December 12, 2000, ABS-CBN, 8:10 PM, People's court continues mock trial,

MANILA (ABS-CBN)-- As members of the Philippine Senate continue to hear the arguments of the impeachment case against President Joseph Estrada, the so-called People's Tribunal also carries on a parallel activity, with the sole purpose of removing the president from office.

Members of the left leaning multi-sectoral group gathered for the fourth and final day Tuesday at the Senate Grounds and assembled anew a "people's court that will hear cases against the Estrada administration." The group will render its verdict on Wednesday, December 13.

On Tuesday, the said alternative tribunal will take on economic and environmental concerns that the President allegedly ignored. Changes include the coconut levy issue, the Retail Trade Liberalization, the privatization of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the Mining Act among others.

President Estrada is facing seven charges before the said court. The members of the tribunal will then come up with a verdict after hearing each charge.

Similar to a regular court, the People's Tribunal has its own panel of justice, which includes respected economic professors, lawyers, doctors, human rights advocates and representatives of various peasant groups. Artist and stage director Behn Cervantes is one of the members of the 14-man panel.

As a people's court, however, it is not bound by the procedures of a legal court and can accept testimonies which are otherwise unacceptable in legal court. It will also entertain people's issues, which are not part of the charges raised against the President in the impeachment trial.

The jurors will also be allowed to take an active hand in the proceedings. Every member may be given the right to ask questions and to elicit more facts from the presentors and witnesses.

President Estrada is charged with, among other things, taking millions in illegal gambling pay-offs and a P130 million tobacco tax kickback.

The People's Tribunal is also being staged to generate and mobilize support against Estrada as well as to pressure members of the Senate, who now act as judges, to vote for the removal of Mr. Estrada.

The convenors of the People's Tribunal include the Philippines Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, Philippine Jubillee 2000, Association of Major Superiors of the Philippines, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Coalition Against Trafficking of Women, and People's Action to Remove Erap (PARE) and Free Legal Assistance Gruop (FLAG).

With a reports from Ted Regencia/News Online