Says Erap should’ve shown remorse in writing

By DANNY O. SAGUNPIA-Dagupan Infocenter

LINGAYEN - Gov. Amado T. Espino supports the administration’s pardon for convicted former President Joseph Estrada except for the process involved.

Espino told a press conference Friday at the Urduja House lobby that it was Estrada who should have showed his interest in seeking pardon, not the other way around.

“Sana siya ang sumulat sa gobyerno na humihingi ng pardon at nagsisisi sya sa kanyang nagawa … Hindi naman, inaatake pa nya ang Sandiganbayan,” he noted.

President Arroyo last Thursday granted executive clemency to her ousted predecessor, a move viewed by her critics as a way for the Arroyo government to woo the opposition in which Estrada is stii a prominent figure and to deflect criticisms from various fronts as a result of allegations of graft and corruption, bribery and anomalous deals.

“Bakit bigyan ng pardon, hindi naman inaamin na nagkasala. . . Ok yong pardon pero mali yong proseso,” he said, but clarified that he was only giving his personal view on the issue

Espino ran and won under Kampi, the president’s own party.

Meanwhile, the governor asked his constituents and the press to give him more time to do his job as he had promised during the campaign and when he assumed office.

He admitted that the job involved was more enormous than he thought, prompting him to spend almost all his time working, leaving very little time for his family.

He said that it was the first time in his life that he worked that way. Since he took over in June 30, he said that it was only once that he went to Baguio City, where he has a vacation house, yet the trip he said was official as he brought his department heads there to discuss matters.

The former congressman of the second district asked the media especially to understand his situation of being “closeted” always with his staff and had no time to face the press. He was strongly criticized for that.

The governor, a former police general, said he has however learned to take criticisms in stride, adding that he considers many in media as his friends.

He reiterated his dream of making the province, which he claimed has lagged behind its neighbors in development and progress, great again.