PNP placed on alert for pro-Estrada rallies

With the imminent arrest of former President Joseph Estrada, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has laid out a contingency plan against possible rallies by his rabid supporters who have held a vigil outside the disgraced leader’s San Juan residence.

"We have a contingency plan... we are on red alert," said PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Rodrigo de Garcia. He admitted, however, that there were no reports yet of rallies or civil disturbance campaigns of the so-called Erap loyalists.

A retired actor, Estrada was unseated in a military-backed civilian uprising last Jan. 20 amid corruption allegations, but he maintained that he still enjoyed wide support especially among residents of blighted communities.

He said he has appealed to his supporters to stay calm and renounce violence in case he is arrested and jailed for the capital offense of plunder leveled against him by the Arroyo administration, as well as seven other charges, most of them involving graft and corruption.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Adelberto Adan said members of Estrada’s military security force have been told not to resist any arrest order and follow the chain of command within the military.

"They are not his private guards. They will not resist any arrest order, otherwise, they will also be submitted to prosecution," Adan said.

"They are there mainly to protect the former president from any harm, but not to resist any arrest order," Adan said.

He added that once Estrada is detained, all his security detail would be recalled to barracks.

Estrada has insisted on his innocence and expressed confidence the prosecution’s evidence against him was weak.

However, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, a member of the prosecution panel in the failed impeachment trial of Estrada last December and January, believed that they have a strong case against the former president, adding that the Sandiganbayan would issue soon an arrest warrant against Estrada and the other respondents.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, who supervised the filing of the cases before the anti-graft court, said he expected the arrest warrant to be issued today.

Speaking to reporters, Estrada reiterated his appeal to supporters to avoid violence in case he is arrested.

"Whatever happens, I am placing my fate in the hands of God," he said.

Estrada has also said if the prosecution failed to present strong evidence against him, the court could allow him to post bail for his temporary liberty.

This was the same sentiment of re-electionist Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who threatened to lead a people power III if what she called the political persecution of Estrada continued.

Plunder, which involves illegally amassing wealth in excess of P50 million, is non-bailable and carries the maximum penalty of death.

Besides plunder, Estrada is also facing charges of pocketing more than P400 million in bribes from illegal gambling operators, skimming tobacco excise tax, and earning P189 million in commissions from the purchase by the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System of stocks in Belle Corp., a gaming corporation owned by one of his cronies, Dante Tan.

Probable cause

Desierto said the Sandiganbayan may find "probable cause" to order Estrada’s arrest.

Asked if the arrest could take place today, Desierto said they had expected it since the prosecutors have submitted all the evidence in the case.

The Sandiganbayan has yet to act on motions by the state prosecutors to withdraw five of the graft cases so that they could focus on the major charge of plunder.

Estrada said the other day he was willing to be jailed, even as he expressed confidence that the plunder case filed against him by state prosecutors was weak and may be dropped by the Sandiganbayan.

"I am prepared to go to jail," Estrada told The STAR, adding he has no plans of becoming a fugitive from justice.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina said Estrada will be assured of maximum safety and accorded courtesy and respect befitting a former head of state.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said he himself would lead the team that would arrest Estrada once the Sandiganbayan issues the order.

"I’m available to lead the arrest, if that is necessary," Mendoza told reporters at Camp Crame.

The PNP has been on alert since last week following the filing of plunder and other graft cases against Estrada who was unseated last Jan. 20 in a military-backed popular uprising.

"We will move as soon as we receive the order from the court for Mr. Estrada’s arrest," Mendoza said. "We made preparations for all kinds of scenario."

Police, he said, have taken preventive measures to head off any possible outbreak of violence as a result of the arrest.

But the coalesced opposition Puwersa ng Masa-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PnM-LDP) described as part of a ploy to condition the public mind the administration’s move to float the imminent arrest of Estrada.

"This is another form of disinformation campaign of the administration, as the possibility is still remote that Estrada will be arrested until next week," Estrada lawyer Raymund Fortun said in a statement.

Fortun clarified that there were still pending motions at the Sandiganbayan relative to the plunder charge that makes it unlikely for the anti-graft court to issue an arrest warrant.