Arroyo comes face to face with jailed Estrada

Arroyo thanks riot police for their role in protecting the presidential palace during Tuesday's protests

In this story: Elections will proceed Tough measures Lawyers wary Nothing dictatorial RELATED STORIES, SITES

By staff and wire reports

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has visited jailed ex-leader Joseph Estrada to check on his condition at a detention centre outside Manila.

CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition   IN-DEPTH Estrada: The downfall of a president   •  Timeline: Key events   •  Profile: Joseph Estrada   •  Audio: 'It's all a conspiracy'   •  Message board    VIDEO CNN's Veronica Pedrosa reports on how Philippine President Arroyo is handling what she calls a 'state of rebellion' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Kathy Quiano describes the situation Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) In the streets Monday night and Tuesday, there has been violence and arrests (May 1) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   AUDIO CNN Correspondent Maria Ressa reports on Arroyo's visit and on the latest situation in the Philippines. 1.79MB/2 min 46 sec AIFF or WAV sound CNN's Andrew Stevens speaks with Senator Enrile who was arrested for inciting protest 1.77MB/2:48 min. AIFF or WAV sound Philippine President Arroyo declares 'state of rebellion' 1.3MB/60 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO Philippine President Arroyo on the uprising in Manila

Press undersecretary Roberto Capco said the visit, which followed violent protests Tuesday outside the presidential palace by Estrada's loyalists, was made upon the invitation of the former leader's spiritual leader Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.

Arroyo met with Estrada, and his son Jinggoy, who both have been in detention since April 25 and face trial on the capital charge of economic plunder.

Arroyo visited the jail for about half an hour and the visit was designed to ensure that Estrada had the amenities and comfort due a former president, Capco said.

Meanwhile, government officials said Thursday that Philippine senate elections will go ahead on May 14, despite the nation's capital, Manila, being under a declared 'state of rebellion'.

Elections will proceed

"I don't want the elections postponed," said Commission of Elections chairman Alfredo Benipayo.

His declaration comes amid a crackdown by Arroyo on high-profile supporters of former president Joseph Estrada -- some of whom are opposition candidates in the poll.

Arroyo declared the 'state of rebellion' after thousands of supporters marched on the presidential palace on Tuesday. She has since ordered the arrest, without court-issued warrants -- permissable under the declaration, of about a dozen senior opposition politicians who support Estrada.

The Philippines Supreme Court will hear evidence on the legality of the arrest orders later on Thursday afternoon. The Supreme Court is in a bind, as it swore Arroyo into the presidency last January and declared her presidency legitimate in March.

Six of those ordered arrested would be up for election on May 14. Arroyo accuses them of inciting Tuesday's riots, which left at least four people dead and more than 100 injured, to unseat the government.

Tough measures

Arroyo has vowed to take tough measures against violent protests to oust her from office and, under a state of rebellion declaration, the government can arrest individuals without a warrant.

The state of rebellion declaration is two steps short of declaring martial law.

Defending her decision to declare a 'state of rebellion' in Manila, the President said she may be forced to declare martial law if demonstrations against her government resume.

"I hope they will not provoke me to declare martial law," Arroyo told a news conference on Wednesday.

Military troops are still stationed at Malacanang Palace after Tuesday's riot

Among those arrested are Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and the former government's ambassador to Washington, Ernesto Maceda. They have been arrested and detained at police headquarters in Camp Crame.

Another suspect, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and former national police chief Panfilo Lacson are believed to have fled arrest.

Meanwhile, Estrada and his son Jinggoy remain in detention after being arrested last week on charges of economic plunder, which carries a possible penalty of death.

Lawyers wary

Lawyers including the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the largest national association of lawyers, issued a statement on Wednesday urging Arroyo to withdraw her 'state of rebellion' declaration.

Penned by the IBP president Arthur Lim, the position paper read: "The IBP cannot help but condemn this declaration of a state of rebellion in Manila, since it is obviously a prelude to, and justification for, a declaration of martial law or a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Metro Manila to justify the warrant-less arrest and rounding up of Senators Santiago, Honasan, Enrile and the rest."

"The IBP is greatly disturbed by this move of the government because the Constitution and the rule of law cannot be twisted or manipulated to serve partisan ends."

"By all means, law and order must be maintained, and this can be done by the government without declaring a state of rebellion or imposing martial law or suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus."

However, the successful curbing of protests cheered Manila financial markets, badly battered by months of political uncertainty.

Santiago refuses a government offer to turn state witness and faces arrest

Estrada ally Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Wednesday to prohibit police from arresting her without a warrant on charges of inciting rebellion.

The Arroyo government earlier offered Santiago freedom from arrest if she turned state witness, but she refused.

"Philippine democracy is now in its death throes with this latest act of President Arroyo," she said. "I am not afraid. Under this dictatorship, the detention cell is a place of honor."

Meanwhile, Maceda called his arrest on the same charges "politically motivated ... based on hate and vengeance."

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said the government might also order the arrest of two of Estrada's sons, Jose Victor Ejercito and Jude Estrada, on accusations of inciting the crowd to violence.

Nothing dictatorial

President Arroyo, however, tried to allay fears the declaration of a state of rebellion hinted of dictatorial tendencies.

"I tolerated the protests for six days, which shows I have respect for human rights," Arroyo told CNN.

She also said she was thinking of lifting the declaration by next week, saying such move would be made with the military's recommendation.

Asked if her tighter crackdown on opposition leaders would curtail free speech, she said: "Freedom of expression that's incendiary," referring to Tuesday's protests.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Arroyo links Estrada to rebellion
May 2, 2001
Lawyers question Arroyo's powers
May 1, 2001
Church urges Philippine counter-protest
April 29, 2001
Estrada arrest triggers angry protests
April 26, 2001

Philippine Office of the Press Secretary

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