In this election year many politicians are making many promises. Have you ever wondered if they will keep those promises? Well, once upon a time there was a politician who did indeed keep his campaign promises! His name was Joseph Estrada, better known by his nickname, “Erap”.

Erap Estrada started out his career as an action movie star, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jesse Ventura. Then he went into politics. Just like …..  He became vice president when Fidel Ramos was president. Then Erap decided to run for president in his own right. Since the looting of the treasury by former president Ferdinand Marcos was still fresh in the voter's minds, he decided to run on an anti-corruption platform. He told the people that if they elected him president he would “implement effective measures to stamp out corruption at the highest levels of government”. Well, that sounded good to the people so they elected him president.

Upon taking up office, Erap set up the Presidential anti-corruption commission to seek out corrupt government officials. He also introduced the death penalty for the crime of “economic plunder”, a term for looting the treasury by a government official.

Well all went well for about 2 years. Then Erap was caught with his paw in the cookie jar. He had been looting the Philippine treasury, and laundering the money through casinos owned by his triad buddies in Macau. He was impeached, and removed from office as president. Then, he was convicted of economic plunder, and sent to death row. But, he was caught by the very Presidential anti-corruption commission that he himself had set up. He was sent to death row because he himself had introduced the death penalty for economic plunder. So, to be fair to Erap, he had kept his campaign promises: He did indeed  “implement effective measures to stamp out corruption at the highest levels of government”. He should be commended for this, as not many politicians keep their campaign promises. Erap kept his word!

So, what happened next you ask: Well, Erap bribed his way off death row and out of prison. Seems he had a lot of money, can't think where he got it. He was pardoned. Then he ran for president again. But this time he lost the election. Poor Erap!