Security alert ahead of Estrada court appearance

Security forces guard the Malacanang presidential palace

By staff and wires

MANILA, Philippines -- Police are stepping up security in Manila ahead of a scheduled court appearance by former Philippine leader Joseph Estrada.

Officials said there were around 5,000 security personnel around the court and the presidential palace following rumors of plots to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and kill Estrada en-route to court.

Estrada is due to be arraigned before the Sandiganbayan anti-corruption court at 3:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) Wednseday on a charge of perjury for allegedly falsifying official papers on the amount of his assets.

The arraignment will be held in court -- after judges denied a police petition to change the venue for security reasons.

He is also to be arraigned next month on separate charges of graft, using an alias to hide his bank deposits and economic plunder -- an offence which carries the death penalty under Philippine law.

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Estrada, who denies any wrongdoing, appealed to his supporters Tuesday to avoid violence ahead of his arraignment.

"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 action they seek to undertake against the present administration," Estrada said in a statement.

Early Wednesday a few dozen anti-Estrada protesters picketed in front of the Sandiganbayan anti-corruption court, waving banners saying "Convict Estrada", "Justice delayed, justice denied" and "Erap guilty" -- the latter referring to the former president's long-standing nickname.

Witnesses said the protests were peaceful.

First test

While police have not named the alleged plotters seeking to overthrow Arroyo, officials say they suspect they belong to the group which instigated a failed May Day attack on the Malacanang presidential palace by thousands of Estrada supporters.

At least four people were killed during the violence.

Observers say Estrada's court appearance may prove the first test of what levels of public support remain for the deposed president.

Security officials have expressed fears for Estrada after Tuesday's ruling ordered his plunder trial, scheduled for July, to be held in open court.

Estrada says he will defend the charges

Police and military officials say Estrada is the target of assassination and coup plots by groups aiming to destabilize Arroyo's fledgling government.

National police chief Leandro Mendoza filed a petition Monday to hold the trial at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center -- the hospital where Estrada is being detained.

Mendoza said holding the trial at the hospital's 500-seat auditorium would minimize Estrada's exposure to security risks.

Security risk

But the court ruled that security forces were capable of protecting the former president, even if he has to travel some eight kilometers between the hospital and the court.

"There has been inadequate demonstration that the PNP [Philippine National Police] is incapable of protecting the facilities of this court," presiding justice Francis Garchitorena said.

Estrada has called upon the government not to use his trial to divert public attention from the country's political and economic woes, saying that his case now rested with the anti-graft court.

Estrada also labeled the present administration's move to declare a security red alert as "unnecessary and grossly exaggerated," primarily because they were intended against unarmed civilians.

"I ask them to refrain from any acts that may give an excuse for this government to resort again to excessive force that can result in the death or injury to anyone," Estrada said.

Reuters contributed to this report.