Joseph Estrada From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the former President of the Philippines. For the French company, see ERAP.
Joseph Estrada
13th President of the Philippines
3rd President of the Fifth Republic
In office
June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by Fidel V. Ramos
Succeeded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
11th Vice President of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998 President Fidel V. Ramos
Preceded by Salvador Laurel
Succeeded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission
In office
1992–1997
President Fidel V. Ramos
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1992
Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila
In office
December 30, 1969 – March 25, 1986
Preceded by Braulio Sto. Domingo
Succeeded by Adolfo Sto. Domingo
Personal details
Born April 19, 1937 (age 75) Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Political party PMP (1991–present) Other political Nacionalista (1969–1987)
affiliations Liberal Party (1987–1991)
Spouse(s) Luisa Pimentel
Relations Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada Jackie JV Ejercito
Alma mater Ateneo de Manila University, Mapúa Institute of Technology
Profession Actor Businessperson Politician
Religion Roman Catholicism
Signature
Website Official website
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada (born Jose Marcelo Ejercito on April 19, 1937) was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.
Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in an acting career spanning 33 years. He used his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor of San Juan for seventeen years, as Senator for one term, then as Vice President of the Philippinesunder the administration of 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.[1][2]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.[3] In October 2000, the Daily Tribune reported about elite plans to "'constitutionally' oust President Estrada under 'Oplan Excelsis."[4] 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.".[5]
In 2007, he was sentenced by the special division of the Sandiganbayan to reclusion perpetua for plunder, but was later granted pardon by PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He ran for president anew in the 2010 Philippine presidential election, but lost to then Senator Benigno Aquino III.
Contents
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1 Early life and career 2 Personal life o 2.1 Family o 2.2 Other relatives o 2.3 Film 3 Early political career o 3.1 Mayor of San Juan o 3.2 Senator of the Philippines 4 Vice-Presidency 5 Presidency o 5.1 Domestic policies o 5.2 Foreign policies o 5.3 Economy o 5.4 War against the MILF o 5.5 Controversies o 5.6 Corruption charges and impeachment o 5.7 EDSA II . 5.7.1 Protests . 5.7.2 Resignation 6 Post-Presidency o 6.1 Trial o 6.2 Perjury case o 6.3 Pardon and release from detention o 6.4 Activities 7 2010 Presidential election 8 Other activities 9 Running For Mayor Of Manila 10 Electoral history o 10.1 Ancestry 11 In popular culture 12 Awards and honors 13 References 14 External links
[edit]Early life and career
Joseph Ejercito Estrada was born on April 19, 1937 in Tondo, an urban district of Manila. His family later moved to the wealthy suburb of San Juan.[6]He belonged to an upper-middle-class family, and was the eighth of ten children of Emilio Ejercito and his wife Maria Marcelo.[7] He was kicked out during his primary studies at the Ateneo de Manila University and subsequently enrolled in an engineering course at the Mapua 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.[7] He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on the Tagalog slang "pare", meaning buddy) from his friend Fernando Poe, Jr..
[edit]Personal life
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.
[edit]Family
Estrada is married to the former First Lady-turned-senator Dr Luísa Pimentel and has three children with her: José "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)
Joseph Estrada met his wife Loi while working as an orderly at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City.
He also has five more children from several extramarital relationships:
JV Ejercito, with incumbent San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez; Mayor of San Juan (2001–2010), Representative of [[San Juan City}} (2010-2013). (married to Cindy Lotuaco)
Jojo Ejercito, with former model Joy Rowena
Jerika Ejercito, with former actress Laarni Enriquez
Jake Ejercito, with former actress Laarni Enriquez
Jacob Ejercito, with former actress Laarni Enriquez [edit]Other relatives
Several of Ejercito's relatives became prominent figures in politics and showbiz.
Emilio Ejercito, Jr. a.k.a. George Estregan, brother
E.R. Ejercito, son of George Estregan, and nephew of the former President. Also an actor and former Mayor of Pagsanjan turned Governor of Laguna province.
Gary Estrada, nephew of former President, actor and Board Member of Quezon province.
Gherome Ejercito, nephew of former President and basketball player [edit]Film
Main article: Joseph Estrada filmography
He 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 downtrodden classes, making him popular among the nation's many unschooled and impoverished citizens. This proved advantageous to his political career.
In 1974 he 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.[8][not in citation given] He also founded, together with Guillermo de Vega, the first Metro Manila Film Festival in 1975.[citation needed]
[edit]Early political career
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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2012) [edit]Mayor of San Juan
Estrada entered politics in 1967 when he ran for mayor of San Juan, then a municipality of Metro Manila, and succeeded in only 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 concreting 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 and 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.[9] 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[citation needed].
[edit]Senator of the Philippines
The following year, he 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. [edit]Vice-Presidency
See also: Presidency of Fidel V. Ramos
In 1992, Joseph Estrada ran for vice-president as the running mate of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. under the Nationalist People's Coalition party. Though the latter 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.[10] 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.[11]
[edit]Presidency
Main article: Presidency of Joseph Estrada
The inauguration of President Estrada on June 30, 1998, featured in the Philippine piso centennial commemorative legal tender banknote.
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.[12] The economy recovered by 3.4% in 1999 and 4% in 2000.[13] In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured its headquarters and other camps.[1][2] 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.[14] ”
[edit]Domestic policies
Main article: Domestic_Policies of Joseph Estrada
[edit]Foreign policies
Main article: Presidency_of_Joseph_Estrada#Foreign_Policies
[edit]Economy
President Joseph Estrada (7th person from right) during the APEC summit in 2000.
In 1998, Estrada was elected president. He had a strong economic team that helped in significantly improving on the poor performance of the previous administration. The earlier Ramos administration left Estrada with a bankrupt treasury and a zero-zero agricultural growth rate, and a high inflation rate of 12%. By the time Estrada was ousted, he increased the growth rate in agriculture to 6.6% and reduced inflation by 3%. He also increased the Gross National Product by 3.6% despite the fact that the country was also affected by the Asian economic crisis.[15]
The mainstream media severely criticized the Estrada administration for cronyism, incompetence, and corruption, supposedly causing it to lose the confidence of foreign investors.[citation needed] However, such negative treatment/reports are apparently part of the anti-Estrada demolition PR campaign reported by Manila Standard' s Emil Jurado and Daily Tribune's Ninez Cacho-Olivarez[16] It is thus debatable whether some charges as to investor confidence being damaged by accusations of exerting influence in an investigation of a friend's involvement in stock market manipulation has any basis at all. Economic performance was hurt, however, by climatic disturbance that caused extremes of dry and wet weather. 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.[17] 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.[18]
[edit]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.[2] 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.[2] 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 toMalaysia. 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.[19]
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.