Estrada refuses to plead his case

Former president Joseph Estrada yesterday told the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court that he wouldn't care if the charges of perjury filed against him be read in Filipino, English, or even Japanese.

"I don't care whether it is [in] Japanese," Estrada said when Sandiganbayan Justice Minita Nazario asked whether he wanted the charges to be read to him in English or Filipino, during his arraignment on a second perjury charge.

He refused to enter a plea, however, saying that he wouldn't be taking part in the proceedings anyway.

After Justice Nazario asked the clerk of court to read the charge-sheet in English, Estrada replied, "As I have said earlier, I refuse to enter a plea. I refuse to participate in any proceeding [of the special division]."

Justice Nazario promptly asked the clerk of court to enter a not guilty plea for Estrada. Retired Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel Pamaran, one of the lawyers appointed by the court for Estrada, tried to stop the arraignment, adding he was not given the documents of the perjury case filed against his client.

The court rejected the appeal and scheduled the pre-trial hearing on the perjury case on April 22. Estrada is accused of falsifying the extent of his earning in a declaration of assets and liabilities in 1998.

The Sandiganbayan has allowed Estrada not to attend the hearings of his cases before the special division, on the condition that he no longer voice out criticism to the media.

Justice Nazario explained to Estrada that the court was forced to make him face the latest hearings because of his earlier allegations that the Sandiganbayan's special division was created to convict him.

Although Estrada promised not to criticise the anti-graft court, he added that he always would look for a reason should he want to criticise it.

"Justice Nazario showed signs of impartiality. She granted my petition on the condition that I do not criticise the court without a basis. She also said I should have a basis for criticising the court. I think that's fair enough," Estrada said at a press conference.

He said it is difficult for him to attend his trial from his nearby detention cell at the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre. It is expensive for the government, which deploys a large police contingent in bringing him to court, he argued.

Meanwhile, Estrada said he would look for alternative medicine for his ailing knee since he has given up hope to be allowed to travel to the U.S. for a surgery. "I wish that there would be a miracle medicine that can cure my knees," he said.

"I would not allow myself to be operated here in the country. I'd rather be crippled," said Estrada, adding he would need a maximum of three months for the operation and recuperation.

Earlier, Estrada reiterated his petition before the Sandiganbayan to undergo total knee replacement surgery in the U.S. He admitted that he does not trust the capability of local surgeons and the medical equipment in the Philippines to treat him.

Policemen arrested four of pro-Estrada demonstrators who held a rally at the Supreme Court and called for the ouster of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

The protesters acted in behalf of Estrada who had earlier accused Davide and some other justices of the high tribunal of partiality. They were the ones who swore in then Vice President Gloria Arroyo into the presidency after his ouster by a military-backed protest rallies in January 2001.

Estrada also alleged that Davide lobbied for his post in 1998 through beer and tobacco magnate Lucio Tan.

Estrada criticised the Supreme Court for creating the special division of the Sandiganbayan to handle all his corruption and plunder cases.

Police civil disturbance units were deployed along suburban Quezon City's Commonwealth road and around the court to contain any untoward incident.