A top judge ruled Friday that records of an alleged secret bank account held by Philippines President Joseph Estrada, be allowed as evidence in the leader's corruption trial.
But Supreme Court chief justice Hilario Davide said the country's senators who are acting as judges in the trial could overrule him through a vote.
Details of the account, which the prosecution claims are key to winning their case, are being held by the senate president in a sealed envelope, pending a decision on Monday.
Davide is presiding officer at the landmark trial but the 22 senators are the judges who will eventually decide if Estrada should be convicted for corruption and other charges.
At least one senator said Friday that Davide's ruling would face objections on Monday.
Estrada's lawyers said even if the senators voted by a simple majority in support of Davide's ruling, they would lodge an appeal with the country's Supreme Court.
Prosecutors claim the secret account records with Equitable PCI Bank are the "backbone" of the corruption case against Estrada, who has also been impeached on charges of bribery, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution.
They allege that Estrada is the real owner of the bank account, which is in the name of Jose Valhalla and whose signature they said bore a striking resemblance to the president's.
They claim a check for the amount of 142 million pesos (2.8 million dollars) was drawn against the account last year to acquire a suburban Manila property for one of Estrada's mistresses.
Estrada, who earns about 1,000 dollars a month as president and is also accused of taking bribes from illegal gambling operators as well as embezzling tobacco taxes, has denied ownership of the account and the property.
Davide on Friday also authorized prosecutors to subpoena records from four accounts with the United Overseas Bank, through which they alleged Estrada and his friends laundered 130 million pesos in embezzled tobacco taxes last year -- MANILA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
