Ousted Estrada questions Arroyo's presidency

"I have not resigned. I am the duly elected president," Estrada told cheering members of his political party. The 63-year-old former action movie star was forced out of power last week by a military-backed "people power" revolt that paved the way for Arroyo's swearing-in as the Philippines' 14th chief executive. Estrada hinted he would legally challenge Arroyo's presidency, saying, "I respect the constitution. Whatever legal matters that need to be done will be pursued."

Thousands of Estrada's loyal supporters rallied outside the Club Filipino convention centre, where the Party of the Filipino Masses (PMP) held a meeting to choose its candidates for congressional elections in May. The rallyists carried placards and banners expressing support for Estrada, who they continue to recognise as president. They shouted "Erap Remain", referring to Estrada by his popular nickname. The PMP announced possible candidates for the May 14 elections, when 12 of 24 seats at the Senate, all of more than 200 seats at the House of Representatives and thousands of mayoral and provincial governors' posts are up for grabs.

Estrada said he was still convincing his wife, Luisa Ejercito, to join the party's election line-up for the Senate. Estrada, his wife, eldest son and other close associates are now being investigated for charges of plunder, bribery, graft, malversation of public funds and illegal acquisition of wealth. Former executive secretary Ronaldo Zamora, who has also been named in the complaints, said Estrada was ready to face the charges.

"He has no plans to leave the country," he said. "He will answer all the charges against him." Amid reports that close friends of Estrada were now coming out to testify against the former president, Zamora said, "I hope that what they say will be the truth. After all, what we want is for the truth to come out." Zamora also said Estrada was not thinking about going into exile despite suggestions by several politicians and Church leaders.

Estrada's woes started last October when an estranged friend accused him of collecting more than 8 million dollars in illegal gambling payoffs and pocketing 2.6 million dollars in kickback from tobacco taxes. Estrada was impeached by the House of Representatives last November. His trial at the Senate, however, failed when his allies suppressed evidence about his allegedly ill-gotten wealth of up to 66 million dollars hidden in secret bank accounts.

(la/dpa)