RP on high alert ahead of Estrada trial

RP on high alert ahead of Estrada trial

MANILA (AFP): Philippine security forces were on high alert in
Manila after an anti-graft court judge on Tuesday refused to
change the scheduled open-court appearance of deposed president
Joseph Estrada on perjury charges.

More than 3,000 extra police have been brought into the
capital city, as National Security Advisor Roilo Golez said
persistent reports of plans for a mass demonstration were being
taken seriously.

A special military guard was to be deployed at the
presidential palace.

"We can see the movements to recruit more people to block the
Sandiganbayan (anti-graft court)," Golez said.

Pleas by the police to have Wednesday's arraignment heard in
the hospital where Estrada is detained were tossed out by Justice
Francis Garchitorena, who said it was up to the police to protect
the former president.

"There is inadequate demonstration that the Philippine
National Police is incompetent to protect the facilities of this
court," Garchitorena ruled.

In a separate hearing on Monday, Justice Anacleto Badoy put
back Estrada's arraignment on the most serious charge of plunder
from June 27 to July 10 to allow time to consider motions from
both defense and prosecution lawyers.

Estrada, toppled in a popular revolt on Jan. 20, faces the
death penalty if convicted of plundering a personal fortune of 80
million dollars.

One defense motion for all charges against Estrada to be
reconsidered is to be heard Wednesday morning before the perjury
hearing.

Despite police claims that Estrada's safety could be
endangered traveling to and from the court, Garchitorena said the
onus was on the police to protect the 64-year-old ex-movie action
star.

"It is up to the police to make the plan. They have to secure
the building," he ruled.

Eduardo Urieta, the chief of security at the anti-graft court,
said up to 3,000 police could be deployed on Wednesday to protect
Estrada and to keep pro and anti Estrada supports apart.

The building will be "sanitized for bombs and other incendiary
devices" and there will be metal detectors at all entrances,
Urieta said.

Son

Armed forces chief General Diomediao Villanueva said a
military task force has been activated to guard the presidential
palace.

"Our intelligence service is constantly monitoring certain
personalities and certain organizations," he said. "What is
important right now is that we ensure nothing happens."

Estrada's son Jose Erjiceto, who faces the same charges as his
father, said the former first family was not aware of any plot to
destabilize the government.

"We do not know anything about that. We have never plotted
against the administration. We do not know anything," he told
reporters.

Estrada's arrest in April sparked huge street protests. About
50,000 supporters marched on Malacanang presidential palace on
May 1.

President Gloria Arroyo, who replaced Estrada in a military-
backed popular revolt in January, called the march a plot to
topple her government, and called out the army to quell the
rioting that followed.

Four people were killed and more than 100 arrested.

Golez said the government "will not be caught unprepared"
again.

Senior Superintendent Doroteo Reyes said police have gathered
intelligence that Estrada's safety could be endangered during his
court appearances.

He urged the court to move the trial to a 500-seat gymnasium
at the suburban Manila military hospital where Estrada has been
confined since May 12 for treatment of bronchitis and emphysema.

On Tuesday, Estrada appealed to his supporters to refrain from
violence, as security forces went on high alert on the eve of his
court appearance to answer perjury charges.

"I strongly appeal to our people and my supporters to exercise
sobriety and calm and to refrain from any act of violence in
whatever protest actions they seek to undertake against the
present administration," Estrada said in a statement.

He said his call was prompted by President Arroyo's disclosure
of an alleged "destabilization plot" to coincide with his court
appearance, forcing the police and the armed forces on heightened
alert.