Estrada formally charged

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, JULY 10. The ousted Philippine President, Mr. Joseph Estrada, was formally charged in an anti-corruption court for economic plunder, a charge that carries the death penalty.

Both Mr. Estrada and his son, who was also charged, refused to enter a plea. The judges then entered a plea of ``not guilty'' on their behalf.

Reports from Manila said the arraignment was delayed by two hours as lawyers for Mr. Estrada called for the dropping of the economic plunder charge because it was vague.

The attorneys also contended that the arraignment should not proceed as the Supreme Court was still to consider the case.

The Supreme Court, however, did not hear Mr. Estrada's appeal today, saying that the judges were unable to consider the case immediately. There was tight security outside the court building - inaugurated by Mr. Estrada himself two years ago in his ``battle'' against corruption.

The police and security forces were taking no chance after the May 1 violence in which thousands of Estrada supporters took to the streets and made an abortive bid to storm the Presidential palace. Six persons were killed that day. Speaking in the court, Mr. Estrada angrily denied comparisons with a gangster he once played in a film.

``I was a former Mayor, a former Senator, a former Vice-President and President of the Republic of the Philippines. I am not Jose Velarde (a name Mr. Estrada allegedly used for one of his bank accounts). As for Asiong Salonga (the movie gangster), I made that movie 40 years ago,'' he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Estrada was arrested on April 25 on the charge of economic plunder - he stands accused of taking advantage of his official position and influence to amass more than $ 80 millions in illegal wealth through a combination or series of overt criminal acts.

The former President is also accused of the illegal use of an alias (Jose Velarde) to hide his unexplained wealth and perjury for misrepresenting his assets in an official statement of assets and liabilities.

Speaking at the time of his arrest, Mr. Estrada complained that he had not been given due legal process. ``I will face and answer all the charges filed against me by my foes... I believe that the truth and our Constitution will prevail,'' he said.

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