Impeachment case against Estrada set in motion

Impeachment case against Estrada set in motion

MANILA (Reuters): The Philippine lower House on Monday set in
motion an impeachment case against President Joseph Estrada and
leaders promised an impartial hearing of charges that he took
bribes from illegal gambling syndicates.

Estrada told local officials he was ready to confront the
accusations against him and added: "Many baseless charges have
been made against me. What is saddening is that people
immediately judged me, when even a criminal is given his day in
court."

He scotched rumors he would declare a state of emergency to
curb opposition to his rule. "There is no such plan," he said.

As Estrada struggled to survive the worst crisis of his 28-
month presidency, the military tightened security around its
headquarters in Manila and banned all commanders from issuing
statements critical of the government.

But the controversy made further inroads into the economic
well-being of the country. The peso plunged close to the
historical low of 49 to the dollar as investors worried about
increasing political risks.

The government rejected all bids at its weekly auction of
treasury bills as banks quoted rates about twice as high as those
accepted last week.

Speaker Manuel Villar set the impeachment case rolling by
formally including it in the order of business of the House of
Representatives, which means the House committee on justice could
begin hearing the charges against Estrada.

"The nation cannot afford a circus-like exchange of bitter
accusations from both sides so we have to resolve this in the
soonest possible time," said Villar, a member of Estrada's ruling
coalition.

"We are here to get to the bottom of all allegations so the
whole truth may be known."

Lawmakers and analysts have said the impeachment proceedings
are certain to set off bitter debates in Congress lasting months,
heightening political turmoil which would deeply divide the
country and further damage the economy.

"I would like to assure the public that the proceedings would
be impartial," said justice committee head Pacifico Fajardo, also
of Estrada's coalition.

The bribery scandal has sparked almost daily street protests
against Estrada and calls for him to step down.

"It is not in the streets, in newspapers or on radio and
television that this very important issue, on which the future of
our country depends, will be resolved," Villar said.

Estrada denied allegations that he took 414 million pesos
($8.5 million) in payoffs from gambling syndicates running an
illegal numbers. He rejected church calls for him to resign.

On Monday, he appeared to back away from a statement he made
on Sunday that he might agree to a proposed snap election to
resolve the crisis.

"It's unconstitutional so it's useless to talk about it,"
Estrada told reporters.

The constitution does not provide for a snap election and
officials have questioned its legality. In a sign of heightened
alert, soldiers in battle fatigues and armed with assault rifles
joined military police in guarding gates at Manila's Camp
Aguinaldo, the armed forces headquarters.

Armed forces chief Gen. Reyes, in a directive, prohibited
military commanders from criticizing the administration and
reminded them to remain loyal to the constitution.

Reyes said "commanders at all levels shall see to it that
their pronouncements... are always in line with and supportive of
government policy."

Under the rules, the 51-member committee on justice, where
only about a dozen opposition lawmakers sit, must decide within
60 working days if sufficient ground exists for impeachment.
If the committee votes against the president, the case goes to
the full House where 73 votes, or one-third of the 218-member
chamber, are required to impeach the president.

The case is then passed on to the Senate where a vote by two-
thirds, or 15 members, of the 22-seat chamber is required to
remove the president from office.

The ruling coalition controls more than 80 percent of the
House seats while a loose alliance of senators generally support
Estrada on major issues in the upper chamber.