her hold to power is also further compromised by the Angelo dela Cruz hostage crisis in Iraq that generated a lot of contempt against Gloria,”

Yesterday the Sandiganbayan dismissed the illegal use of an alias case against Joseph Estrada and allowed his house arrest in his rest house in Rizal.

“What we fear is that eventually the regime would acquit Estrada, to have the support of the pro-Erap groups and totally besmirch the essence of the EDSA 2,” added Ramos.

“As can be seen GMA is systematically clearing the way to Erap’s early acquittal and she is giving all the privileges and perks which a plunderer should not have, more so because he was a president who betrayed the whole Filipino nation. If this keeps up, GMA may join Erap in captivity by doing the same offense,” ended Ramos. # # #
 

KMP - 13 July 2004