ILOILO CITY – “Is he someone that our children should emulate?”

This was among the reactions of some parents of a graduating class of a private university here on the selection of ousted president Joseph Estrada as the school's speaker for this year's commencement exercises.

Estrada who was ousted in a popular uprising in January 2001 and convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder in September last year over corruption cases, before he was granted executive clemency by President Macapagal-Arroyo, was the guest speaker during the 61st commencement exercises of the University of Iloilo Friday.

The university, owned by the Lopez family, is among the biggest and oldest schools in Iloilo City with around 12,000 students.

The mother of a nursing graduate said Estrada is “not a good example for young people”, but asked not to be identified.

“I told my daughter I was not excited when I learned that Erap would be their guest speaker,” she also said in an interview outside the multi-purpose gymnasium of the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz District here where the rites were held.

Another parent, mother of Criminology graduate, said she would have preferred another speaker because she disapproved of Estrada's “record,” referring to his conviction over corruption charges and his reputation as a womanizer, having sired children with several women.

“They (school officials) should have selected a distinguished alumni or a former student that has become successful to show the students what they could and should be,” she said. The parent was also seated outside the gymnasium while the program was ongoing.

She said her daughter and her friends even laughed when they knew that Estrada will be their speaker because they found it ridiculous.

The mother said they had no choice because it is the school that selects the speaker for commencement exercises.

But the school president, former Iloilo Rep. Alberto “Albertito” Lopez, defended Estrada's selection as graduation speaker.

“We want to hear his views (because) former President Estrada is a political force to reckon with,” Lopez said.

He also cited Estrada's popularity, citing his winning margin in the 1998 elections.

Lopez said there is nothing wrong with inviting Estrada as their guest speaker because all his civil and political rights were restored when he was granted clemency.

Estrada also defended his being invited to the graduation ceremonies. He said he has been friends with Lopez since he was mayor of San Juan.

His daughter Jackie is married to Manolo “Beaver” Lopez Jr. who is a nephew of Alberto “Albertito” Lopez. Albertito and Manolo's father are first cousins.

But some parents did not mind.

The father of an Accounting graduate said it was the school's prerogative whom to invite as speaker.

“What's wrong with Estrada as speaker? All presidents stole from our country. (Arroyo) is much worse,” said the mother of a graduate.

Despite the controversy, Estrada was visibly pleased with his first visit to Iloilo since he was deposed from power.

He gamely shook hands and posed for pictures with supporters and journalists.

In his 20-minute speech delivered before around 4,000 students and their families at the graduation rites, he thanked them for listening to his “good-looking English.”

He also thanked the Lopezes and school officials for inviting “an ex-detainee and ex-convict” as speaker.

Like the graduating students, Estrada said he also just recently “graduated from six years and six months of detention.”

“I'm happy to be an ex-convict close to the people, rather than a president isolated in Malacañang,” he said in one of his many swipes against the Arroyo administration.

While saying that he is not campaigning and just speaking as “Citizen Erap,” Estrada enumerated his programs on peace and order, economy and poverty-alleviation.

Calling on the graduates to be “social activists for reform,” Estrada said he was replaced by a “corrupt” administration that “refuses to be accountable and transparent to its people.”

Estrada also said that the Arroyo administration is “insensitive to condition and plight of majority of the people” and “isolated from the people by a web of lies”.

But a parent, still unnamed, could not help commenting on hearing the ousted president speaking about good values and good governance.

“Look who's talking,” he said.*NPB

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