September 29, 2001, Seattle Times / AP, Stakes high for Philippines in leader's corruption trial, by Jim Gomez,

September 29, 2001, Seattle Times / AP, Stakes high for Philippines in leader's corruption trial, by Jim Gomez, 

MANILA — President Joseph Estrada's sudden fall from the Malacanang palace to jail was a drama befitting the former film star — tumult, street violence and spectacle.

Tomorrow, he becomes the first Philippines leader to face trial, charged with plundering the economy, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of death.

Some 50,000 of Estrada's supporters staged a bloody attempt to storm the presidential palace May 1, but much of the emotion that surrounded his Jan. 20 downfall and eventual arrest has cooled during months of routine court hearings preceding the trial.

In an attempt to further calm the country, the Supreme Court has banned live TV coverage of the trial, which could take a year or longer.

Estrada's bitterly fought impeachment trial in Congress riveted millions of Filipinos for weeks until the proceedings ground to a halt just before popular protests forced his ouster.

The stakes remain high, both for the man who won a six-year term in 1998 with one of the largest election margins in Philippine history and for his successor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is battling separatist rebels, rising crime and widespread poverty.

A conviction on the offense — even though there's little chance Estrada would get the death penalty — could agitate his remaining supporters, who are mostly from the country's poor.

'Like a tsunami'

A court victory by Estrada could plunge his poor Southeast Asian nation into yet another leadership crisis, analysts say. "It will be like a tsunami on the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency," political analyst Nelson Navarro said.

Others worry new unrest could erupt if Estrada is acquitted on a technicality without the major charges resolved. While Estrada once championed the plunder law, his lawyers have challenged its constitutionality before the Supreme Court, calling it vague and urging the trial be delayed until the issue is settled. The court has not responded.

"There are too many possibilities which point out that we're not yet out of the woods," said Amado Mendoza, a political-science professor at the state-run University of the Philippines.

Plunder is defined as a series of criminal acts resulting in at least $1 million in illegally acquired wealth.

Estrada has been accused of amassing $77.7 million in payoffs from illegal gambling operators and kickbacks from tobacco taxes and questionable government investments during 31 months in office. He denies any wrongdoing.

The corruption scandal, which broke last October, led to the country's first presidential impeachment trial. It ended with prosecutors walking out over an adverse ruling from Estrada's supporters in the Senate that they said foreshadowed acquittal.

Within hours, tens of thousands of Filipinos turned out for noisy street protests that caused Estrada to leave office a few days later. Arroyo, who was vice president before splitting with Estrada to co-lead the protests, was sworn in as Estrada packed to leave the palace.

Estrada, 64, was indicted along with a son, Jinggoy, and lawyer Edward Serapio in April and later detained. Claiming he was forced from power by a clique composed of the elite, political rivals and leaders of the dominant Roman Catholic Church, Estrada challenged the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency in the Supreme Court but lost.

Six people died in the attempt by Estrada's supporters to storm the palace, which Arroyo called an effort to overthrow her government. But fears that more violence might erupt when Estrada's court appearances began proved groundless.

At least 40 witnesses

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto says prosecutors plan to present at least 40 witnesses, but there could be more if other Estrada friends and associates agree to testify.

Estrada said he is confident he will be cleared.

Desierto said the trial is a milestone in the country's anti-corruption fight and will show the world Filipinos can run their government democratically and cleanly.

"I think the most important lesson here is that no one is above the law," Desierto said.