Estrada trial to begin October 1

Ousted President Joseph Estrada’s trial for plunder will start on Oct. 1.

Beginning Oct. 1 and until December, Estrada, his son former San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Edward Serapio, will appear at the Sandiganbayan every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to be tried for plunder, the most serious of the accusations against them.

Associate Justice Teresita de Castro set the date of trial in open court yesterday for the justices to hear the defense and prosecution on allegations that Estrada accumulated an illicit fortune in his 31 months in office.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto told reporters yesterday a trial could last more than six months.

However, Estrada’s lawyers led by Cleofe Verzola said the Sandiganbayan should first settle at least two principal issues:

• The defense’s motion to include former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson in the plunder case.

• The prosecution’s motion to subpoena records of alleged Estrada bank accounts.

Verzola said the anti-graft court should also wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling on Estrada’s petition for certiorari questioning the constitutionality of the plunder law.

"Why the rush," she said. "These two vital issues should first be resolved by the court. We will file immediately a motion for reconsideration."

Estrada is to stand trial starting Oct. 29 on the lesser charge of perjury stemming from accusations that he underreported his net worth in a 1999 declaration of assets.

Prosecutors said Estrada lied when he declared net assets of P35 million in 1999.

Prosecutors alleged Estrada had more than P1.8 billion at the time in several bank accounts.

Estrada’s lawyers said the ousted President will take the witness stand for the first time at the perjury trial to testify on his own behalf.