What were the last days of President Estrada's administration like? What really went on behind Malacañang's walls? Noted columnist and writer Amado Doronila reveals the events that prematurely ended the President's term in the Tatler Philippines book exclusive
This feature story was originally titled as A President's Las Stand, and was published in the July 2002 issue of Tatler Philippines. After a lengthy trial, the Sandiganbayan ruled former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada not guilty of perjury while ruling him as guilty of plunder and sentenced him to reclusión perpetua. On 25 October 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo granted executive clemency to Joseph Estrada based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice. On 26 October 2007, after almost seven years of detention, Joseph Estrada was finally released after the Sandiganbayan promulgated the resolution. Estrada was later elected Mayor of Manila and served from 2013 to 2019.
The last two days of President Estrada in Malacañang following the collapse of his government, triggered by the military and police defection, created a power vacuum that opened the gates to challenges to the constitutional legitimacy of the successor government.
Although the military withdrawal, followed quickly by the resignation of most of the Cabinet members, crippled the government, there remained the question of negotiating the terms of his removal.
The best available source so far of Estrada's last two days in the palace comes from the diary of Edgardo Angara, who only 13 days earlier had been shifted from the Department of Agriculture and made executive secretary and given vast powers to halt the growing paralysis of government.
According to Angara, Estrada asked his lawyers at 8 AM on Friday to request the senate impeachment tribunal to open the second envelope. Angara sounded out Estelito Mendoza, the president's lawyer, and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan. "If that is the president's decision, we can't do anything," the senators said. The president and his legal and political advisers agreed to issue a statement about the opening of the envelope.
At 2:45 PM, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel and Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella were called to the palace for consultation on calling a snap election. Pimentel said there were technical difficulties since "the position of vice president is not vacant". Angara thought the snap election was a "last minute effort to defuse the situation and hold back demonstrators" marching towards the palace.
Angara pulled aside Pimentel and asked him to advise the president not to exclude other options. "A dignified exit or resignation might be the best way for him," Angara said. While Pimentel was giving counsel to Estrada, he was at the same time serving as a conduit between the president and ex-President Aquino, through which channel Estrada was getting feedback from the other side.
At 5:30 PM, after Reyes's defection, a taped statement was issued calling for a snap election in which the president would not run.
At around 9:30 PM Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu, a friend and a sort of spiritual adviser to Estrada, arrived. He advised the president to "consider other options", understood to mean resignation and "not to dig in".
At 11 PM Gen. Renato De Villa, from the opposition camp, rang to initiate exit negotiations. Ex-President Ramos also rang to say, "Let's help each other to have a peaceful and orderly transfer of power."