Hate messages and death threats hound fallen Estrada

Jinggoy Estrada, mayor of the former president's political bailiwick town of San Juan in Manila, said many people also curse them in the streets since his father was forced out of power by a military-backed "people power" revolt last week. Jinggoy said most of the hateful comments were received through text messages on their cellular phones or letters. "Don't even ask what they say because they are not fit for printing," he said.

Jinggoy appealed to Filipinos to leave them alone, noting that his mother and sister have been crying almost every day because of the nasty remarks and threats against them. "What else do they want, we have already stepped down," he said. Security has been tight for the former first family, which is being guarded by 18 members of the elite Presidential Security Group. Additional police patrols have also been deployed near their mansion in a posh subdivision in San Juan.

Prosecutors have started criminal proceedings against Estrada, his wife, Jinggoy, two former cabinet officials and other close associates for charges of plunder, malversation of public funds, bribery, graft and unlawful acquisition of wealth. The Justice Department has issued an order barring the respondents from leaving the country, while the Bureau of Internal Revenue has frozen at least one of Estrada's bank accounts.

Many of the criminal charges against Estrada were the basis for his impeachment last November. Estrada was already on trial at the Senate, but the proceedings failed when his allies voted to suppress potentially damaging evidence about his allegedly ill-gotten wealth of up to 66 million dollars hidden in secret bank accounts.

(la/dpa)