Philippines Politics

Eduardo (Danding) Cojuangco Jr. was the king of cronies. Under his friend and mentor, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Cojuangco amassed $1.5 billion in corporate assets through illegal monopolies and massive fraud, prosecutors say. And although it was never proved, President Corazon Aquino reportedly suspected her long-estranged cousin of a role in the 1983 assassination of her husband, Benigno S. Aquino Jr.

At least eight people were killed in two election-related incidents in the Philippines, police said Saturday. Police found the bodies of five supporters of the mayor of Batangas, a city south of Manila, who were abducted by gunmen Friday. Also Saturday, three people were killed in a clash between supporters of rival candidates in Calamba, a city in Laguna province, police said. The police chief in Batangas province, Senior Supt.

The noisy night rally of farmers, fishermen and their families suddenly grew quiet as Ramon Mitra Jr., candidate for president of the Philippines, dramatically lowered his voice to tell a painful personal story. "All candidates say they're going to do something about poverty," he said in soft, soothing tones. "I don't doubt the sincerity of their words. But do they really know how it is to be poor? Do they really know how it is to be hungry, really hungry? I do.

Citizens in the southern Philippines went to the polls to vote on whether to expand a Muslim autonomous area that the central government hopes could heal decades of bloody rebellion. Thousands of troops were on alert against possible attacks by Muslim guerrillas, but there were no reports of violence, officials said. Full results are not expected for a week, but early returns suggested the measure's defeat. A watchdog group said turnout was low.

Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos was acquitted Monday of all federal fraud and racketeering charges stemming from allegations that she helped loot her country. Jurors called the government's case inadequate, and some were apparently convinced that political factors influenced the prosecution. The case was tried "on the wrong side of the ocean," one said. Saudi businessman Adnan Khashoggi, a co-defendant on fraud and obstruction of justice charges, also was acquitted on all counts.

Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos left a hospital Sunday, saying she felt "much better" three days after she collapsed during her racketeering trial suffering from stomach pains and bleeding from the mouth. Wearing a black dress covered with a black shawl, Marcos was brought out of New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center on the Upper East Side in a wheelchair shortly before noon.

Attorneys for Imelda Marcos announced that they would not call witnesses in her defense after federal prosecutors rested their fraud and racketeering case against the former Philippine first lady Tuesday. With no defense case for either Marcos or co-defendant Adnan Khashoggi, the stage is set for jury deliberations to begin next week after final arguments by all sides. The decision by Marcos' lawyers was a surprise to some.

The Bush Administration is ready to begin phasing out U.S. military bases in the Philippines, acknowledging for the first time that the end of the Cold War has lessened the need for the facilities, sources said Thursday. With negotiations on the bases scheduled to begin Tuesday in Manila, U.S. negotiators will seek a phase-out period that could last up to 10 years.

A senior bank official told the impeachment trial of Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday that her boss ordered her to cover up Estrada's ownership of a multimillion-dollar account under a false name. The testimony by Clarissa Ocampo, senior vice president of Equitable PCI Bank, reopened the Senate's trial after a 10-day recess as prosecutors pressed their case that Estrada hid an undeclared fortune in a bank run by a friend.

Newly installed Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo faced the first challenge to her legitimacy Monday as the man she ousted, Joseph Estrada, contended that he was merely on temporary leave. Estrada has not formally resigned, and in a letter to Congress that was made public Monday, he said he had appointed Arroyo acting president to rule in his place. Estrada's government collapsed over the weekend, and he surrendered the presidential palace to Arroyo.

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada was ordered to stand trial in October on perjury charges, and he will testify in his own defense against the corruption charges that led to his ouster, his lawyers said. Estrada will tell the anti-graft court that he never lied about his assets and that he did not hold interests in 55 companies, as prosecutors allege, defense lawyers said. Estrada also faces a charge of plunder, a capital offense.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo outlined ambitious plans Monday to fight poverty, corruption and crime, but her proposal for a year without political bickering didn't make it through the afternoon. "We don't intend to stop as we are in the opposition and we will criticize the government responsibly," said Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel after Arroyo's first state of the nation address.

Joseph Estrada was arraigned on a perjury charge Wednesday and tersely answered an anti-corruption judge's questions, the latest episode in the downfall of the once-popular president. With last-minute efforts failing to delay the embarrassment of his becoming the first Philippine leader--in or out of office--to be arraigned, Estrada stood up in the packed courtroom, forced to go through the motions of any criminal defendant. "Mr. President, just for the record, how old are you?" the judge asked.

In the five months since Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took power, she has been tested at the barricades, at the ballot box and by Islamic rebels in the jungle. Her response has been consistent: tough talk and, if needed, military force. Sworn into office the same day as President Bush, Arroyo assumed power amid turmoil and has moved from one crisis to another ever since.

Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada voted from detention Monday in elections seen as a referendum on his successor, who was swept to power by street protests four months ago. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was sworn in Jan. 20 as Estrada packed to leave the presidential palace amid a political crisis over corruption allegations. Political analysts say Arroyo's coalition candidates need a strong showing in the race for 13 of the Senate's 24 seats.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised to arrest more opposition leaders and crack down on any new protests after clashes between security forces and backers of her jailed predecessor killed at least six people. She threatened a swift response to any attempt to rekindle violent demonstrations in support of former President Joseph Estrada. Arroyo declared a "state of rebellion" in Manila on Tuesday, giving police power to arrest without warrants.

It's show time in the Philippines. The presidential campaign is in full swing, and for sheer razzle-dazzle, mudslinging, rough-and-tumble entertainment there's nothing quite like it in Southeast Asia. The original cast of 83 candidates, including one who ran as Jesus Christ, has been whittled down to 10.

Philippine Senate majority leader Franklin Drilon has decided to defect from President Joseph Estrada's ruling coalition over a gambling payoffs scandal engulfing the administration, local radio said today. Drilon was to announce the move at a news conference later in the day, the report said. If he does defect, it would be the second major political blow for Estrada in a day.

The powerful head of the Philippine Roman Catholic church urged people into the streets early today to defend democracy and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, setting up a possible showdown with thousands of protesters supporting ousted President Joseph Estrada. Troops were put on alert after the call by Cardinal Jaime Sin. The country's military chief of staff held a 2 a.m. news conference to repeat support for Arroyo and deny reports that officers were defecting to Estrada's camp.

Ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada was locked in a private, air-conditioned jail cell in Manila today after being arrested on allegations that he plundered the country while in office, a charge that could bring the death penalty. Estrada, who contends that he is still president, denies charges that he amassed a fortune worth more than $80 million through a series of corrupt deals and then used an alias to hide ill-gotten wealth.