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.
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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.