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Estrada 'ready' to face arrest
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OUSTED Philippine President Joseph Estrada said yesterday that he was ready to face possible arrest and incarceration even on his birthday.
In an interview with Manila radio station dzMM, Estrada said: "I always submit myself to the rule of law."
He added: "It's all up to them if they will arrest me. I will face all the charges that they fabricated against me."
The deposed president celebrated his 64th birthday yesterday.
Reports said the Ombudsman's Office had submitted to the anti-graft court all the evidence pertaining to the plunder case against Estrada, prompting speculation that the ex-president's arrest was in the offing.
The charge of plunder is a non-bailable offence punishable by lethal injection.
This week, the Ombudsman's Office has withdrawn five of the eight criminal cases it had filed against Estrada in a bid to focus on the plunder case.
Apart from the charge of plunder, the other two remaining charges are perjury through non-declaration of assets and unlawful use of an alias in secret bank accounts.
"My lawyers are also ready for a legal fight," Estrada said. "Besides, my conscience is clear so I am ready to deal with any decision that they will arrive at."
The Philippine National Police reportedly alerted late on Wednesday its riot squads to quell any violence that may break out once Estrada is arrested.(Xinhua)
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