Philippine Supreme Court Asked to Lift Temporary Ban on Estrada CaseThe Office of the Ombudsman filed a motion with the Supreme Court on Monday asking it to lift an order temporarily restraining the government from filing criminal charges against ousted President Joseph Estrada."If the Supreme Court lifts the order, then we could come up with a resolution as soon as possible," Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said as he asked the high tribunal in the motion to set aside the order. The Supreme Court issued the order on February 20 restraining Desierto's office from filing charges against Estrada for 30 days to allow it more time to consider Estrada's petitions stating he is still the legitimate president and immune from lawsuits. The Supreme Court ruled Friday against Estrada's petitions, but it decided Saturday to maintain the order as Estrada has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration regarding the ruling. Desierto's office is investigating a host of corruption-related charges against former president, including economic plunder which carries death penalty. Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said Monday that another plunder case will be filed Wednesday against Estrada, accusing him of earning more than 3.9 million U.S. dollars in commissions by arranging stock investments by two state-run pension agencies in a company that operated a gambling game. The government has ordered the military and police and relevant government agencies to watch closely the movements of Estrada lest he flee the country to escape prosecution. Estrada, who returned to Manila Sunday night from a campaign sorties outside the capital for the opposition candidates for the May 14 congressional elections, has denied he was attempting to escape. The former leader was toppled on January 20 in a military- backed popular revolt which installed the then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in his place. |
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