Estrada 'interfered in murder trial'

Estrada: Accused of meddling in murder trial

Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been accused of intervening in a notorious murder case in an attempt to seek the acquittal of a friend's son.

The startling allegation came from opposition senator Rene Cayetano, one of 22 senators acting as the jury in Mr Estrada's impeachment trial on corruption charges.

There have been strong calls for Estrada to resign

Mr Cayetano said Mr Estrada had tried to put pressure on a judge and prosecutor in the recent murder trial of the son of former Senator Freddie Webb.

Webb and five other men from rich families were sentenced to life last year after being found guilty of the 1991 murders of Estrellita Vizconde and her daughters, aged 18 and seven.

The older girl was raped repeatedly before being stabbed 17 times, according to court records.

Summoned

Mr Cayetano said Mr Estrada had sought his help in 1988 in trying to influence both the judge and the chief prosecutor in Webb's trial, but he refused.

Estrada says he still has grassroots support

He said the following year Mr Estrada summoned the prosecutor, Jovencito Zuno, and judge, Amelita Tolentino, and told them Webb should be cleared of murder.

"Ms Tolentino was told by Estrada that 'Webb is innocent and you should acquit him'. She was so shocked that she could not speak," Mr Cayentano added.

"Obviously the president was involved in unlawful and malicious interference in the administration of justice."

Mr Estrada's spokesmen dismissed the allegations as "fabrication".

Insider trading

The senator's attack came after he was accused by one of Mr Estrada's friends of making huge profits from an insider-trading scandal.

But Mr Cayentano said Mr Estrada was waging a smear campaign against him because he had rebuffed his request to intervene in the Vizconde murder case.

Although the senator made his allegations during Mr Estrada's impeachment trial, they are not related to the corruption and bribery charges against him.

Mr Estrada is accused of receiving more than $10m in kickbacks from illegal gambling syndicates and skimmed off taxes.

He will be forced out of office if found guilty by two-thirds of the Senate.