Deposed Philippine president Joseph Estrada refused to enter a plea on a charge of perjury yesterday when he appeared before a court guarded by thousands of troops.
Despite police warnings of a plot by unnamed groups to assassinate Estrada and foment nationwide chaos, only a few dozen anti and pro-Estrada demonstrators rallied outside the court-house and the court appearance went off without a hitch.
"Your honor, I will have to follow the advice of my lawyer and not enter any plea," Estrada told the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, becoming the first former Philippine head of state to face trial on criminal charges.
The court automatically entered a plea of "not guilty" for Estrada and set the next hearing for Aug. 2.
Around 2,500 troops guarded the court house while more than 2,000 were deployed around the presidential palace. Police had said the plan to kill Estrada was part of a larger plot to overthrow President Gloria Arroyo.
Estrada has been charged with perjury for allegedly failing to disclose all his assets in a 1999 financial declaration in which he placed his net worth at 35.8 million pesos (US$688,500). The prosecution has accused him of owning interests in businesses and maintaining bank deposits which he did not include in his official declaration.
The former movie star is to be charged next month on separate charges of graft, using an alias to hide his bank deposits and economic plunder, an offence punishable by death.
Perjury is punishable by a minimum jail term of six months and a maximum term of two years and four months.
Estrada's lawyer Raymund Fortun told reporters the deposed leader was advised not to make a plea because the prosecution had not made clear under what law the former president was being tried and what specific wrongful acts he had committed.
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