The former Philippine president Joseph Estrada took the stand in his trial for embezzling state funds on Wednesday, insisting he had been framed and had not taken kickbacks while in office.
”These are trumped-up charges, a frame-up,” Estrada (68) said, giving evidence for the first time in four and a half years. He is charged with siphoning off $78m from illegal gambling rackets during his 31 months in power, a charge that carries the death penalty although it is unlikely to be imposed.
The action followed the collapse of Estrada’s impeachment trial over the kickback allegations. The ex-film star’s presidency ended ignominiously in January 2001 when he was ousted by a people power movement combined with a quasi-coup by the political elite, Catholic church and army.
The champion of the lower classes, known as Erap, or friend, also denied he had solicited payments from tobacco taxes in one province. ”That’s a pack of lies,” he said. ”I don’t have the conscience to steal money intended for farmers.”
Estrada also denies separate charges that he under-reported his assets in 1999.
He made a point of showing his patriotism on Wednesday by wearing a national dress barong shirt, a Philippine flag pin and his trademark white wristband with the presidential seal on it.
His wife, two sons, one of whom is a co-defendant in the trial, and daughter accompanied him to the court in Quezon City from his villa east of the capital Manila, where he is under house arrest.
”I have mixed feelings. I welcome this opportunity to present my side because I was denied that right in the impeachment trial when the prosecutors walked out,” Estrada told the anti-corruption court. ”I was not able to defend myself. I was convicted in the streets.”
He was upbeat at the end of the hearing. ”I just answered with the truth so it was easy,” he said as he left the court away. ”I’m eager to finish this case so the people will know the truth.”
One of the defence lawyers, Rene Saguisag, said there was no concrete evidence against his client. ”His only crime is philandering, not plundering,” he said, referring to Estrada’s children by several different women.
Luis Chavit Singson, a former provincial governor who blew the whistle on Estrada’s alleged embezzlement, attended court and said he expected his former drinking and gambling buddy to put on a performance to rival his most epic Robin Hood-style screen roles. ”I am 100% sure he will lie,” he said. ”But he is an actor. He can very well fake it.”
Several hundred of Estrada’s supporters from poor communities had staged an overnight vigil near the court, but more than 1 000 riot police kept them 500m from the building to prevent violence. Some supporters were allowed into the court.
Estrada testified that the charges were politically motivated but after the hearing a spokesperson for his successor, Gloria Arroyo, said the proceedings had been fair.
”The fact that former president Joseph Estrada was taking the witness stand is a clear proof that due process has been strictly observed in his case,” the statement read.
The court, which only meets once a week, was adjourned for seven days.
Estrada is expected to take six weeks to present his evidence and the case is unlikely to conclude until several months after that.
Backstory
Joseph Estrada (68) attained superhero status by playing swashbuckling characters in more than 100 films. He parlayed this and his ”outsider” status into political success, first as a mayor then a senator and in May 1998 as president. Within months allegations emerged that he had embezzled millions of dollars from gambling syndicates and tobacco taxes. The senate put him on trial in November 2000. It collapsed on January 16 2001 after prosecutors were barred from presenting ”crucial” evidence, triggering huge street protests as the influential Catholic bishops allied with the political elite and army top brass to demand his resignation. He quit four days later, was arrested and put on trial in October 2001. The prosecution presented 76 witnesses and more than 1 500 documents as evidence. Estrada is the defence’s 79th and final witness. – Guardian Unlimited Â