World | Philippines
Estrada to sue graft watchdog
Former President Joseph Estrada said he would sue for defamation an antigraft watchdog which cited him as the world's 10th most corrupt leader, a local paper said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:52 February 1, 2008
Manila: Former President Joseph Estrada said he would sue for defamation an antigraft watchdog which cited him as the world's 10th most corrupt leader, a local paper said.
"We will file charges against the Transparency International for that baseless statement. They should lay down their basis for tagging me as the 10th most corrupt leader. I will talk with my lawyers," Estrada told The Star in Hong Kong.
His recent inclusion in the list of rogue leaders was "shocking", said Estrada, adding that Transparency International should have "consulted me in the first place". Charges would be filed before the International Court, said Estrada, but he did not give a date. "The media fed disinformation against me... They demonised... [after] I was forced to step down ... in 2001."
Despite his conviction by the Sandiganbayan antigraft court for 700 million pesos (Dh63.7 million) plunder on September 12, 2007, Estrada insisted, "They [my accusers] were not able to prove it even after six years and six months that I was jailed."
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