Estrada says he is ready to testify at Philippine impeachment trial

Estrada, right, confers with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo at the APEC summit in Brunei on Thursday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (Reuters) -- Embattled Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Thursday he was ready to testify at his impeachment trial at home and branded corruption charges against him as "set-up."

Estrada, the first Asian leader to be impeached, made the statement during a meeting with members of the Filipino community in Brunei on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

"I am ready to testify before the Senate. I never accepted (illegal gambling) money. The accusation against me is all a set-up to discredit me," he said in his first public reaction since the House of Representatives impeached him on Monday, setting the stage for his trial, expected to begin early next month.

PROFILES Key players in the Estrada impeachment case     RESOURCES Follow a timeline showing President Estrada's recent political crisis     ALSO Exclusive interview with Philippines Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 'I Will Follow My Father's Footsteps... I Am Prepared'     AUDIO Philippine Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroya tells CNN she thinks the economy in the Philippines will improve once Estrada is no longer president 595k/27 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on today's events in the Philippines

Interviewed later by Filipino reporters accompanying him, Estrada said, however, that he would still have to consult his lawyers on whether he should personally appear at the trial.

Even then, he added: "I have to study if I would follow my lawyers' advice or not."

Under the impeachment rules adopted by the Philippine Senate, Estrada has an option to either testify at his trial or send his lawyers to speak on his behalf.

The former movie actor has denied accusations that he took millions of dollars in bribes from illegal gambling syndicates, and vowed to clear his name.

Referring to protest rallies at home demanding his resignation, Estrada reiterated that no amount of demonstrations would make him step down.

"I appeal to our people to respect the constitutional process. The case is now with the Senate. Please do not hold any more mass actions that would further jeopardise our economy and our people," he said.

In Manila, Senator Miriam Santiago, a presidential ally, said she believed Estrada would find the numerical support he needed in the Senate to win acquittal.

A two-thirds vote by the Senate is needed to convict and remove Estrada from office. This means at least 15 senators in the 22-member body must find him guilty.

Philippine officials discuss the impeachment trial's set of rules

Estrada said he believed the senators would vote "according to their conscience and according to the evidence at hand."

He dismissed statements by Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is next in line if Estrada is removed from office, that his reputation would be so wrecked during the trial that he would end up being unfit to govern.

"That's her opinion. Let her wait until 2004," Estrada said referring to the year when his constitutionally fixed six-year term would lapse.

Estrada, who was to return to Manila later on Thursday, said he might reorganise his cabinet because some of his ministers planned to run for Congress in legislative elections next May.

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President Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Website
Philippine House of Representatives

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