Arroyo warns of attempts to disrupt Estrada trial

Security forces guard the Malacanang presidential palace

By staff and wires

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has warned there will be attempts to disrupt the trial of former leader Joseph Estrada, who is charged with economic plunder and perjury.

Asked by CNN's Maria Ressa whether groups trying to undermine her fledgling administration will focus their efforts on Estrada's trial, Arroyo replied: "Well, they will try."

"They will try but I think they will not be able to succeed to that same extent," Arroyo said in the exclusive interview.

Estrada appeared in the Philippines anti-graft court for the first time on Wednesday, telling the judge he would follow the advice of his lawyer and not enter any plea.

His lawyers and some quarters of the Philippines police had argued to hold the trial away from the public, fearing Estrada would be the subject of an assassination attempt to disrupt the fledgling Arroyo administration.

VIDEO CNN's Maria Ressa has more on the Philippines, hit by problems of rebels and corruption trial of former President Estrada (June 27) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   IN DEPTH Profile:Joseph Estrada      CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

But the court ruled the case would be heard on its premises, forcing Estrada to travel some eight kilometers from the military hospital where he is being detained.

Call for restraint

The disgraced leader had asked his supporters to show restraint as he made his first court appearance since his April arrest, but thousands of troops guarded the court amid police reports of plots to assassinate the ousted leader.

Estrada, forced from office in January by a popular revolt, is the first former Philippine head of state to face trial on criminal charges.

He faces a perjury count for allegedly falsifying official papers on the extent of his assets.

The former movie star is to be arraigned next month on separate and more serious charges of graft, using an alias to hide his bank deposits and economic plunder, an offence punishable by death.

Estrada allegedly took millions of dollars in kickbacks and payoffs during 31 months in office. Lawyer advice

Arroyo told CNN she did not believe Estrada was being treated unfairly. "I don't think so. In fact, I'm being criticized for being too kind," she said.

She said the cases against Estrada are important to demonstrate "that there's a rule of law in the Philippines".

"We're talking here about thinking Philippine society. Precisely to demonstrate that there is a rule of law in the Philippines and that no man is above the law," she said.

Prosecution a 'duty'

Estrada says he will defend the charges

"We have to show - especially the very poor - especially those in the urban poor areas who idolize Estrada that persecution and prosecution are two different things. Prosecution is a duty. Persecution is an excess that civil societies - civilized societies don't resort to."

But the president said it was not necessarily important for Estrada to be found guilty, saying he was entirely not to blame for the nation's economic and political instability.

"We cannot pin everything on Estrada as if the whole future of the Philippines depends on his rise and fall. We have to move on," she said.

Television footage showed the 64-year-old Estrada, a former Philippines matinee idol, attending the court wearing the country's traditional barong shirt. His wife, Senator-elect Luisa Ejercito, and two of his sons accompanied him.

A witness at the court told CNN that Estrada was "gracious, relaxed and with no pretentions."

In a surprising twist, court officials addressed Estrada as "Mr. President," a social courtesy granted to all of the country's past heads of state.

After 45 minutes of court proceedings, Estrada was sent back to hospital, according to CNN's Maria Ressa.

Security

The capital was filled with troops to avoid a repeat of a May Day attack on the presidential palace by thousands of Estrada supporters. At least four people were killed in the May violence.

But only a handful of people waited outside the Sandiganbayan in light rain on Wednesday.

Estrada appealed to his supporters to "exercise sobriety and calm and to refrain from any act of violence."

Riot police earlier used their shields to push back about 50 left-wing activists carrying signs demanding that Estrada be brought to justice.

The former movie actor, who denies wrongdoing, was elected in 1998 on a pro-poor, anti-corruption platform with one of the largest margins in recent memory.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.