Former Philippine president Mr Joseph Estrada, toppled in a people power revolt in January, surrendered himself to the anti-graft court today after it had ordered his arrest on corruption charges, witnesses said.
Mr Estrada, accompanied by lawyers and other aides, arrived at the heavily guarded courthouse in the Manila suburb of Quezon City just before 5 p.m. (9 a.m. Irish time), some two hours after the court issued an arrest warrant against him.
Earlier, lawyers of the disgraced former movie actor sent word to the court that he would personally go to the courthouse to post bail on twin charges of graft and perjury.
The charges stemmed from allegations by state prosecutors that Mr Estrada and at least four other associates had pocketed 130 million pesos ($2.6 million) of excise taxes intended to benefit tobacco farmers.