Erap tells protesters: Please stay calm

President Estrada appealed for calm yesterday as the opposition held noisy demonstrations in Metro Manila and at least three other cities shortly before midnight Tuesday.

The spontaneous protests followed the Senate impeachment court’s vote to stop prosecutors from examining bank records they say would prove the Chief Executive acquired ill-gotten wealth during 18 months in office.

"Justl like in any important trial… you win some, you lose some," Mr. Estrada said in a statement. "Let us pray that we may be spared further violence, injuries and death that have stricken our country in recent times."

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado told reporters yesterday the military would remain neutral in the controversy and would not mix in the "political dynamics that may occur."

Several protesters built a bonfire at EDSA and East Avenue in Quezon City before midnight Tuesday and gathered to bash cans, yell and make other noise, as news of the vote hit the streets.

The Chief Executive expressed gratitude over the 11-10 Senate vote to keep prosecutors away from what they said was the most damaging evidence yet against Mr. Estrada.

"I thank the good Lord for giving us this initial favorable vote," the President said. "This is the first major vote in the many more major votes to be cast in the impeachment trial."

But economic managers of the administration reported to the President yesterday that the economy is indeed "hurting" over the continuing political upheavals due to the trial.

Finance Secretary Jose Pardo and other members of the Economic Coordinating Council met at Malacañang, during which Central Bank Governor Rafael Buenaventura said that the peso’s depreciation was "an overreaction" to recent developments.

Former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, a lead counsel for Mr. Estrada, argued that the impeachment court should bar access to the bank documents because the account was not specified in the original complaint and is therefore beyond the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

Senators who voted to keep the documents secret echoed the defense argument in explaining their decision.

"The articles of impeachment are not an open-ended charge sheet that can be expanded from day to day as new evidence is discovered," Sen. Teresita Aquino-Oreta said.

Ernesto Maceda, presidential spokesman for the impeachment trial, told reporters Mr. Estrada was happy to hear that the impeachment court voted 11-10 in his favor. – Marichu Villanueva