Philippine Ex-President Gets Life

Estrada guilty of plundering millions
Posted Sep 12, 2007 5:51 AM CDT
Philippine Ex-President Gets Life
Supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada display posters as they angrily shout slogans after hearing the anti-graft court's decision Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila. Estrada was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after a landmark six-year trial on charges...   (Associated Press)

Disgraced Philippine ex-president and former movie star Joseph Estrada was sentenced to life in prison today for plundering  $85 million from the nation's treasury. Estrada, 70— still popular despite his 2001 ouster amid corruption charges—returned under house arrest to his villa near Manila until his appeals are heard.

There was a peaceful demonstration by 300 Estrada supporters outside court, but one political analyst said the protests could become violent if he is jailed. "If Estrada will be handcuffed, brought to prison, wearing an orange suit and that is shown on national television, that will have a very big impact on the Filipino people emotionally," he said. (More Philippines stories.)

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