The presidency of Joseph Estrada (June 1998–January 2001)

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Estrada's real battle is just about to begin
By Luz Baguioro, The Straits Times, 27 May 1998. Winning the Philippine presidency may have been easy for Mr Joseph Estrada, but the real battle will be fought in the economic arena, admittedly his Achilles heel. Citing few specific policies, he has set forth an ambitious program that, if realised, could make him more than just a reel champion of the masses.
Hail to the new chief
By Sangwon Suh and Antonio Lopez, Asiaweek, 26 June 1998. President-elect Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada is already beginning to put his own stamp on the nation. Most are pleased about it—but not all.
Estrada support of Marcos cronies threatens peace talks
AFP, The Hong Kong Standard, [28 June 1998]. The rehabilitation of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos' cronies under president-elect Joseph Estrada's administration could scuttle talks to end a 29-year communist rebellion, a rebel leader said. The active participation of the Marcoses and the most notorious Marcos cronies in the Estrada regime: Jose Maria Sison.
Government employees, unite!
Analysis and Positions on the Estrada administration, approved by the COURAGE National Council, 7 July 1998. The resurgence of public sector unionism, its growth under Aquino and maturation with the exit of Ramos. Estrada catapulted to power precisely by capturing the protest of the people against further economic and social suffering and bureaucratic corruption, but there is no essential difference between the just ended Ramos administration and the new Estrada government.
Philippines revives anti-terror bill
Reuters, 12 August 1998. The Philippines, alarmed by the bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, said on Wednesday it was reviving a mothballed anti-terrorism bill that would give the state summary powers to arrest and deport suspected extremists. In 1996, human rights groups attacked it for restricting civil liberties. Controversial provisions in the 1996 bill that would allow police to tap telephones and freeze bank acounts are not included in the new version.
Strike ban exemplifies Erap's true colors
Courage Online, 30 September 1998. Courage president, Ferdinand Gaite, advises President Erap to aim his threat not to the striking workers but to the real culprits in the worsening economic crisis in the country, to Lucio Tan for his tax evasion case and mismanagement of PAL. The workers right to strike was fought for with their lives during the dark days of martial rule.
Social conditions remain essentially unchanged after EDSA
News release, 22 February 1999. While freeing the people from the clutches of fascist tyrant, the 1986 EDSA Uprising merely led to the transfer of power into the hands of another reactionary, to be followed by another faction of the exploiting classes. Thirteen years after the so-called People Power Revolution, social conditions in the Philippines remain essentially unchanged, the plight of the Filipino masses is worse than before.
Round two: people's power in the Philippines removes another president
ZNet Commentary by Kim Scipes, 2 February 2000. The government of Joseph “Erap” Estrada in the Philippines has just collapsed, with the president forced out by mass mobilization, and with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replacing him as President on January 21. What might this mean for the country and the region?
The IMF and WB are killing the Filipino people
Statement of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN, New Patriotic Alliance), 16 April 2000. The Philippine Congress paved the way for the privatization of the National Power Corporation. Congressmen admitted that the bill was railroaded due to intense pressure from the IMF and foreign investors. The IMF threatened to hold the release of $1.38 billion worth of fresh loans if the law was not approved by the first half of this year.
State opposition party calls for Erap to resign
A-Infos News Service, Wednesday 18 October 2000. Erap Estrada is being called down to resign by some sections of the ruling elite, owing to the fact that Erap has been exposed of receiving lots of money from local politicians engaged in “jueteng”. The problem with the commie alternatives is that they do not want to do away with state power swiftly. They even with to coalesce with the opposition parties and the ruling elite opposed to Erap.
Chronology of Estrada's tumultuous two years in office
AFP, Monday 13 November 2000. Dates accompanied by brief paragraphs, from 29 May 1998, when he was proclaimed president, to 13 November 2000, the date of his impeachment.
Welga successful—TUCP; but impact on transport hardly felt in Metro as pols try to outshine protesters
By Maricel V. Cruz, Marian Trinidad, Eric Estrada, Joel R. San Juan and Jaime Pilapil, The Manila Times, 15 November 2000. Militant organizations as well as conservative trade unions and business groups yesterday allied to stage a National Day of Protest to demand the resignation of Estrada. One of the organizers, the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said the nationwide strike was successful.
Impeachment trial or resignation?
Milosbayan Magazine, November 2000. Position paper of Kilosbayan, Bantay Katarungan and Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundations, 12 November 2000. A call for resignation may prove more realistic than impeachment.
Mass Revolt Forces President Estrada to resign
By Jean Duval, In defense of Marxism, 23 January 2001. The events last week looked just like a rerun of the “People's Power” movement in 1986 when the hated dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown by a mass uprising in the cities. This extraordinary sequence of events has been dubbed the “People's Power 2” movement by local activists and by the media.