Former Philippine president and movie star Joseph Estrada was found guilty of massive corruption on Wednesday and ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison. Winding up a six-year trial that the 70-year-old had repeatedly insisted was politically motivated, a special anti-corruption court ruled he was guilty of plundering tens of millions of dollars in tax kickbacks and bribes.
It also confiscated 87 million dollars from his bank accounts that had been frozen during the trial. Estrada slumped in his chair as the verdict was read and later vowed to appeal. "I disagree with the findings and conclusions of the court. These conclusions, however, did not come as a surprise to us," he said, urging his supporters to stay calm. In a meeting of Estrada's family and lawyers later, his daughter, Jackie Lopez, openly sobbed while Estrada's son Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito, had tears streaming down his face.
Estrada said the verdict "appeared to be a political move" that came after pressure from his arch-rival and successor, current President Gloria Arroyo. "Against the advice of my friends I submitted myself to the judiciary believing that the case would be tried on its merits," he said before being flown by helicopter back to his luxurious compound, where he will remain under house arrest for now. The case has marked a bitter chapter in Philippine politics that began when the onetime action hero was ousted from power in 2001, a move which led to violent street protests.
Estrada has accused the business elite, Arroyo and the powerful Roman Catholic church of conspiring against him because of his populist platform. He said on Tuesday he had twice rejected offers from Arroyo to clear his name in exchange for his voluntary exile. Arroyo welcomed the verdict and said the "rule of law" should prevail. "We have a country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from these goals," an Arroyo spokesman said. The financial markets welcomed the verdict.
As the expected huge crowds of pro-Estrada protesters failed to materialise, investors discounted political turbulence and drove up the value of the peso as well as listed shares. Outside the court several hundred people stood in the rain waving flags and banners in support of the deposed leader, who remains hugely popular among much of the nation's disenfranchised. "That is not the will of the poor. He is my president," cried street vendor Loretta Barrias, 55, as colleagues calmed her down.
"He is the people's president, set him free!" The politically influential Roman Catholic church, which counts the majority of Filipinos as followers, urged Estrada's supporters to follow the rule of law and not take to the streets. Estrada, who made his name in more than 100 movies over three decades, cultivated an image of the everyday man who spoke in fractured English and was a champion of the poor. When he was elected in 1998, it was with the largest majority in Philippine presidential history.
When he was ousted three years later, thousands of people laid siege to the presidential palace to reinstate him. Arroyo called in troops to quash what she later said was an uprising aimed at toppling the government.
Four people died in that incident, while over 100 were arrested. Thousands of troops were on high alert Wednesday and extra forces placed on standby in military bases around Manila to aid police if necessary. Schools near the court were ordered closed, and Arroyo was advised by her security staff to remain in the palace. National police chief Oscar Calderon said the rallies have been generally peaceful, but said a heightened state of alert would remain until the situation normalises.