Impeachment Trial Appears Certain

President Joseph Estrada, under mounting pressure to resign in the face of corruption allegations, vowed to prove his innocence at an impeachment trial that now appears inevitable. Estrada’s comments came after a House committee sent an impeachment complaint to the full House, where 99 members of Congress already have signed a resolution endorsing impeachment. Estrada, who is accused of accepting millions of dollars in payoffs from illegal gambling operators, denied reports that talks were underway with opposition leaders for his graceful exit.