Defiant Estrada appears in court

A visibly stricken Estrada sits in a courtroom where he is being tried for plunder

MANILA, Philippines -- Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada's turned up unshaven and in slippers at the start of his trial on charges of economic plunder and said he was a victim of "judicial terrorism."

The three-judge bench rejected all his appeals for a waiver from appearing personally at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, the first time a Philippine head of state is facing trial on criminal charges.

They then ordered the trial to begin although the former president had no counsel present. If convicted, Estrada faces the death penalty or life imprisonment.

"You can see already that I cannot get a fair trial," a visibly irritated Estrada told Reuters news agency before leaving at the end of the day's proceedings.

None of Estrada's lawyers on record were present -- they said the date for the trial was set without their consent -- and the former president rejected counsel appointed by the court. That lawyer also said he did not want to represent Estrada.

First witness

Estrada appeared in court without slippers

Nevertheless, the first prosecution witness, a vice-chairman of gaming firm Belle Corp, took the stand and will continue testimony when proceedings resume on October 17.

Prosecution lawyers said the witness would testify that Estrada forced two state pension funds to buy into the company in exchange for commissions of 189 million pesos ($3.7 million).

Estrada told radio stations in the morning that he would not appear and that he was being tried by a "kangaroo court."

But finally, he walked in about an hour late at 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) after being advised by counsel not to resist police who had been ordered to bring him in bodily if necessary.

Ousted in a "people power" revolt in January, Estrada, 64, is accused of economic plunder for allegedly amassing more than four billion pesos (about $78 million) during his 31 months in office.

The former president, who has denied the charges against him and been in police custody since April, told the judges that he did not have to be there.

"Forgive me for my attire," said Estrada, who was dressed in a crumpled beige trouser, a T-shirt and a beige jacket. In contrast to his usual matinee idol image, he was unshaven and was in leather slippers.

"I was not prepared."

Hundreds of pro-Estrada loyalists protested outside the court, claiming the former president was being victimized. Scores of policemen were on guard, but there was no violence.

Pleas to leave

Some thousand dollars was spent the past two times Estrada was escorted to court

Estrada, seated in the front row of the court, repeatedly walked up to the bench and appealed to be allowed to leave.

"No, you cannot go," said Associate Chief Justice Anacleto Badoy, the chief judge. "Enough time has been wasted already."

Estrada's lawyers had also appealed to the Supreme Court to postpone the trial, but the court rejected the petition.

Estrada said the government twice gave him the option to leave the country after he was ousted.

Estrada also faces charges of graft, perjury and illegal use of an alias which will be heard separately by the Sandiganbayan.

In the plunder case, Estrada is accused of taking 545 million pesos in bribes from illegal gambling syndicates, pocketing excise taxes intended for tobacco farmers and receiving hefty commissions from stock market deals involving state firms.

Reuters contributed to this report.