Estrada urges referendum

Beleaguered Philippine President Joseph Estrada called for a referendum on his rule last night, following the resignation of Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas, food chief Edno Joson, presidential adviser Lito Banayao and three congressmen from the ruling LAMP party.
"I am... willing to submit myself to a referendum to let the people decide whether I should stay as president or not," Estrada said in a statement.
The president also called on the congressmen, particularly his partymates, to speed up the impeachment process so he can prove his innocence. "I will prove my innocence not only in the senate. I will bring my cause before the public opinion," said Estrada.
"In the past few days, more and more people have asked for my resignation. They have pre-judged me. They have misconstrued my silence as acceptance of guilt," Estrada explained.
He added that he wanted the lower house of Congress to fast-track the impeachment complaint filed by the opposition last week.
Explaining his call for a referendum, Estrada said it was meant "to restore political and economic stability which my opponents wish to deny our country".
His lawyers, led by former Chief Justice Anders Narvasa and former Solocitor General Estelito Mendoza, stayed with Estrada for a long time at the presidential palace.
Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson said Estrada had received over the past two years a total of $8.7 million from illegal gambling syndicates and a $2.7 million kickback from a tobacco tax meant for the development of Ilocos Sur province. He was also accused of cronyism, and having a collection of mansions for his mistresses.
Estrada wanted the impeachment proceedings to go on, but sources said he might lose in the lower house, with yesterday's resignation of three pro-administration congressmen from the ruling party.
Congressmen Neptali Gonzales II, Ralph Recto and Dante Liban said they were outraged by the gambling and kickback scandal, adding that they believe the present administration could not reverse the country's economic downtrend, brought about by lack of confidence in Estrada.
"The handwriting is on the wall," said Recto, in reference to Estrada's possible ouster due to public opinion.
All of them vowed to sign the impeachment complaint, in open defiance of a party-line policy to support Estrada.
When asked if presidential adviser, Lito Banayo, has resigned, former opposition Congressman Hernani Perez said: "I was told about it in confidence."
Sources said Senate President Frank Drilon and two other cabinet members, identified as Food Secretary Edgardo Angara and Labour Secretary Bienvenido Laquesma, might resign from the ruling party.
The same source said Roxas and Drilon planned their resignation from Estrada's party in Hong Kong during the two-day holiday from October 31 to November 1. Another source said House Speaker Manuel Villar will announce his resignation today.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora was teary-eyed and his voice shook when he said: "I have received many requests from various sectors that I should resign, but I could not do that to a friend who is down and out."
The three congressmen who left the ruling party also said they would attend the November 4 prayer rally to be led by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, estranged Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, political leaders of the united opposition, members of non-government organisations, and cause-oriented groups.