Print

Mail

wiki links

Estrada pleads not guilty to charges of corruption

Philippine President Joseph Estrada pleaded not guilty yesterday to corruption charges for which he faces an impeachment trial.

The formal plea was entered by the president's team of lawyers as Estrada enjoyed a rare respite from an intensive opposition campaign for his resignation.

A week-long series of rallies and strikes ended on Thursday and opposition activists said protests would begin again next week, when the impeachment trial is scheduled to begin.

Estrada's lawyers said many of the accusations against the president were newspaper reports "which cannot take the place of allegations of ultimate fact."

"The accused denies the material allegedly constituting the charges or that they constitute impeachable offences," the plea said.

"The accused ... prays that a plea of not guilty be entered for him in the records of this case and thereafter ... a judgment of acquittal be rendered by the Senate."
This story has been viewed 1964 times.