Lawyers for Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Sunday that they would oppose a move by investigators to inspect a number of luxurious mansions allegedly owned by the president's mistresses.
A motion to inspect the homes will be heard in the Senate on Monday and could form part of the evidence used against Estrada in his corruption trial, to start on December 7.
"We are going to oppose it. We will submit our written opposition as soon as possible," said Raul Daza, one of Estrada's lawyers.
He said they would cite "technicalities and legal issues" but did not elaborate.
Estrada, a former top movie star married to a doctor, openly admits having mistresses and even fathering several children out of wedlock, but has denied maintaining luxurious homes for these women.
One of the mansions is owned by a presidential friend where Estrada stays on occasion, the presidential palace has said.
However in recent months, news reports have said that Estrada is listed in the local homeowners' association as the owner of some of the houses and that the telephone number is listed in the directory under "Estrada, Joseph."
Estrada has already been impeached in the House of Representatives and is facing a trial in Senate following accusations by former friend that he received huge payoffs from illegal gambling lords and skimmed off money from government funds.
The investigation into the mansions is intended to boost the prosecution's case for his ouster.
Estrada has denied the accusations and said he is confident he will be vindicated in the Senate trial. He entered a plea of "not guilty" to the Senate last Friday ahead of the trial.
However, delving into the mansions could prove more embarassing if it reveals details about his private life and relations with these women. It could also undermine his image as a "friend of the poor."
Newspaper accounts have described lavish houses including one with white beach sand surrounding a huge swimming pool equipped with an artificial wave-making machine.
Earlier, some of the congressmen who will act as prosecutors in Estrada's Senate trial, said they would summons the mistresses to testify.
But Congressman Joker Arroyo said this weekend that the mistresses were unlikely to be called, remarking that "its not that important."
"The prosecution wants to maintain the moral high ground. If you insist on doing that, it is like you are demeaning this."
Arroyo said they could always take the mistresses' testimonies outside of the trial.
The scandals over illegal gambling, corruption and the alleged lifestyles of his mistresses has led to a growing protest movement which seeks Estrada's ouster with almost weekly street demonstrations in Manila.
Estrada issued a statement on Sunday warning government employees against taking part in such rallies, saying they were only hurting the economy -- MANILA (AFP)
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