Manila denies Estrada's claim to presidency

Manila denies Estrada's claim to presidency

MANILA (AP): The government moved on Wednesday to prevent former President Joseph Estrada from making any legal claim to the presidency as tax collectors froze one of his bank accounts amid an investigation that he grew rich off bribes and kickbacks.

Estrada has sent a letter to the Senate saying he didn't resign but turned over power to Vice President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo temporarily. That raised concerns that he will make a legal bid for the presidency even though the Supreme Court swore in Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said Estrada lost all power when, beset by street protests and abandoned by the military and his Cabinet, he left the presidential palace.

But Perez also said nothing prevents Estrada from appealing to the Supreme Court.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue ordered a freeze on an account Estrada holds at a Citibank branch in Manila. Government officials said they may freeze other assets of the former leader.

The new president, meanwhile, faced a potentially divisive choice of a vice president from at least three candidates. All are friends of ex-presidents and played key roles in helping her force Estrada out.

Macapagal-Arroyo has downplayed the decision as a technicality that can wait for days or weeks.

Allies of former President Fidel Ramos, who served in 1992-98 and waged a long anti-Estrada campaign, are pressuring Macapagal- Arroyo to choose Sen. Teofisto Guingona, Ramos' former justice secretary.

Former President Corazon Aquino, who preceded Ramos and also had a high profile in the swelling weekend protests, is rumored to favor her former executive secretary, Sen. Franklin Drilon.

And Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, another candidate, appears to have gained popular support for his perceived fairness as chief judge in Estrada's impeachment trial even though he is a close friend of the former action film star.

Pimentel nominally resigned last week to protest an 11-10 Senate vote that barred the trial's prosecutors from examining bank records they said would prove Estrada stashed away 3.3 billion pesos ($67 million) in corruption money. His resignation was never accepted.

The entire prosecution panel also quit and the impeachment trial was suspended indefinitely.

On Wednesday, senators decided against reconvening the trial, citing fears the proceedings could spark further controversy. Instead, court members will sign a resolution stating their job has been completed, Pimentel said.

Pimentel had said on Tuesday he planned to reconvene the court to formally close the proceedings. But senators disagreed with the plan in a caucus Wednesday.

Filipinos responded to the Senate vote barring prosecutors from bank documents by taking to the streets in growing numbers for three days to demand that Estrada quit. Military Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes and other senior officials abandoned him on Friday.

Estrada left the Malacanang presidential palace Saturday as some 75,000 people rallied around it.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, the country's chief anti-graft prosecutor, launched Monday an investigation of six possible criminal charges against Estrada, including plunder.

The Justice Department followed Tuesday by ordering that 24 people, including Estrada, wife Loi Ejercito and son Jinggoy, may not leave the country.

Desierto said the move was too late for two of those named in the order - businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang, a close friend of Estrada, and Yolanda Ricaforte, accused of helping him receive bribe money. Justice officials said they will revoke their passports.

Pimentel said on Wednesday, however, that Estrada's presence in the country may be divisive.

"Under the circumstances it would probably still be best if Mr. Estrada left the country," Pimentel told reporters. "If he doesn't and even if he doesn't actively lead a mobilization to confront the new administration, his followers could very well ... create some problems for the administration."