Brass bands played and thousands mobbed Estrada’s car, holding portraits of him as president, when he arrived at his home in the San Juan area of Manila from a villa outside the city where had spent six years under house arrest.

Arroyo set aside her ousted predecessor’s life sentence on Thursday, just six weeks after his conviction on corruption charges, raising suspicion that the clemency was designed to curry favour with the opposition amid mounting bribery scandals.

“If I made mistakes or committed sins of omission in my service, stealing from the government coffers was never part of it,” he said at an impromptu reception on the steps of the San Juan city hall.
“I have no more intention to enter the dirty world of politics. My remaining years in life I will offer in the service of our people,” Estrada, 70, said.