By RICHARD LLOYD PARRY Herald correspondent
MANILA - Tens of thousands of people occupied the centre of Manila yesterday to mark the start of the impeachment trial of Philippines President Joseph Estrada.
More than 50,000 people attended an open-air Mass on the Manila waterfront. Others converged on the Philippines Senate building, where lawyers from both sides made their opening arguments in the first impeachment trial of an Asian head of state.
Jeers and chants could be heard from outside as prosecutors in the chamber summarised a list of offences allegedly committed by the President, including corruption, lying under oath, and stealing public money.
Television screens in the chamber showed images of his numerous mistresses, the mansions he allegedly bought for them, and the rich friends and lawyers who are accused of having colluded in his misdeeds.
At one point the prosecutors displayed the blown-up image of the President's signature on the Philippines 500 peso bank note, alongside a 146 million peso ($6.85 million) cheque, written out in the name of a mysterious holding company, to one of the President's cronies.
The handwriting in both signatures appeared to be the same, although the names were different.
Estrada was not present. His aides said he was watching the proceedings on television over a cup of coffee in the presidential palace.
The key prosecution witness is Luis Singson, a former gambling and drinking companion of the President, who fell out with him after he failed to gain the rights to run a nationwide gambling game.
At one point yesterday, the prosecutors flashed up photographs of some of President Estrada's mansions, one of which contained a specially designed swimming pool with sand and artificial waves, and a huge master bedroom.
Opinion polls suggest that among his core constituency, the rural poor, the President, fondly known by his nickname, "Erap," has not lost his support.
A few thousand of his supporters yesterday jeered in a good natured way at the anti-Estrada crowds.
To dismiss Estrada from office at least eight of the 22 senators must vote to convict him. The political composition of the chamber makes it uncertain whether this will be achieved.
A verdict from the hearing is not expected before mid-January.
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