Glo's Exit

Estrada snubs Arroyo's reconciliation attempts

Agence France-Presse

HONG KONG -- Deposed Philippine leader Joseph Estrada said his successor President Gloria Arroyo was doomed to share his fate as he rebuffed her attempts at a political reconciliation, a report said Monday.

"I have a room specially prepared for her, and a pony too," he said in reference to his term of house arrest while being tried for massive corruption.

For two years, he has been confined to his 15-hectare (37-acre), 14-bedroom villa east of Manila, which he shares with a stable of retired racehorses.

Estrada predicted Arroyo was not long for the presidency, based on his own experience.

"I was confident, too," of not being ousted. "In fact, over-confident," the former film star told the South China Morning Post in an interview.

"Ferdinand Marcos left (Malacañang Palace) by plane. I left by boat. She will leave by stroller," he said, in a joking reference to Arroyo's height of four foot 11 inches (1.48 meters).

Estrada was ousted by a military-backed popular revolt in 2001 due to a corruption scandal and replaced by his then-vice president Arroyo.

He is being tried on charges of plundering a personal fortune of about 80 million dollars but has been allowed to stay under house arrest at his vacation home outside the capital. He has always denied the charges.

Estrada has also consistently said he was illegally ousted, and last year tapped his best friend and fellow actor Fernando Poe to stand in the presidential election, which was won by Arroyo.

Estrada allies have since led an opposition campaign to oust Arroyo from office on charges that she cheated to win the election.

Arroyo was recently accused of committing nearly the same offenses Estrada is now standing trial for, including obstructing the investigation into accusations she rigged her electoral victory and receiving illegal gambling payoffs to fund her presidential campaign.

"I am glad not to be in her shoes at this time," he was quoted as saying. "This is one of the worst times."

There had been widespread speculation that Arroyo was seeking to make peace with Estrada after he was allowed a furlough from house arrest to attend a prayer rally in Manila on Saturday.

The fallen president remains the de facto leader of the opposition and is popular among the majority poor.