Estrada prosecution focuses on plunder charge

Estrada has accused political rivals of fabricating evidence against him

In this story: Arrest warrant 'Beginning of the beginning' RELATED STORIES

By staff and wire reports

MANILA, Philippines -- The prosecution team leading the case against former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has told the country's anti-graft court they do not wish to proceed with five of the eight charges against him.

Instead they wish to focus their efforts on the charge of economic plunder, government Ombudsman Aniano Desierto told a news conference Tuesday.

The charge is not bailable and theoretically carries the death penalty under Philippine law.

However, analysts say it is extremely unlikely that Estrada would be sentenced to die if convicted.

Estrada himself has repeatedly denied all corruption charges against him and accused political rivals of fabricating evidence against him.

Desierto told reporters the surprise move to drop the lesser charges was made to prevent what he called "delaying tactics" by Estrada's lawyers.

As well as the plunder charge the ombudsman said that prosecutors intended to maintain other charges of perjury and another for using an alias in maintaining bank deposits.

The anti-graft court, known as the Sandiganbayan, is now expected to decide whether to drop the five remaining charges, including allegations that Estrada received bribes from illegal gambling syndicates and pocketed millions of pesos in excise taxes.

Arrest warrant

On Monday Estrada appeared at the court building in person to pay $800 in bail shortly after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Although the payment of the bond meant he could avoid being jailed, the former presdient still had to undergo the humiliation of being fingerprinted by court officials.

It is believed to have been the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for a former Philippine president.

That warrant was based on charges that Estrada and several others pocketed some $2.6 million in funds that were supposed to be channeled to the country's tobacco farmers.

It is thought that those charges have now been dropped as a result of Desierto's announcement.

'Beginning of the beginning'

Warrants for other charges against Estrada, including plunder, have yet to be issued.

On Monday the Sandiganbayan's Chief Justice Francis Garchitorena told CNN the issuance of the first warrant was only "the beginning of the beginning" of the process of bringing Estrada to trial.

Estrada's six-year term was cut short after just 2 and a half years in January amid allegations of widespread corruption.

An impeachment case against Estrada in the Philippine senate collapsed sparking mass street protests that eventually forced him to stand down in favor of his deputy Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The case against the former leader is being seen as a litmus test for Arroyo's pledge to clamp down on high-level corruption.

"Nobody is above the law," said Narciso S. Nario, one of the Sandiganbayan justices.

"We have to bring to court anybody who violates the law whether he is the most powerful man in the country or the lowliest laborer."

Estrada's wife seeks Senate post
February 13, 2001
Estrada's alleged bank accounts revealed
February 14, 2001
Two Estrada judges stand aside
February 15, 2001
Clashes mark opening of Estrada immunity case
February 15, 2001
Philippines calls ceasefire with Muslim separatists
February 20, 2001

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