The Philippines said yesterday it had ordered police, airports and ports to block any attempt by ousted president Joseph Estrada to leave the country and avoid potential prosecution for alleged plunder of the economy.
But Estrada dismissed the suggestions.
"Those are all rumors," he said. "I have said time and again, I was born here, I live here and I will die here. I have no intention whatsoever of leaving the country."
Justice Minister Hernando Perez issued the alert following a Supreme Court ruling on Friday dismissing Estrada's claim that he was still legitimate president and immune from prosecution.
Perez also said if he were Estrada's lawyer he would advise him to try to escape because the evidence against him was "very strong."
Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said on Saturday that it would be decided by today whether to file charges against Estrada over a range of alleged offences including bribery, corruption, perjury and economic plunder. Plunder is punishable by death.
The former movie actor, who has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence, said he was surprised by Friday's court decision.
"I was a bit shocked because legal luminaries said I had a strong case," Estrada said.
The former president, forced from office by a popular revolt in January when his impeachment trial collapsed, flew to Mindanao in the south of the archipelago last week to help his wife campaign for a Senate seat in the May legislative elections.
Air Transportation Office chief Anacleto Venturina said that his office, as well as all police agencies around the country, had received orders from the Department of Justice "to prevent the departure" of Estrada.
Perez said all private ports around the country had been ordered to keep watch for Estrada.
Companies operating chartered flights have been alerted.
"We have told them that if they allow their aircraft to be used by the former president to escape, that their planes will be impounded upon their return," the justice minister said.
President Gloria Arroyo, swept into power by the ousting of Estrada on Jan. 20, said the Supreme Court decision removed "any and all doubts" that had clouded her presidency.
Justice Francis Garchitorena, chief of the anti-graft court which would try Estrada if charges were formally filed, said the filing of a plunder case against the ex-president would not mean he would be immediately arrested.
He said the court would need to first review the prosecution case and see if there was probable cause or sufficient evidence.
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