President Joseph Estrada of the Philippines suffered a major setback at his impeachment trial when a surprise witness testified he had signed a bank agreement under a false name to invest $10 million.
The apparently damning testimony by Ms Clarissa Ocampo, vice-president and trust officer of the Equitable-PCI Bank, proved the former movie actor had amassed "hidden unexplained wealth" in violation of the anti-corruption law, the prosecution said. It said the funds came from accounts maintained at the bank by Mr Estrada which amounted to 1.2 billion pesos ($24 million).
Mr Estrada appeared to brush aside the development. "I don't know what's with her," he said at the presidential palace when asked about Ms Ocampo's testimony. "I will not talk about the case. . . let my lawyers answer."
He said he was at a special mass when Ms Ocampo testified and had not watched the live telecast of the proceedings.
Mr Estrada's lawyers strenuously protested against the introduction of Ms Ocampo on the grounds that her testimony was irrelevant. But they were overruled by the impeachment court in which the 22-member Senate is acting as judge.
The trial stems from allegations that Mr Estrada took about 400 million pesos in bribes from illegal gambling syndicates and pocketed 130 million pesos of excise taxes. Mr Estrada will be removed from office if found guilty of any of any of the charges, which include corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution. He denies any wrong doing. A vote by a two-thirds Senate majority is required to convict and remove him from office.