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.