Estrada aborts trips to France, Britain

President Estrada announced yesterday he is putting off his trip to France and England scheduled for next month, but would push through with a visit to the United States in July.

"I don't want to be out of the country every month, so I might as well postpone it (European travel)," the President said a day after returning from a shortened state visit to China.

"The President said it was more important to be here physically in the Philippines so that he could see for himself what is happening in Mindanao," Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said.

In an arrival speech Friday night, Mr. Estrada apologized to the Chinese government for his abbreviated visit.

"I believe the welfare of our people demands my

immediate attention," Mr. Estrada said.

The Chief Executive left last Tuesday for a scheduled five-day trip to China despite mounting criticisms that he was leaving the country amid mounting pressure for him to resolve two multiple hostage cases in Mindanao.

During his absence, there was a resurgence of bombing incidents in the South. A bomb also exploded in Makati City, the country's premier financial district, spreading uncertainty that helped push down both the peso and the capital market to 19-month lows.

A government panel tasked to negotiate for the safe release of 21 kidnap victims in Jolo, 19 of them foreigners, failed to accomplish its mission.

Mr. Estrada was scheduled to visit Washington DC on July 27 upon the invitation of President Bill Clinton.

Meanwhile, Malacañang sources said Mr. Estrada may also attend the state funeral on June 7 in Tokyo for Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

The sources also said while in the US, the President may take the opportunity to undergo eye treatment.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said the trip to France may be temporarily scrapped due to the hostage crisis in Jolo where three French nationals are among 21 people being held captive by extremist Abu Sayyaf rebels since April 23.