Philippine Leader May Allow House Arrest for Predecessor

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met Saturday with her ousted predecessor, Joseph Estrada, and the Philippine government indicated that it might drop its objections to house arrest for the detained former leader.

Arroyo visited Estrada at a government hospital after hearing that Estrada was depressed at the prospect of being transferred back to a detention center, presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said.

She has no objection to house arrest for Estrada, Tiglao told reporters.

“The prosecution team has to heed the word of the president. If it has any strong objection, it has to convince the president,” he said.

However, Arroyo was giving police the right to object to house arrest if they feel there is a security threat to Estrada, Tiglao said.

Arroyo, elected separately as Estrada’s vice president, was sworn in to replace him Jan. 20 as Estrada packed to leave the presidential palace in the face of mass street protests demanding his resignation over corruption allegations.

Estrada was arrested in April and is charged with plunder for allegedly pocketing millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks during 2 1/2 years in office. He was recently hospitalized after authorities said he came down with minor ailments.

The government claimed that a May 1 attempt by tens of thousands of Estrada supporters to storm the presidential palace was orchestrated by opposition leaders as part of a plot to kill both Arroyo and Estrada and install their own junta.

National Police Chief Leandro Mendoza said the danger is not necessarily over. “You cannot discount threats,” he said.

Arroyo barred the media from covering her meeting with Estrada, which came as officials continued to count ballots from Monday’s contentious elections for half of the Senate, all of the House of Representatives and thousands of local government offices.

With 42% of 30 million votes counted in an unofficial tally, Arroyo allies appeared likely to secure eight of the 13 open Senate seats, with four going to Estrada backers and one to an independent candidate with opposition ties.

In their meeting Saturday, Estrada congratulated Arroyo on her ruling coalition’s lead in the vote count, while Arroyo congratulated Estrada on his wife’s apparent victory in one of the Senate contests, Tiglao said.

Official results are expected later this week at the earliest.

Arroyo is looking for a strong show of support to boost her credibility after months of turmoil. Estrada’s arrest prompted six days of protests, which ended when six people were killed during the march on the presidential palace.