MANILA -- Ousted president Joseph Estrada took the stand yesterday for the first time in his five-year-long corruption trial rejecting allegations he stole $80 million while in office, and that he is a close friend of Ilocis Sur Gov. Chavit Singson.

Singson had alleged that Estrada benefited from tobacco excise taxes.

The former action movie star, toppled in a military-backed popular revolt in 2001 and replaced by current President Gloria Arroyo, said the case against him had been manufactured by his political opponents.

"I was convicted in the streets," said the 68-year-old, appearing relaxed in a traditional barong, with family and friends on hand at the Sandiganbayn.

Estrada was elected by a landslide in 1998, but accusations of graft and corruption hounded his presidency. An impeachment trial against him was aborted in 2000, but he was then forced out of office in a popular uprising.

He has always maintained his innocence and says a conspiracy led by the powerful Catholic Church, high-ranking military officers and wealthy elite forced him out of power.

"I am optimistic and I am praying that I will be exonerated and acquitted on these fabricated charges," he said on local television during a break in his testimony. "This is all political, you know."

Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye stressed that Estrada's testimony in court was a "clear proof that due process has been strictly observed in his case."

"We call on all the sectors concerned to refrain from speculating as to the outcome of the trial and just let justice take its course," Bunye said.

Yesterday, some 1,000 policemen, including anti-riot units and members of the Special Action Force, secured routes leading to the court to prevent any outbreak of violence among Estrada supporters.

Wearing red and orange, about 500 protesters gathered at a church near the courthouse and carried banners that read: "Erap, not guilty." Erap, Estrada's nickname, is a Filipino word that loosely translates as "friend" or "buddy."

After a two-hour lunch break, Estrada's testimony continued mostly as the prosecution questioned him on technicalities on documents.

If convicted, he could be jailed for life or executed.

Estrada is the 79th and final witness for the defense in his trial, which has dragged on for five years. He will take the stand on March 29 and is expected to finish his testimony in a few weeks. His lawyers said a verdict could be expected by September.*AFP

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