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Philippine lawmakers vote on Estrada impeachment

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November 14, 2000 

MANILA (AP) - The Philippine House of Representatives met Monday to vote on whether to impeach President Joseph Estrada, as supporters of the president sought to replace the House speaker to increase their control over an impeachment trial.

The House was widely expected to approve the impeachment complaint, since more than the required one-third of the chamber's members have already signed a petition endorsing impeachment. After approval, the articles of impeachment are to be sent to the Senate for a trial.

A large group of opposition congressmen supporting Estrada's impeachment prayed and lit candles near a Philippine flag and then walked into the House chamber for the vote. They wore peach-colored ribbons on their shirts signifying their struggle to "impeach" Estrada.

Allegations by a provincial governor that Estrada accepted more than dlrs 10 million in payoffs from illegal gambling lords and tobacco taxes have triggered widespread calls for his impeachment or resignation. Estrada has acknowledged having been offered a bribe by the governor, Luis Singson, but insists he refused it.

In a late-night caucus Sunday, Estrada's supporters made plans to replace House Speaker Manuel Villar, who earlier resigned from the ruling party and called for the president's speedy impeachment.

By replacing Villar with a party stalwart, the ruling LAMP party hopes more of its members will be appointed to the 11-person panel that will prosecute the case in the Senate.

Villar opposed the move to add Estrada supporters to the panel, saying it would hurt the trial's credibility.

"The prosecution panel, in order for the trial to have integrity, should prosecute," he said. "It will be difficult if there will be one or two who will disclose their strategy to the (president's) defense panel, and it will just be like a farce."

"We will be remembered in history for what we will do here," he added.

Although at least four former presidents, including former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, have faced impeachment complaints, none has reached the Senate before. Last week, Senate President Franklin Drilon ordered the rapid drafting of impeachment rules for the upper house which are to be modeled on those used by the U.S. Senate during President Clinton's trial.

The impeachment process could take several months, and opposition groups have demanded that Estrada instead resign quickly to prevent the crisis from further harming the country's ailing economy.

A coalition of groups ranging from militant labor organizations to business associations planned a nationwide general strike Tuesday to pressure Estrada to step down.

The main index on the Philippine Stock Exchange Index plunged 2.2 percent Monday, while the peso weakened further in morning trading on the political uncertainty.

Singson, a former drinking and gambling buddy of Estrada's, testified early last month that the president had asked him to coordinate the nationwide collection of payoffs from an illegal numbers game called jueteng. He said he personally gave Estrada more than 400 million pesos (dlrs 8 million) from jueteng and 130 million pesos (dlrs 2.6 million) from provincial tobacco taxes.

Estrada responded to the allegations for the first time last week, saying he had refused a 200 million peso (dlrs 4 million) bribe by Singson.

But he said Singson insisted on delivering the money to an Estrada lawyer, former Undersecretary for Political Affairs Edward Serapio, without the president's knowledge. The money was placed in a foundation set up by Estrada for Muslim youth scholars, he said.

Estrada said he did not learn about the money until recently.

In testimony to a Senate committee Monday, Serapio largely corroborated Estrada's account, but said he had told the president of the money in August. He said Estrada immediately suspected the money came from jueteng.

Serapio said he knew of no attempt by the president to confirm the source of the money or bring bribery charges against Singson.

Under Philippine law, public officials who "maliciously" fail to report or pursue punishment of a crime such as bribery are subject to up to six years' imprisonment.

Critics of Estrada have said the Muslim youth foundation was a front used by the president to cover up payoffs.

Serapio said there were no written records of the donation, as required by law for large amounts, and no scholarships have yet been provided by the foundation.