Impeach Trial of Estrada Eyed to Finish by End-DecemberThe impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada at the Senate will begin next month and the chamber is hopeful it will be finished at the soonest possible time, newly elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel said November 14."I think realistically, we can start hearings in December. If this is done everyday, Mondays to Saturdays, then we will finish everything by end-December," Pimentel said in a radio interview. He said the Senate received late Monday night the articles of impeachment endorsed by the House of Representatives. In a hastily-read resolution on Monday, House Speaker Manuel Villar approved the forwarding of the impeachment case against President Estrada to the senate. Amidst attempted interruptions from pro-administration congressmen, Villar finished reading his endorsement to the cheers of the crowd in the gallery. The impeachment complaint, which was filed on October 18 in the House, charges Estrada with graft and corruption, betraying public trust, accepting bribes and violating the country's constitution. The complaint is largely based on allegations of Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson that Estrada pocketed more than US$11 millions from illegal gambling operators and provincial tobacco kickbacks. Estrada has denied all the impeachment charges and even urged the House to speed up the process so he can clear his name in a senate trial. |
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