Arroyo visits Estrada amid tight election race

Estrada can still provoke supporters against the Arroyo administration

By CNN's Rufi Vigilar

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has made a surprise visit to deposed leader Joseph Estrada, as a majority win by the ruling party in Monday's national elections remains unclear.

The elections for local posts and the two houses of Congress, seen as a proxy war between Arroyo and Estrada, have shown five opposition candidates within the "Magic 13" slots for the Senate in the latest tally.

Arroyo needs nine more slots in the 24-member Senate to gain a committed majority. An opposition majority in the Senate could delay or even block Arroyo's policy reforms.

Presidential spokesman Roberto Tiglao denied that Arroyo's visit was related to the May 14 national polls, saying "the elections are over."

Arroyo's private visit to Estrada, who has been in hospital since complaining of chest pains days before the polls, is the second she has made since his arrest and detention in late April for alleged plunder.

Estrada could still accuse the government of cheating his party's candidates and provoke his supporters to create political instability, in light of their failed but violent Labor Day march on the presidential palace.

The violence led President Arroyo to declare a week-long state of rebellion, under which arrests without warrants could be made on suspected coup plotters.

Three suspected coup plotters who are running for re-election as senators are among the five opposition candidates holding on to their positions in the Senate race, besides Estrada's wife Loi Ejercito and his former executive secretary.

But Tiglao said that President Arroyo visited Estrada on hearing of his supposed bouts of depression over the possibility of being brought back to detention in a police camp south of Manila.

Extended stay

Estrada may stay longer in hospital after medical check-ups are completed Saturday.

Arroyo needs to gain a Senate majority to push policy reforms

Tiglao confirmed that both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and doctors have recommended that Estrada remain in hospital for security and medical reasons.

"It's his call," Tiglao said of security considerations by PNP director general Leandro Mendoza.

Tiglao also said doctors have recommended Estrada's extended stay at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center where medical staff could keep closer watch.

Special arrangements at the hospital for Estrada "could be evaluated," Tiglao said.

President Arroyo is open to granting Estrada's plea for house arrest, Tiglao confirmed but added the decision will come from the court handling the deposed leader's corruption case.

The court is due to assess the recommendations of doctors and the police before deciding on Estrada's house arrest plea before the end of the month.

Legal questions

The Philippine National Police has been asked to explain why it had failed to bring back Estrada to detention.

Legal questions also surround the favor the court granted Estrada to allow him to leave prison to vote.

University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque said that there was "no precedent" that allows a suspected criminal to leave jail to exercise the right to vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.