Malacañang has extended its birthday greeting to Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, but could not grant his wish for former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to be given house arrest.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said it is up to the court, not the Palace, to decide on issues related to the case of the former woman president.
“We wish former President and Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada a happy birthday,” Coloma said in Filipino over government radio.
“On his birthday wish, it is prudent to let the court make the decision on this matter. It is the job of the prosecutors of the Department of Justice to respond in case a petition is filed before the court,” he added.
Estrada turned 78 yesterday and made three wishes, including one for Arroyo’s house arrest.
The mayor said people should be compassionate towards Arroyo, currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City, pending plunder and poll sabotage charges, since she is a woman.
In October 2007, Estrada was given pardon by then President Arroyo shortly after he was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan.
As for his other birthday wishes, Estrada expressed hope that there will be peace in Mindanao soon and that the glory days of Manila will be restored.