DAVAO CITY, 29 July — Visiting Justice Secretary Hernando Perez told Davao City businessmen yesterday that the Arroyo administration is going to reconcile with poor masses but not with ousted President Joseph Estrada. Perez, who graced the general membership meeting of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. Friday, also assured local businessmen that President Gloria Arroyo stands firm on supporting for the speedy trial of Estrada at the Sandiganbayan. “The real reconciliation is with the poor masses who have continued to identify with Erap’s personal circumstances,” he said. He cited Estrada’s behavior of criticizing President Arroyo’s initiatives is an opposite of reconciliatory steps that the current administration is taking. “We cannot say forget and forgive because the law is there. If reconciliation means releasing Erap from jail then I think we should also release all poor prisoners in the country,” he added. (Adel Tolentino)
