MANILA, Oct 26: Former Philippine leader Joseph Estrada on Friday announced his support for his successor, President Gloria Arroyo, after she pardoned him for a life sentence on corruption charges.

The statement was his first since Arroyo, the person he blamed for his fall from power six years ago, pardoned him Thursday following his conviction last month on charges of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the country.

The 70-year-old, who had previously said that he would not cut any deal with Arroyo to secure his freedom, issued the statement while he waited in his rural villa under house arrest for the legal papers to confirm his release.

“I thank Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for granting me full, free and absolute pardon midway through her term,” the statement said.“As an elected leader of the Philppines, I am fully aware of the tough times and agonising choices she went through before deciding to grant pardon,” he said.

“But I believe history will vindicate not only this executive action but my innocence as well with regards to those charges.” Estrada was pardoned on Thursday six weeks after being jailed for life for receiving tens of millions of dollars in tax kickbacks and bribes during his short-lived presidency.

He was elected president by a massive majority in 1998, only to be thrown out three years later in what he called a “politically motivated” coup by the church, military and business community.

The former action movie hero made his name in more than 100 movies over three decades, cultivating an image of the everyday man who spoke in fractured English and was a champion of the poor. He remains extremely popular.—AFP