Estrada's mistresses may testify in trial

Estrada praised his wife Luisa (right) for tolerating him

The mistresses and relatives of Philippine President Joseph Estrada may be summoned to testify in the impeachment trial he is facing over bribery and corruption charges, officials said Friday.

We are discussing all the witnesses in connection with the alleged ill-gotten wealth

Congressman Roan Libarios

The announcement came as Mr Estrada, who says he is being framed, appealed for an end to the bitter bickering that has accompanied the fierce campaign for his resignation, mounted by the opposition.

Congressman Mike Defensor said the mistresses "from 02 to 08" - referring to the president's code names for them - would probably be summoned to testify at trial, set to open in the Senate on 7 December.

There have been strong protests calling for his resignation

"They will be called. I think so. From 02 to 08," the Philippine Inquirer quoted him as saying.

Mr Estrada has openly admitted having had mistresses in the past and children out of wedlock.

Roan Libarios - one of the 11 prosecutors from the House of Representatives - said the list of all witnesses and documents needed for the trial would be completed soon.

Let us stop our bickering and backstabbing and fault-finding... instead let us unite and work together to fast-track our development

President Estrada

"We are discussing all the witnesses in connection with the alleged ill-gotten wealth, palatial mansions and other possessions," he said.

One of the charges President Estrada is facing is that he built luxurious mansions for some of his mistresses.

Senate staff have been hastily drawing up draft rules for the trial based on those used in President Bill Clinton's impeachment process in the United States.

Call for unity

Mr Estrada called for unity when he visited a military hospital on Friday and reiterated he would complete his term in office, which ends in 2004.

Mr Estrada's supporters have also taken to the streets

"Let us stop our bickering and backstabbing and fault-finding," he said.

"Instead let us unite and work together to fast-track our development... let us unite in fighting poverty in our country."

He said that he was ready to testify. "I believe that the truth will prevail in the end," he said.

Defections

On Monday, a writ will be served on Mr Estrada, giving him 10 days to reply to the charges against him.

To oust him from power, two-thirds of senators - 15 of 22 - must find him guilty in the trial, the first in the country's history.

Eight senators have said they will stick by Mr Estrada, despite a string of defections.

The scandal blew up when a provincial governor, a former drinking and gambling partner of Mr Estrada's, accused him of pocketing more than $8m in bribes from illegal lottery syndicates.