Estrada: I'm innocent

Mr Estrada, known as Erap, is under pressure to quit

Philippines President Joseph Estrada has gone on national television to deny any involvement in illegal gambling and said he would not resign. The following are excerpts from his nationwide address.

We are all aware that the Senate and the House of Representatives have held hearings on certain accusations made against me and my family over the issue of an illegal numbers game.

I did not receive even a single cent from the illegal numbers game or any form of illegal gambling

Thus far, the only evidence submitted consists of the self-serving testimony of a confessed key-player in illegal gambling. He has also been found to have clearly misused 2bn pesos of public funds by the Commission on Audit. I am confident that investigations will eventually clear my name.

I repeat. I did not receive even a single cent from the illegal numbers game or any form of illegal gambling. My conscience is clear. I am not hiding anything from our countrymen. I believe that truth will eventually prevail.

Selfish agenda

Estrada says he is the victim of a hatchet job

I regret that some quarters have hastily pre-judged the issue even without the benefit of an investigation.

For their own selfish political agenda some have asked for my impeachment; others have demanded my resignation.

I have been elected and given the mandate by our people to serve. I have sworn to fulfil this mandate. I ask our people not to easily jump to conclusions because this is not the way we must resolve our problems.

No resignation

A duly elected president cannot abandon the people's will on the mere basis of what is obviously a politically-motivated hatchet job

We must uphold the spirit of Constitution and the process it provides. As I respect the Constitution and its processes. I sincerely hope that everyone will do the same.

A duly elected president cannot abandon the people's will on the mere basis of what is obviously a politically-motivated hatchet job.

Our society is facing a lot of problems. We need to address the problems of our country especially on livelihood and economy. I admit that even if I am your president, I cannot fight poverty alone.

I need your help. We need to be united to face the poverty that affects the majority of our countrymen.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.