Impeachment case against Estrada set in motion<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuters): The Philippine lower House on Monday set in
\nmotion an impeachment case against President Joseph Estrada and
\nleaders promised an impartial hearing of charges that he took
\nbribes from illegal gambling syndicates.<\/p>\n
Estrada told local officials he was ready to confront the
\naccusations against him and added: \"Many baseless charges have
\nbeen made against me. What is saddening is that people
\nimmediately judged me, when even a criminal is given his day in
\ncourt.\"<\/p>\n
He scotched rumors he would declare a state of emergency to
\ncurb opposition to his rule. \"There is no such plan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As Estrada struggled to survive the worst crisis of his 28-
\nmonth presidency, the military tightened security around its
\nheadquarters in Manila and banned all commanders from issuing
\nstatements critical of the government.<\/p>\n
But the controversy made further inroads into the economic
\nwell-being of the country. The peso plunged close to the
\nhistorical low of 49 to the dollar as investors worried about
\nincreasing political risks.<\/p>\n
The government rejected all bids at its weekly auction of
\ntreasury bills as banks quoted rates about twice as high as those
\naccepted last week.<\/p>\n
Speaker Manuel Villar set the impeachment case rolling by
\nformally including it in the order of business of the House of
\nRepresentatives, which means the House committee on justice could
\nbegin hearing the charges against Estrada.<\/p>\n
\"The nation cannot afford a circus-like exchange of bitter
\naccusations from both sides so we have to resolve this in the
\nsoonest possible time,\" said Villar, a member of Estrada's ruling
\ncoalition.<\/p>\n
\"We are here to get to the bottom of all allegations so the
\nwhole truth may be known.\"<\/p>\n
Lawmakers and analysts have said the impeachment proceedings
\nare certain to set off bitter debates in Congress lasting months,
\nheightening political turmoil which would deeply divide the
\ncountry and further damage the economy.<\/p>\n
\"I would like to assure the public that the proceedings would
\nbe impartial,\" said justice committee head Pacifico Fajardo, also
\nof Estrada's coalition.<\/p>\n
The bribery scandal has sparked almost daily street protests
\nagainst Estrada and calls for him to step down.<\/p>\n
\"It is not in the streets, in newspapers or on radio and
\ntelevision that this very important issue, on which the future of
\nour country depends, will be resolved,\" Villar said.<\/p>\n
Estrada denied allegations that he took 414 million pesos
\n($8.5 million) in payoffs from gambling syndicates running an
\nillegal numbers. He rejected church calls for him to resign.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he appeared to back away from a statement he made
\non Sunday that he might agree to a proposed snap election to
\nresolve the crisis.<\/p>\n
\"It's unconstitutional so it's useless to talk about it,\"
\nEstrada told reporters.<\/p>\n
The constitution does not provide for a snap election and
\nofficials have questioned its legality. In a sign of heightened
\nalert, soldiers in battle fatigues and armed with assault rifles
\njoined military police in guarding gates at Manila's Camp
\nAguinaldo, the armed forces headquarters.<\/p>\n
Armed forces chief Gen. Reyes, in a directive, prohibited
\nmilitary commanders from criticizing the administration and
\nreminded them to remain loyal to the constitution.<\/p>\n
Reyes said \"commanders at all levels shall see to it that
\ntheir pronouncements... are always in line with and supportive of
\ngovernment policy.\"<\/p>\n
Under the rules, the 51-member committee on justice, where
\nonly about a dozen opposition lawmakers sit, must decide within
\n60 working days if sufficient ground exists for impeachment.
\nIf the committee votes against the president, the case goes to
\nthe full House where 73 votes, or one-third of the 218-member
\nchamber, are required to impeach the president.<\/p>\n
The case is then passed on to the Senate where a vote by two-
\nthirds, or 15 members, of the 22-seat chamber is required to
\nremove the president from office.<\/p>\n
The ruling coalition controls more than 80 percent of the
\nHouse seats while a loose alliance of senators generally support
\nEstrada on major issues in the upper chamber.<\/p>",
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