BARIT, Elaiza May M.

ZGE1109-D11B

IGNACIO, Joshua Christian P.

QUINTOS, Eanne Sophia N.

INTRODUCTION

Joseph Marcelo Ejercito or commonly known as Joseph “ERAP” Estrada. Erap was born on April

19, 1937 in Manila, Philippines. A son of Emilio Ejército, Sr., a small-scale government contractor, and the

former María Marcelo, a housewife. He has been married to Dr Luisa Pimentel Ejercito since 1959 and he

was previously married to Laarni Enriquez. He was also once an actor, mayor, and senator. Joseph Estrada

finished his primary education in Ateneo de Manila University and continued his secondary education in

the same school. He pursued an engineering course in MAPUA Institute of Technology.

As an actor, Estrada started his acting career with the film Kandelerong Pilak. From then on, he

starred as a lead actor in more than 100 films. Estrada also ran for Mayor of San Juan in 1968 but lost

because of his apparent lack of political experience but after filing another candidacy, he was proclaimed

as a mayor in the year of 1969. He was recognized as Outstanding Mayor and Foremost Nationalist by the

Inter-Provincial Information Service in 1971 and hailed Most Outstanding Metro Manila Mayor by the

Philippines Princetone Poll in 1972. He entered the race for the Senate in the year of 1987 and got the 16th

place. He was under the party Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) party. Joseph Estrada was also once

the president of the Philippines, an actor, a mayor, and a senator. He was elected as the president of the

Philippines in May 1998 and was later inaugurated in June 1998. He was the 9th president of the 3rd

republic.

BODY
 “Estrada missed the opportunity. He had that chance to solve the problem in Mindanao when he

was President but he did not do it because his solutions were wrong. Instead of being sincere and serious in

solving the issue, he betrayed the Bangsamoro people by attacking our camp." MILF vice-chairman for

political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar told ANC's Dateline Philippines.

He also said that while MILF negotiators were working for a peace agreement with government

peace envoys, the Estrada administration decided to attack the MILF's Camp Abubakar "brought one

truckload of beer, started drinking there and then brought lechon and ate pork inside a mosque."

He said Estrada's actions were an insult to the dignity of the Moro people and a violation of their human

rights.

In contrast to that in Joseph "Erap" Estrada's third state of the nation address on July 24th 2000, he

stated that the MILF couldn't be talked out of their position and that their goal of secession was

nonnegotiable. He also stated that it would have been quieter if the conflict could be resolved by an

exchange of words rather than by an exchange of fire, stating that the rebels simply used the peace talks as

an opportunity for arms buildup, troop recruitment and training, for deployment, for territorial consolidation

and for enlarging their threat to the republic.

Lastly, he stated that to ensure permanent peace in the future, they had to demolish the rebels'

apparatus for making war. Moreover that abstention from military action would have meant political

abdication. Military option was not chosen but forced upon them according to Erap.

CONCLUSION

Although former president Joseph Estrada opted for an all out war to the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front or more known as the MILF, Estrada has built his career on appealing to the underclass, playing

squatters and farmers and rebels in the movies, then capitalizing on that film persona in politics.”[Source:

Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, June 14, 2005] Estrada accomplished very little and what he did

accomplish was overshadowed by his corruption scandals and impeachment proceedings.

 There was a sense of optimism when Joseph Estrada was elected. Investors shared this sense of

hope and initially poured money into the Philippines but it didn’t take long for this optimism to evaporate.

Foreign investors were turned off by cronyism, scandals and favoritism towards Philippines companies. In

the end Estrada proved to be a friend of big business. He revived the culture of corruption and was plagued

by charges of cronyism. This was on top of inconsistent monetary policy, slow economic growth, and

uncertainty brought about by terrorists and insurgencies. He said he was a friend of the poor yet he failed

to launch one meaningful anti-poverty program.

SOURCES:

- Singcol A. (2009). PROFILE: Joseph Marcelo “ERAP” Ejercito Estrada. Retrieved from:

https://news.abs-cbn.com/research/06/03/09/profile-joseph-erap-ejercito-estrada

- Laquian, E. & Laquian, A. (1998). The Centennial President. Canada. Published by: Institute of

Asian Research, University of British Columbia.

- Crisostomo, I. (1999). President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, From Stardom to History: The Saga of a

Child of Destiny. Quezon City. Published by: J. Kriz Publishing

- Dizon, D. (2011). MILF: Erap betrayed Moros. Retrieved from: https://news.abs-

cbn.com/nation/08/15/11/milf-erap-betrayed-moros

- Official Gazette. (2000). Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Third State of the Nation Address. Retrieved

from: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2000/07/24/joseph-ejercito-estrada-third-state-of-the-

nation-address-july-24-2000/

- Hays J. (2008) Joseph “Erap” Estrada: President of the Philippines (1988-2001) Retrieved from:

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Philippines/sub5_6b/entry-3853.html