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Philippine President Rebukes Bribe Allegation
Philippine President Joseph Estrada rebuked Thursday allegations that he received illegal gambling money, saying a provincial governor offered him 200 million pesos (US$4 million) but he didn't accept the bribe.
In an interview with DZMM radio, the president said the 200-million-peso bribe money offered by Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson is still intact, adding that he would use this as evidence in his impeachment trial.
"I said I will not accept that," said Estrada, adding that Singson insisted on delivering the money and asked an aide to give the money to an aide of the president.
Estrada said the money was deposited in a bank account intended for Muslim youth scholars but he didn't touch the money. "That money is intact in the bank," he stressed.
Under Philippine law, public officials who "maliciously" fail to report or pursue punishment of a crime are subject to up to six years' imprisonment.
Sngson last month accused Estrada of accepting the money as bribes from illegal gambling syndicates, sparking calls from the opposition for the president to step down.
In the same interview, Estrada denied he would step down from office, saying there are no negotiations between his ruling LAMP party and opposition party Lakas-NUCD.
He also denied any "graceful exit" in the works, saying he will only step down when his term ends in 2004.
So far, Estrada has denied all the charges leveled against him and vowed to defend himself in impeachment proceedings being launched in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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