Estrada dealt setback on first day in office

Estrada dealt setback on first day in office

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (Agencies): A Philippine court dealt
President Joseph Estrada a setback on his first full day in
office yesterday by stopping his attempt to oust a political foe
as head of a major industrial estate.

Estrada had ordered the removal of Richard Gordon as chairman
of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) but a defiant
Gordon went to court to challenge his dismissal.

Judge Eliodoro Ubiadas, in his temporary restraining order
released to media, called a hearing of the case for Monday and
directed Estrada and his staff "to cease and desist" from ousting
Gordon.

The court handed down its order as hundreds of supporters of
Gordon, some armed with clubs, barricaded the gates of Subic Bay
to prevent Estrada's newly designated SBMA chief from entering
the complex.

The judge said Estrada's order and Gordon's refusal to obey it
had created a "highly tense and emotional situation...(that)
could result in violence."

There was no immediate reaction from Estrada but he told
reporters earlier that he was ready to withdraw his appointment
of Felicito Payumo if the court ruled against him. Estrada added
the fight over Subic leadership was "scaring away investors."

U.S. air cargo company Federal Express diverted yesterday
three planes from its Asian hub at the Subic Bay freeport after
the rival groups threatened a violent showdown.

The three planes, each carrying about 10 tons of cargo, were
diverted to Manila late Tuesday and early yesterday, airport
officials said.

But the former movie action star was clear that unless stopped
by the courts, he was ready to physically evict Gordon from the
complex. "If necessary, we will carry him bodily if he resists."

Already, one person has died -- a woman after a heart attack
-- in the standoff.

Police said the woman collapsed during the night while she was
at the barricades at the Subic gates with hundreds of other
Gordon backers to prevent Payumo from entering.

One of the first orders Estrada issued on taking office on
Tuesday was to scrap his predecessor Fidel Ramos's order
reappointing Gordon to another six-year term as SBMA chairman.

Subic, 80 kilometers west of Manila, was formerly a U.S. naval
base. After American forces withdrew from the Philippines in
1992, Ramos turned it into an industrial zone.

Under Gordon's stewardship, Subic has become a booming free
port, with exports totaling $1.4 billion during the past four
years. About 300 foreign and Philippine firms operate in the
zone.

Bad blood has existed between Estrada and Gordon since 1991
when Estrada, then a senator, successfully took part in a
campaign to oust U.S. military bases from the country.