FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA DECLINED to attend the Inquirer presidential debate last Monday because of this newspaper?s alleged bias against him.

The Inquirer played a role in exposing some of the anomalies that took place during the Estrada administration, and in the sequence of events that led to his ouster. This space, in particular, has been particularly critical of his undermining of the judicial system when he faced trial for plunder and of President Macapagal-Arroyo?s absolute pardon of his plunder conviction. It was precisely because of these that the Inquirer instituted fairness safeguards in our first sponsored debate, and even he would have found it fair?if he had shown up. Our bias, as independent journalists, is only and always for good governance and the democratic project.