Philippine Senate Takes On Role of Impeachment Court

Philippine senators donned the black robes of impeachment jurors Monday and sent a summons to President Joseph Estrada accusing him of corruption and constitutional violations.

Estrada will have 10 days to respond to the charges in the 270-page articles of impeachment, after which the Senate will begin the first impeachment trial of a Philippine leader.

The president, who has been in office two years, pledged Monday to abide by the trial’s outcome but warned that he will be less tolerant of street protests if the Senate acquits him.

“I will accept whatever decision the Senate hands down and the opposition should do the same,” he said in a radio interview. “They should respect our constitution [and] if they don’t . . . then they had better prepare, I will make sure the constitution is followed at whatever cost.”

The Senate hall was packed with visitors, reporters and television cameras, as the 22 senators put on their black robes, declared themselves an impeachment court and took an oath to be impartial jurors.

Estrada cannot be compelled to testify. Asked Monday if he would, he replied, “If necessary, why not?”

Estrada’s chief aide, executive secretary Ronaldo Zamora, received the summons and the impeachment articles at the presidential palace.

“I understand his answer is already being prepared,” he said.

Estrada is accused of taking bribes, betraying the public trust, violating the constitution, graft and corruption. He denies any wrongdoing.

Allegations of cronyism and corruption have dogged Estrada’s presidency almost from the start. But allegations last month by a provincial governor that Estrada took millions of dollars in payoffs from illegal gambling bosses and from tobacco taxes plunged the country into its worst political crisis in years.

The turmoil has badly hurt the peso and stock market. More than a dozen business groups have asked Estrada to resign to avoid a drawn-out impeachment process.

In radio interviews Monday, Estrada insisted again that he would not step down.