GUILTY....

Former President Joseph "Erap" Ejecito Estrada has been found to be guilty of plunder after six years of argeuos hearings.

It finally ended on September 12, 2007 at the Sandiganbayan Offices at Commonwealth Avenue. The expected hours of promulgation just happened in less than an hour. The clerk of court just read the decision and the whole six years or so of trials ended with a 10 sentenced-speech.

Though there is a "virtual" sympathetic mood in the media, the street protests showed the contrary. The usual protests have been made but they were considerably small in number.

Because it was quite a media frenzy, some reporters resorted to doing different angled stories.

One report made by an ABS-CBN reporter on the scene intrigued me.

The report showed that a lot of those in the streets did not have any clue on why they were there in Commonwealth Ave., much less on why they were waving banners in which they are not member in. Somewhat there was a "hakot" system... you know what I mean.

The anticipated thousands of sympathizers caused suspension of classes to some 23 public schools around the Sandigan. However, only a small portion of the Commonwealth was occupied, not even filling the whole 5 lanes of the road.

Anyway, the crowd is just one thing. How about Erap???

Hmm... Early on, when the court gave the date of the decision, the Estradas were very confident of the notion or even prediction that the former President will be acquited. In addition, they said that whatever the decision might be, win or lose, they would accept it.
Nevertheless, those predictions almost never happened, almost. He got acquited of perjury or telling lies in court. He was guilty of plunder, a much graver offense.