Impeachment woes cancel Estrada family’s New Year ball

Apparently because of impeachment woes, there will be no partying this New Year’s Eve for President Estrada and the Ejercito clan at the Manila Hotel.

First Lady Luisa Ejercito said the President may instead get together with their relatives at their residence on No. 1 Polk st. in Greenhills, San Juan.

Mr. Estrada and his family have traditionally celebrated New Year’s Eve at the hotel, where guests are required to don red dresses or shirts for good luck.

The President has used the occasion to raise funds for his "Erap Para sa Mahirap" scholarship program.

Mrs. Ejercito did not actually give the reason for the a change of venue.

The impeachment trial of Mr. Estrada resumes on Jan. 2, when both prosecution and defense panels would present their respective "surprise" witnesses.

Mr. Estrada was impeached last month in the House of Representatives over charges of corruption, receiving huge pay-offs from illegal gambling bosses and skimming off government funds. The case has moved to a trial in the Senate, and if convicted there, the President will be forced to step down.

The Senate trial has gone on recess until Jan. 2 for the Christmas holidays and senior bank executive Clarissa Ocampo of the Equitable-PCI Bank will be examined by the defense after the break. — Marichu Villanueva