Police hunt key Estrada supporter

Estrada is charged with massive corruption during his 31 months in office

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Philippine police have stepped up their hunt for a key supporter of deposed president Joseph Estrada after the government said it had received intelligence of possible unrest by the former leader's die-hard supporters.

Ronald Lumbao, leader of the People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), faces "a standing arrest order for rebellion," Philippine National Police spokesman Cresencio Maralit told CNN.

Maralit said that Lumbao's arrest has become more urgent, as the May 1 anniversary approaches of a failed march that briefly threatened President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's hold on power.

Lumbao rallied thousands of urban poor residents to march on the presidential palace on Labor Day last year, days after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder.

Four demonstrators were killed while scores more were injured in the incident three months after Arroyo assumed the presidency.

Estrada was forced to quit amid widespread street protests on January 20 last year, days after a Senate majority voted to suppress bank evidence against him and prosecutors walked out of his impeachment trial.

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The PMAP has said that it may seek to call protesters out onto the streets against the government, shortly after Estrada announced last week that he was suspending his entire legal team.

The former movie star turned president said he had given up on the country's justice system after the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court that is trying four criminal cases against him turned down several appeals by his lawyers.

'Inevitable death'

Estrada issued a media statement saying he faces "a future which has already been written for me by the present administration" and that he faces "inevitable death".

One of the charges against him -- that of plunder for allegedly amassing an estimated four billion pesos ($78 million) during his 31 months in office -- carries the death penalty under Philippine law.

He also faces two charges of perjury for allegedly cheating on assets statements in his first two years in office, and for using an illegal alias to hide ill-acquired wealth in a dummy account.

Skeptical lawmakers have said that by suspending his legal team Estrada is making a last ditch appeal for public support to fend off what they believe will be his likely conviction.

Estrada meanwhile is refusing to accept a legal team recently assigned to him by the government and his former lawyers refuse to pass on documentary evidence on his cases.

Estrada has objected to the creation of a special court whose head was chosen by the government and not through the usual lottery.

But the government says the appointment of Justice Teresita de Castro, who presides in Estrada's plunder trial, will assure that court hearings are able to continue, since other Sandiganbayan justices are due to retire later this year.

Estrada has also requested to travel to the United States for knee surgery, but critics say it is a ploy to escape his probable conviction and go into exile.

Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee has said the government may ask the Supreme Court to allow full live media coverage of Estrada's trials to prove the fairness of the Sandiganbayan.