Philippine President Joseph Estrada was impeached by the country's House of Representatives amid scenes of pandemonium yesterday, but signs emerged that the former film actor could survive a trial in the Senate.
Estrada supporters also said the House's adoption of the impeachment motion, which comes after allegations the president took pay-offs from illegal gambling syndicates, was unconstitutional and that they would appeal to the Supreme Court to have it struck down.
PHOTO: AP
The prospect of lingering political uncertainty is likely to hit the country's financial markets anew, although trading is expected to be light today because of a general strike called by the opposition to press for Estrada' ouster.
There was an uproar in the House as Speaker Manuel Villar announced the first ever impeachment of a Philippine president at the start of the day's session.
Government supporters howled in protest that the usual rules, including a roll-call of members, declaration of a quorum and other formalities had not been observed while opposition lawmakers exchanged high-fives and chanted "Erap Resign."
Erap is Estrada's nickname.
"The resolution is being endorsed to the Senate in the same manner as prescribed in the rules of procedure," Villar said.
The opposition said 115 congressmen had endorsed the motion, more than the required one-third of the 218-member House.
"I did not want to be stopped on a technicality," Villar later told local television. "A vote was not necessary."
Villar and 45 other congressmen defected from the ruling coalition earlier this month after charges emerged alleging Estrada had taken bribes worth millions of pesos from illegal gambling syndicates.
The desertions pushed the government into a minority in the House.
The 22-member Senate, meanwhile, voted 12-7 to replace Senate President Franklin Drilon -- who defected from Estrada's coalition at the same time as Villar -- with Senator Aquilino Pimentel, who is viewed as being independent.
The move was mooted by an Estrada supporter. Two senators abstained from the vote and one was absent.
While there is no certainty the upper house will vote similarly in the impeachment trial, yesterday's result did indicate that the president's Senate supporters were more than previously believed.
To remove Estrada from office, two-thirds of the Senate has to vote in favor. The body is likely to begin the impeachment trial later this month.
Pimentel told the Senate any charges against Estrada had to be substantiated.
"The charges against the president are just that for the moment -- charges that are meant to be proven and established within the impeachment process," he said.
Congressmen supporting Estrada decried Villar's move and one said he would appeal to the Supreme Court to have the decision to endorse impeachment proceedings to the Senate struck down.
"We will question the proceedings taken by Speaker Villar and a violation of the rules of the house," said Representative Didagen Dilangalen. "The agreement was this will be discussed in the plenary."
Another government lawmaker, Constantino Jaraula, was also critical.
"The house was transformed into a market place, with the galleries shouting, clapping and singing. It is most unfortunate that Speaker Villar acted in desperation ... and tolerated mob rule."
Estrada, speaking hours before proceedings began in the two legislatures, reiterated his innocence and said no amount of protests could make him step down.
"This is the last time I will be serving the public so would I do that? ... I did not become president to rake up money," the embattled former film actor said.
The gambling pay-offs scandal has prompted calls from church and business leaders for Estrada to step down and badly hammered the economy, causing the peso to plummet to a historic low of 51.95 to the dollar two weeks ago.
Manila's main share index fell 33 points, or 2.2 percent, yesterday as investors, worried that the impeachment battle might drag on, liquidated positions after last week's strong rally.
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