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A defiant Nur Misuari, former Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor, said yesterday that the Philippines was as much on trial as he when police brought him out in public for the first time since jailing him over three months ago.

The Supreme Court asked Defence Secretary Angelo Reyes and Executive Secretary Albert Romulo to defend the holding of the joint U.S.-Philippine war games on Basilan island where the Abu Sayyaf Group is holding one Filipina and two American hostages.

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected the second plea of deposed president Joseph Estrada who sought a reversal of the verdict of the 13 justices who had said he was no longer the president and had lost his immunity from prosecution.

The Ombudsman's office backtracked on five of eight cases lodged against former President Joseph Estrada, saying it would concentrate on the plunder cases, a capital non-bailable crime punishable by death.

On the eve of the Supreme Court's hearing of former President Joseph Estrada's second appeal, several senatorial candidates called on the former president to be penitent and to ask for forgiveness for his "sins committed against the Filipino people".

Ousted Philippines president Joseph Estrada, his wife and son and a number of close business associates were yesterday charged on eight counts of plunder and corruption by Philippines ombudsman Aniano Desierto.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been criticised for her perceived leniency towards former president Joseph Estrada, although she has not reacted to those who believe her compassion has a political agenda - to get more opposition senators to her side for control of the upper house of Congress.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo released 50 of the 100 supporters of former president Joseph Estrada from jail yesterday in what is being seen as "a time of healing".