Former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who was jailed for six years for plunder during the Arroyo Administration, said that he will not pursue graft cases against President Arroyo in the event that he is re-elected as the country’s next leader, adding that he will just leave the matter to be handled by judiciary.

“I have to follow the due process of law and give them proper chance. I will leave it up to the judiciary to attend to their cases,” the 72-year-old Estrada said during a presidential forum initiated by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and television station TV-5 held at the Miriam College in Quezon City.

Estrada, who was ousted from Malacañang in January 2001 and was convicted of plunder six years later, issued the statement in response to a question hurled by Maria Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal — who is also a presidential contender running independent.

“Would you cause plunder charges to be filed against Congresswoman Arroyo? Would you cause plunder charges to be filed against Senator Villar?” Madrigal asked Estrada.

Aside from a staunch critic of President Arroyo, Madrigal is also hot on the trail of Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar being in the forefront on the exposé of the alleged multi-billion peso C-5 Road Expansion project.

The Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard bearer emphasized that the presidency, which is part of the executive branch, is independent of the judiciary that was primarily tasked to pursue criminal cases against individuals.

“I will make sure that the judiciary has the independence. I will not interfere in the plunder cases against them,” Estrada emphasized.