Sandigan postpones new corruption raps vs Erap

The Sandiganbayan postponed moves yesterday to lay new corruption charges on disgraced former President Joseph Estrada following a petition from his lawyers, court officials said. The anti-graft court adjourned its scheduled arraignment after Estrada’s lawyers lodged a new motion to quash the charges.

Estrada, 64, who was toppled by a peaceful people power revolt in January, was due to be charged with using a false name, Jose Velarde, to secretly open bank accounts while he was president.

He is already on trial accused of plundering 80 million dollars during his 30 months in power, and of perjury for allegedly concealing his wealth in an official declaration of assets.

Prosecutors objected to the defense petition filed late Tuesday, prompting the court to suspend the arraignment until a later, undecided date.

"There are still things that the court will have to consider," a court official said, adding defense lawyers gave numerous grounds for quashing charges.

About 200 pro-Estrada rallyists picketed the Sandiganbayan court, unaware that the arraignment had been postponed.

The protesters, mostly from the urban poor whom Estrada has claimed to have championed through the years, carried banners saying: "Free Erap. Justice for Erap, Justice for the poor" and "Erap is a political prisoner."

Erap is Estrada’s nickname.

They also shouted obscenities directed at Sandiganbayan Justice Anacleto Badoy, who is trying the plunder charge.

Contacts between Estrada’s lawyers and the Sandiganbayan court have been strained after a bizarre hearing on Monday when the lawyers failed to turn up and the ousted leader only appeared apparently under duress.

Estrada, who had originally said he would not attend the plunder trial, showed up only after legal officials threatened to have him bodily carried into court.

But he was casually dressed wearing slippers, and repeatedly interrupted the proceedings to ask to leave.

The absence of his lawyers forced the court to appoint the lawyer of another defendant to represent Estrada – despite the objections of both Estrada and the appointed lawyer.

Estrada’s lawyers have since filed a motion asking the Sandiganbayan court to "nullify" Monday’s hearings, saying their client was not properly represented because of their absence.

Rene Saguisag, one of the deposed leader’s nine lawyers, said they had already told the court they would not be available before October 29 but the court persisted in scheduling hearings before that date.

"It is the principle we’re fighting for. The moment we concede here, we can be kicked around," Saguisag said. – Jose Rodel Clapano