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"Not Guilty" Plea for Estrada Filed to Philippine Senate
Defense lawyers entered a "not guilty" plea on Friday, December 1, to the four articles of impeachment filed by House prosecutors against Philippine President Joseph Estrada and asked the Senate impeachment tribunal to acquit the president.
The defense panel, in a 16-page answer, prayed that "a plea of NOT GUILTY be entered for him (President Estrada) in the records of this case and, thereafter, after due proceedings, a judgment of ACQUITTAL be rendered by the Senate."
The defense panel, composed of former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa,former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza and former Rep. Raul Daza,denied the president financially benefited, as alleged by the House,from the illegal gambling collection of South Ilocos Governor Luis Singson and from the diversion of the tax excise funds of Singson's province.
Also, the lawyers insisted that the president did not commit the four impeachable crimes -- bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution.
"He (President Estrada) has been faithful to his oath of office, "the defense lawyers stressed.
Also on Friday, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel said the five-day period given to House prosecutors to comment on the defense panel's answer starts Saturday (December 2) with a December 6 deadline.
Pimentel said the impeachment trial proper would commence the following day, December 7.
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