Gabriela Perdomo - This decade will probably be remembered in the Philippines for one thing: widespread corruption. And a man who could well be described as its symbol was just bestowed state clemency on his charges for plunder. With the pardon granted to former president Joseph Estrada, a long story with great political implications for the Philippines ends—but not with it, alas, an era of institutionalized corruption.

The country’s most prominent corruption saga started in 2000 when, two years into his presidency, Estrada was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of plunder, illegal use of an alias, and five counts of graft. In September last year, the former film actor and popular political leader was found guilty of plunder and sentenced to life in prison by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court. Yesterday, the story came to an end—if only in legal terms—when Estrada’s successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, granted him a full pardon.

Estrada’s exoneration demands and inevitable reflection on the Philippines’ fight against corruption. After a long legal process, several public revolts for and against the trial, and generous state resources put into the final sentencing of Estrada, a pardon is a slap in the face of the country’s legal institutions. The clemency decision leaves a sense of previous pacts accorded between Estrada and Arroyo, and conveys a message of opportunism rather than closure. Many analysts see Arroyo’s decision as a way to appease the urban poor, who have sided with the convicted president all along. She needs them now, because her popularity is sliding fast.

A letter addressed to Arroyo—written by His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Senate president Manuel Villar, and speaker Jose De Venecia—sheds light on the superfluous reasons to grant the pardon: "With the multitude of others of like minds, we appeal and ask the president to extend full, free and absolute pardon to former president Joseph Estrada. (…) What is astounding, and which compounds the problem, is that he continues to enjoy the affection of a great number of people. Strange as it may seem, their belief in his innocence of the offences he is accused of does not appear to have been diminished by the Sandiganbayan's decision. To add to his tragedy, his mother is critically ill." The letter, of course, fails to mention the impact that pardoning a convicted pillager would have on the country’s political future.

Corruption is by far one of the most pressing issues facing the Philippines today. It is a reason of constant concern for foreign investors, democracy activists and, most importantly, for citizens trying to make a living following the path of legality.

President Arroyo herself is currently facing accusations of graft—another reason to suspect the timing of her pardon decision.

Arroyo, who took over as president in January 2001 following the resignation of Estrada, faced seven impeachment complaints against her last year, one of which was almost allowed. The accusations against her ranged from vote-rigging, corruption and allowing political assassinations, to violating the constitution to repress political dissidents. In August 2006, the House of Representatives voted 173-32 to dismiss the one impeachment complaint. Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, had fled to Hong Kong on a "temporary exile" amidst allegations of involvement in an illegal numbers game.

Earlier this month, the lower house of the legislature approved an impeachment complaint against Arroyo. The motion came following accusations that government officials had received kickbacks in a $330 million U.S. deal with the Chinese firm ZTE to install a national broadband network. The scandal was followed by a Senate hearing this week in which the president was accused of bribing two governors and a group of lawmakers at a meeting held at the presidential palace when they were discussing the impeachment complaint.

Corruption has become both an obsession and an obstacle to continue to develop a country that is failing to give its citizens the most basic needs, despite a sound economic growth. The Transparency International country study report for 2006 praises government efforts to combat corruption, but sternly warns: "In a country with institutionalized corruption, integrity pillars themselves are compromised by systemic corruption compounded with difficulties to operate efficiently and effectively. Collusion, state capture, leadership incapable of crushing vested interests and a lack of a focal point are issues that still need to be addressed."

None of the accusations against Arroyo, old or recent, have been proven. But they have made a dent on the president’s credibility already. Her latest move, pardoning a convicted thief, is hardly the best way to recover the lost trust.