Today in history: On September 12, 2007 – Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada is convicted of plunder.

 

In 2007, former Philippine President Joseph Estrada was convicted of plunder after a high-profile six-year trial that captivated the nation. Estrada, who had been ousted from office in 2001 following a popular uprising known as EDSA II, was accused of amassing over 4 billion pesos (around $80 million) in illegal wealth during his presidency through kickbacks, bribes, and protection money from illegal gambling operators. The Sandiganbayan, a special anti-graft court, found him guilty of plunder, the most serious corruption charge under Philippine law, marking the first time a former head of state in the country was convicted of such a crime. The court sentenced him to reclusion perpetua (equivalent to life imprisonment), sending a strong message about accountability in governance.

Despite the conviction, Estrada’s case took an unexpected political turn. Just weeks after the verdict, he was granted a pardon by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who had herself come to power after his ouster. The pardon allowed him to regain his political and civil rights, enabling him to re-enter politics. Estrada even ran again for president in 2010, finishing second, and later won the mayoralty of Manila in 2013. His conviction remains one of the most significant milestones in Philippine political history, highlighting both the judiciary’s capacity to hold powerful figures accountable and the country’s complicated relationship with political rehabilitation and forgiveness.

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