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Estrada Barred From Leaving The Philippines
MANILA, Jan 23 (News Agencies) - Deposed leader Joseph Estrada was barred from leaving the Philippines on Tuesday as authorities prepared to freeze his assets, officials said.
Justice Secretary Hernando Perez imposed the travel ban to ensure Estrada, his wife and son, a brother-in-law, three members of his cabinet, and 16 others would be available to answer questions in a criminal investigation for alleged plunder, a crime punishable by death.
President Gloria Arroyo's government is preparing an order that would freeze the former president's assets, officials said.
Perez meanwhile warned Estrada against mounting a legal challenge to Arroyo's presidency. Estrada had written Congress to suggest that he had not renounced the presidency and that he was only on leave.
The 63 year-old former movie actor has been holed up in his suburban Manila mansion since leaving Malacanang presidential palace on Saturday.
The Supreme Court declared his position vacant and swore in Arroyo in his place after the army, police and most of his cabinet turned their backs on him and joined hundreds of thousands of street protesters calling for his resignation.
Special prosecutor Aniano Desierto on Monday launched an investigation into a complaint for plunder, malversation, bribery, graft, and unlawful acquisition of wealth filed by several lawyers' groups against Estrada and the 26 others.
On Tuesday, Desierto asked the justice department "to ensure the availability of all the respondents for the purpose of the criminal investigations."
Secretary Perez said he ordered immigration officials to "hold" all the respondents except Senators John Osmena and Tessie Oreta, as well as Luis Singson, if any of them tried to leave the country.
"The incumbent senators cannot be prevented from leaving, especially if it is in the performance of their functions," he said.
He said the government might give immunity to Singson, an estranged friend of Estrada who had testified at Estrada's corruption trial in the Senate last month.
Singson, who could be used as a prosecution witness if criminal charges are filed, had testified that he collected bribes for the then president from operators of illegal lotteries, and helped another presidential friend embezzle 130 million pesos ($2.6 million) in state funds which they later gave to Estrada.
Desierto said two of the respondents, both friends of Estrada, had fled the country.
Arroyo spokesman Renato Corona has told reporters that shortly before he left the palace, Estrada pleaded to be allowed to keep his wealth and tried to broker a deal protecting him from criminal charges.
The demand was rejected.
"We are working with the department of Justice Secretary Perez so that we can have the proper instruments issued" against the Estrada assets, Executive Secretary Renato de Villa said.
Television reports said the internal revenue bureau has ordered one bank to place Estrada funds under "constructive distraint" to prevent their dissipation or withdrawal. Bureau officials could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Asked about plans for a freeze order, Finance Secretary Alberto Romulo told reporters: "That's why I'm trying to get a team."
He did not elaborate. The internal revenue bureau is one of the department's divisions.
Dozens of leftwing protesters surrounded two banks near Estrada's home on Tuesday to prevent him from withdrawing money from his account with the bank.
They sang "Erap is a thief", using Estrada's nickname, to the tune of a Filipino folk song.
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