12 September, 2007
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:
Joseph Estrada was convicted by the Philippine Sandiganbayan (anti-graft court) of the crime of Plunder. According to an unofficial copy of the court decision obtained through the website of the Chan and Robles law firm, Mr. Estrada was accused in an Amended Information filed on April 19, 2001 of having amassed, while serving as President from 1998 to 2001, $87.3 million in unexplained wealth and that the funds were derived from bribes, kick-backs, and protection money collected from illegal gambling operators.
The chief government witness against him in the Plunder trial was Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, his co-conspirator in the collection of protection money from illegal gambling operators.Six weeks later, on October 26, Estrada was pardoned by President Arroyo.
(Ref: Philippine-history.com;star.worldbank.com; Photo from philstar.com)