Former Philippine President Estrada visits ailing mother before court hands down verdict

Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada got a furlough from house arrest to visit his ailing mother Sunday, three days before a court will hand down its verdict in his plunder trial.

Police brought the 70-year-old former leader to the hospital in his suburban hometown of San Juan from his sprawling estate in eastern Rizal province, where he has been under house arrest for most of the six-year trial.

Doctors said Estrada's 102-year-old mother underwent a tracheostomy to aid her breathing and uses a feeding tube, but was in stable condition Sunday at the San Juan Medical Center, where she was admitted last month.

One of Estrada's lawyers, Rene Saguisag, had asked the court to let the former president visit his mother "to accommodate a deep yearning of a son to be with a dearly beloved mother, whose time may soon be up, as it were."

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court gave Estrada a 10-hour pass.

After his two-hour stay at the hospital, Estrada went to his private residence, where he met his lawyers and political supporters.

The court announced Friday it will hand down its verdict on Wednesday. The trial ran from October 2001 to June 15.

Court spokesman Renato Bocar said the verdict will cover Estrada, who left the presidential palace amid massive street protests in 2001; his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada; and lawyer Eduardo Serapio.

Estrada's son, who is out on bail, told reporters they were confident of acquittal "if the Sandiganbayan decides on the merits of the case."

"The people still trust him and believe in him, based on the surveys," Estrada's son said.

He appealed to their supporters "to pray for the acquittal of President Estrada and for peace in our country."

Estrada, the second president toppled by a popular revolt after dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, is accused of illegally amassing about 4 billion pesos (US$81 million; euro62 million). He also is charged with falsely declaring his assets.

He has denied the charges and accused his successor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, of masterminding his removal in a conspiracy with leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and senior military officers.

Estrada, a former action movie actor who often portrayed underdog heroes, has repeatedly said he was confident he would be acquitted, and has rejected any suggestions of a pardon by Arroyo.

Saguisag has said Estrada was not interested in regaining power if acquitted and has promised "not to do anything incompatible with the national interest."

Police officials said they will deploy about 6,000 officers and soldiers for possible unrest by Estrada's supporters when the verdict is announced Wednesday.