April 2, 2001, The Philippine Star, Rift with Cardinal Sin started with rejected requests -- Estrada, by Jose Rodel Clapano and Nikko Dizon,

April 2, 2001, The Philippine Star, Rift with Cardinal Sin started with rejected requests -- Estrada, by Jose Rodel Clapano and Nikko Dizon,

Babies, soldiers and rebels caused ousted President Joseph Estrada to lose the support of Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin.

These three factors represented the government's population control program, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and a ceasefire between the Armed Forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Speaking before 5,000 people at Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan the other night, Estrada said the rift with Sin started after he rejected his three requests:

• Stop funding the population control program;

• Stop the VFA from being ratified; and

• Stop the war against the MILF.

"Cardinal Sin turned his back on me when I did not give in to his requests," he told a huge crowd during the grand proclamation rally of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP)-Puwersa ng Masa coalition.

Estrada said government figures at that time had shown that about 1.7 million babies were being born in the country every year.

"That's why I told leaders of the Church to help control the population and encourage responsible parenthood," he said. "If there would be an increase in the population, the government would have to increase the number of doctors and hold a census every year."

Estrada said he supported the Senate in ratifying the VFA because he wanted the Armed Forces to be prepared against any external threat.

"It was my duty to protect the nation's interests," he said. "The VFA would ensure America's support for our country against any external threat. But Cardinal Sin said the VFA would propagate prostitution in the country."

Estrada said he rejected Sin's request for a 40-day ceasefire between the government and the MILF because all-out war was the only way to stop insurgency in Mindanao.

"I did not want to hold peace talks because that would have allowed the MILF a chance to strengthen its forces," he said. "What I wanted was lasting peace in Mindanao, which could only be achieved through all-out war."

Estrada said his rejection of Sin's requests goaded the Cardinal to "connive" with Makati businessmen led by the Ayalas to plot his ouster.

"That's what the Church and the rich people in Makati have done to me," he said.

Estrada said the Ayalas supported the Church-led effort to oust him from power, which culminated in his leaving Malacañang in the afternoon of Jan. 20.

"That's why if we can recall those in EDSA were equipped with cellphones and they ousted me through text messaging," he said.

Estrada said he can face the people and look them straight in the eye because he is innocent of the accusations being hurled against him by the Arroyo administration.

"The rich people could not believe that an actor like me could become president of the land," he said. "When I was mayor of San Juan, I did not engage in jueteng," he said.

Estrada said he had pushed for jueteng's legalization so the government would earn some P5 billion every year and to give legitimate jobs to an estimated 600,000 people who are dependent on jueteng .

"After jueteng would have been legalized, I would have made all jueteng workers members of the Social Security System so when they retire, they would have something to lean on," he said.

Estrada said his plan to make jueteng legal was the main reason why Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson concocted a story that he had received billions of pesos from illegal gambling operators.

"Singson opposed the legalization of jueteng because he knew that his earnings would decrease," he said. "He then broke our friendship and started making accusations against me until the Senate impeachment court was convened. Singson and his cohorts continue to spread disinformation against me and my family to this day."

In Caloocan City, Estrada told Puwersa ng Masa supporters that the Arroyo administration has failed to stomp out jueteng although its officials are saying that he was the main beneficiary of the illegal numbers game.

Estrada said jueteng continues to be played in Caloocan and that draws are held regularly in various locations without being stopped by city officials and the Philippine National Police.

"Yes!" yelled his audience when Estrada asked if jueteng still exists in Caloocan. -- Jose Rodel Clapano and Nikko Dizon