Estrada: I haven't cut any secret deal with Arroyo

Former president Joseph Estrada denied rumours that he has struck a secret deal with President Gloria Arroyo.

"I have no control over party members who rejected the opposition's impeachment bid against Arroyo," said Estrada.

In a statement Estrada said, "I have never dictated to my friends and political allies. I never did this while I was being impeached [in 2000]. They have the freedom to choose."

Estrada denied that he negotiated with Arroyo for a presidential pardon in case the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court convicts him in the $78 million (about Dh287 million) case against him.

Estrada said the congressmen who did not vote for Arroyo's impeachment were not his party members.

"They were from the Nationalist People's Coalition. The others who did not vote for the impeachment belonged to another party," Estrada said.

Interestingly, one of the Congressman, Luis Asistio, who kept away from voting against Arroyo is a friend of Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy.

Luis Asistio went abroad while the Congressmen voted on the opposition's bid to impeach Arroyo.

The young Estrada confirmed his father's position, saying, "We have never entered into any deal or any transaction with this present government."

However, in the ongoing street protests against Arroyo, the stamp of Estrada was not seen.