Estrada 'ready to face impeachment trial'

President Joseph Estrada has said he cannot wait to defend himself and refute the charges filed against him before the Senate. His trial is scheduled for December 7.

"As I have said many times before, I am ready to face trial. This is the chance I've been waiting for to prove that there is no truth to the allegations against me," Estrada said in a radio programme.

"We all want justice. And I am sure this will not be denied, so long as we respect the Constitution," he said, adding: "I have kept my silence also because I believe in our constitutional processes."

He vowed to work harder for the people, and urged the opposition to pray for unity and economic development, instead of encouraging political rifts and casting doubt on the impeachment process. "We really should pray, but I hope they (the opposition, including Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin) pray for the unity of the people, and not add anything political in the prayer rally," said Estrada.

"I appeal to them that the since the Constitutional process is already in place, let us not go out in the streets, let us all work, pray, and work because, as the saying goes, God has compassion, but man has to work hard."

Estrada reaffirmed his faith in the chief justice who will preside, and the 22 senators who will act as jurors in the coming Senate impeachment trial. Estrada allayed anew fears that his administration would railroad the impeachment proceedings, to escape conviction.

Critics alleged the presidential office had exerted pressure on the senators withpayoffs and other political favours. Noting that the presidential office was not exerting any influence on the Senate where the majority is still for the president, Estrada said: "This is clear proof that the processes under our Constitution move freely without any attempt whatsoever from the executive branch to block or influence the case."

Estrada also called for a fast track process in the Senate, but observers said pro-administration congressmen are set to file a motion before the Supreme Court tomorrow to stop the impeachment trial because allegedly the procedure observed by the lower house in elevating the impeachment issue to the upper house of Congress was improper.

The chief justice and the Senate unanimously threw out a similar motion filed by Estrada's lawyers last week. Estrada said since the jueteng scandal broke out last October, he has followed his lawyers advice and said little about his side of the case.

The alleged receipt of an estimated $8.7 million payoff from gambling lords is among the issues raised against him in his impeachment trial. He was also accused of skimming off $ 2.7 million from $4.2 million tobacco excise tax intended for tobacco farmers innorthern Luzon. Unfortunately, he said, his political opponents have exploited his silence and blown the case out of proportion. They have called for his resignation.