ESTRADA OUT TO DELAY TRIAL UNTIL 2004 POLLS - DRILON

Manila, June 12, 2003 (Star) Ousted President Estrada is trying to delay his trial for plunder until the May 2004 elections, hoping the next president could save him from the death penalty, Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday.

Drilon was commenting on the motion of Estrada’s lawyers asking the Sandiganbayan to subpoena President Arroyo, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and other officials to testify on events leading to the deposed leader’s ouster and Mrs. Arroyo’s ascension to the presidency.

"This is a clear and definite delaying tactic. Estrada’s lawyers are hoping to create a spectacle that would eventually delay the resolution of the plunder case until after the 2004 elections with the wishful hope that the next administration would be sympathetic to him," he said.

He said the former president’s move was "absolutely unnecessary."

"I have yet to see the President of the Philippines or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court being dragged to the witness stand and made to testify in a criminal case like plunder," he added.

About a month ago, the prosecution in Estrada’s plunder trial finished presenting its evidence and it was the turn of the former president to present his witnesses and documents proving his innocence.

But instead of doing that, he and his lawyers revived the issue involving the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency. They also filed with the House of Representatives an impeachment case against Davide and seven other justices.

Drilon said the impeachment case and questions on the legitimacy of Mrs. Arroyo are part of the Estrada camp’s plot to delay the plunder trial and destabilize the present government.

"The legitimacy issue is something that has been resolved with finality," he said.

The Supreme Court and the two chambers of Congress had recognized the legality of Mrs. Arroyo’s assumption of the presidency, added Drilon, who left last night for the United States to speaker before Filipinos in California.

It was the Senate president’s second trip to the US in three weeks. He was part of Mrs. Arroyo’s group when she visited America. - Jess Diaz