Estrada offers to go quietly, with conditions<\/p>\n
MANILA (Agencies): Ousted Philippine leader Joseph Estrada has
\noffered to go quietly if the Supreme Court rules he is still
\npresident, his lawyer said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Lead counsel Rene Saguisag said Estrada had signed a petition
\nsubmitted to the court in which he says he would consider giving
\nup the presidency to his successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, "so
\nthat the healing can begin".<\/p>\n
"Although he (Estrada) believes in his case and cause, he is
\nprepared, even if he prevails, to consider making the supreme
\nsacrifice in the national interest, including giving away, if
\nneed be, to his constitutional successor, but only in the manner
\nprovided and authorized by law, so that the healing can begin,"
\nthe petition said.<\/p>\n
"Until then, Respondent (Arroyo) remains only as Acting
\nPresident and she cannot mislead the people otherwise. Petitioner
\n(Estrada) remains President to date."<\/p>\n
A champion of the poor and former movie idol, Estrada was
\ndumped out of office last month at the climax of a "people power"
\nrevolt triggered by the collapse of his impeachment trial on
\ncorruption and bribery charges.<\/p>\n
Arroyo was sworn in on Jan. 20 after the Supreme Court
\ndeclared the presidency vacant.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court hearing is Estrada's last chance to stop
\ninvestigations into charges of perjury, corruption, bribery and
\neconomic plunder, the last of which carries the death penalty.
\nAs president, he is immune from prosecution.<\/p>\n
Saguisag earlier told radio station dzRH that while Estrada
\nwould be happy with a constitutional victory, he knew that it
\nwould harm the national interest if he tried to return to the
\npresidential palace.<\/p>\n
"I made it a condition before I agreed to be his lawyer that
\neven if we won, in the light of national interest, he would not
\nreturn to Malacanang (presidential palace)," Saguisag said.<\/p>\n
"My advice to President Estrada, after being vindicated, is to
\nresign formally without sacrificing the interests of justice."
\nThe Supreme Court on Thursday heard Estrada's lawyers, including
\nSaguisag, claim he was still the legitimate leader since he had
\nnever formally resigned.<\/p>\n
The lawyers warned that allowing the overthrow of a
\ndemocratically elected ruler would set a dangerous precedent.
\nThe Supreme Court gave Estrada and Arroyo a week to present
\nwritten arguments, after which it will decide on the legitimacy
\nof Arroyo and whether Estrada can face prosecution.<\/p>\n
"Even if he won, he would not retake the position if it's not
\nin the national interest and I can see that it would not be in
\nthe national interest because he could not govern effectively
\nbecause he has three presidents as enemies," Saguisag told dzMM.<\/p>\n
Former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, together
\nwith Arroyo, joined the move to dump Estrada after a provincial
\ngovernor accused him of receiving illegal gambling kickbacks in
\nOctober last year.<\/p>\n
Five Philippine banks have turned over details of bank
\naccounts linked to ousted president Estrada, boosting the
\nprospect of him facing new corruption charges, ombudsman Aniano
\nDesierto said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Seven other banks would send in their records next week,
\nDesierto told AFP.<\/p>\n
The 12 banks were subpoenaed by Desierto's office to surrender
\nthe accounts following a complaint filed by the Justice
\nDepartment for the forfeiture of Estrada's allegedly ill-gotten
\nwealth.<\/p>\n
The statements also involve bank accounts of Estrada's wife,
\nLuisa Ejercito and two of his mistresses -- Guia Gomez and Laarni
\nEnriquez.<\/p>\n
Desierto said that about 1.2 million pesos ($25,000) was left
\nin the accounts submitted by the five banks even though records
\nshow far larger amounts were deposited and withdrawn in the past.<\/p>\n
The bank records will be used in a petition charging Estrada
\nwith holding wealth far beyond what he could have earned legally,
\nsaid Desierto, who acts as prosecutor in cases against government
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Under the law, "if you have (large bank) accounts and it
\ncannot be explained from your legitimate source of income, the
\npresumption is it was illegally acquired," said Desierto.<\/p>\n
"That is already enough: the burden of proof is on the
\nrespondent." The bank records can also be used as evidence in six
\nother corruption cases the government is ready to pursue against
\nEstrada, Desierto added.<\/p>",
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