MANILA. Malacañang urged parties who are strongly against the granting of pardon to former president Joseph Estrada to keep their cool even as former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson threatened to cut ties with the administration.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said critics need not be upset since the former leader is still in the process of applying for a pardon.

He added that those who oppose the granting of pardon should wait for the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Estrada's request.

Apostol added that Malacañang is not worried that Singson will leave the administration's fold because of Estrada's application for pardon.

For his part, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye echoed Apostol's statement, saying that the public should leave the decision to President Arroyo.

He said that Mrs. Arroyo will certainly consider what is good for the country.

"As to what action that would be, that would depend I think on the recommendation of the Department of Justice which I would like to reiterate we hope will be in the best interest of justice and of the Filipino people," he said.

The DOJ, however, has already decided on Estrada's request for a full pardon.

The DOJ said Estrada should be given full restoration of civic and political rights. It added that the forfeiture of assets illegally obtained by Estrada will continue.

Estrada on Monday asked Mrs. Arroyo to grant him a full pardon after withdrawing his motion for reconsideration on the guilty verdict handed down by a local court in his plunder trial.

In a letter sent to Mrs. Arroyo, Estrada's lawyers said they are withdrawing the former president's motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan after being convinced that the anti-graft court will not reverse its ruling.

"Although persuasive constitutional and legal grounds have been alleged in the motion for reconsideration which may justify the reversal of the judgment of conviction, our consensus is that there is a very slim chance that the Sandiganbayan will reconsider its original guilty verdict," the defense panel said in its letter.

It added that filing an appeal before the Supreme Court would be futile since it would take years before a favorable judgment would be passed.

"In the highest national interest, to which President Estrada is always willing to subordinate his own, we appeal to Your Excellency to grant him full, free and unconditional pardon," the defense panel said.

Estrada was sentenced to 40 years in prison for accumulating wealth illegally through gambling payoffs and corporate kickbacks during his term.