The Return

There must be really nothing permanent in this world.

Especially in the world of Philippine Politics.

Take the case of the "Presidente ng Masa"- Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada.

For those few of us who may not know who Erap is, here is Wikipedia's account:

++++++++++

Joseph Ejercito Estrada

13th President of the Philippines
3rd President of the 5th Republic
In office: June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
Born: April 19, 1937 (1937-04-19) (age 71)Tondo, Manila
Political party: Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)
Spouse: Luisa Pimentel
Occupation: Actor
Religion: Roman Catholic Christianity

José Marcelo Ejército (born on April 19, 1937), better known as Joseph Ejercito Estrada, or Erap, is a film actor in the Philippines and was the 13th President of the Philippines from June 30, 1998 to January 20, 2001. He was peacefully overthrown by the Second People Power Revolution after his aborted impeachment trial in the Senate, where eleven Philippine senators refused to examine the second envelope of the Jose Velarde bank account that would supposedly prove acts of political corruption. On April 4, 2001, the trial of Estrada began as Ombudsman Aniano Desierto filed before the Sandiganbayan, a Philippine anti-graft court, a PHP 4-billion plunder suit and a minor perjury charge for falsely declaring his assets and illegally using the Jose Velarde alias. On September 12, 2007, he became the first Philippine President to be convicted of a crime after the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of plunder, which is punishable by reclusion perpetua. He was detained in his Tanay, Rizal resthouse but then pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 25, 2007.

++++++++++

Erap must have been one of the most colorful personality in Philippine History. I can just imagine how he became prince to pig and now, seemingly, to prince again in the face of the whole philippine populate.

After arising to become the Philippine President, winning via a V large margin over opponent Joe De Venecia, Erap was accused of Plunder and was overthrown by what we now know as EDSA DOS.

From 2001 to September 2007, his case was heard in Sandiganbayan, until finally he was convicted by the court of Plunder. Finally.

But not yet.

A month after his conviction, he was pardoned by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in what to me as one of the saddest part of the Philippine Judiciary history.

Now, as Gloria Arroyo's filipino trust ratings (amidst the continuous controversies hounding her) surging even below zero, Erap is back on track as the people's favorite political personality.

There are news that Erap threatens to run again for the Presidential Post in 2010 if ever the Opposition people do not unite together. And this time, the rumors are, he is eyeing on Loren Legarda to be his running mate for VP (Loren, by the way, was one of the Senators who is against Erap during the 2000 Senate Impeachment Trial).

In other stories, former President Cory Aquino, apologized to Estrada on her participation of Erap's ouster (EDSA DOS) in 2001.

At the star-studded launch Monday of former Speaker Jose de Venecia’s book that gave accounts of scandals that had hounded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino asked Estrada for forgiveness for joining the Edsa II uprising that ousted him.

“I am one of those who plead guilty for the 2001 (uprising). Lahat naman tayo nagkakamali. Patawarin mo na lang ako (All of us make mistakes. Forgive me),” Aquino said in her brief but well-received remarks at the Podium mall in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

So there, it seems, as Erap is now back on track on the political map, many may say that he is actually vindicated from the 2000/2001 Impeachment Accusations.

If we shall review the past eight years that had happened, we can find a lot of "Wind of Change" scenarios:

* Gloria Arroyo who was hailed by the people in Edsa Dos in 2001 is now the most hated personality in the Philippines.

* Tito Guingona became GMA's VP in 2001 for his significant contribution in ousting Erap and installing GMA as President. Tito is now one of the main oppositions fighting against GMA.

* Then House Speaker Manny Villar presided the endorsement of the Impeachment complaint against Erap to the Senate. In 2007, Villar ran again under Erap's Political Party. Now he is closely seen together with Erap in various political gatherings.

* JDV lost to Erap during the 1998 Presidential Elections. In 2008, JDV finally broke away with his ties with GMA and even authored a book exposing the various irregularities of the GMA government.

*The lipat bakods: Revilla, Oreta, Angara, and Sotto were with Erap during 2000. Now they are with GMA. Roxas, Guingona, De Venecia were with GMA during 2000. Now they are with the opposition.

* Loren who was against Estrada in 2000 ran for Senate reelection in 2007 under Estrada's Political Party (and may now become her running mate in 2010?)

* Erap becomes president-then convicted of impeachment-then pardoned-and may get back the top post (again?)

And, indeed, there is nothing permanent in this world.

Especially in the world of Philippine Politics.