Estrada says he is still president

Estrada says he is still president

PHILIPPINES: Detained former Philippine president Joseph Estrada
reappeared in a special anti-graft court on Friday, insisting he
could not face corruption charges because he was still president.

Estrada and his son and co-accused, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada,
appeared relaxed in their first appearance at the antigraft
Sandiganbayan court in almost a year for a hearing on a motion to
dismiss the charges against them.

Estrada was toppled in a popular uprising in 2001 over a
massive corruption scandal. He was later arrested and
theoretically faces the death penalty if convicted on charges of
plundering US$80 million during his 30-month rule.

Estrada's new lawyer, Alan Paguia, said the Sandiganbayan did
not have jurisdiction over Estrada on the grounds that he was
illegally forced from office and was legally still president.

The constitution says a sitting president cannot be put on
trial until after he finishes his six-year term. --AFP