The Philippine Sandiganbayan anti- graft court will issue its ruling on the plunder case against ex- president Joseph Estrada on Sept. 12, the court announced on Friday.
Estrada will be brought before the court at 9 a.m. next Wednesday when the court read its verdict, the Philippine newspaper Inquirer cited Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro as reporting.
The promulgation of decision will be heard before the Special Division of the anti-graft court, Philippine Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro said in a court order.
The order was addressed to both defense and prosecution, as well as to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Meanwhile, Ed Urieta, Sandiganbayan sheriff, said the justices of the Sandiganbayan Special Division, including De Castro , Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz Jr. and Diosdado Peralta, would be given additional security to ensure their safety.
While Urieta clarified that there was no threat to the justices, the court wanted to ensure their safety because the case was very controversial.
The Sandiganbayan security is also coordinating with the PNP and the Quezon City Police District to secure the court's premises, said Urieta.
Estrada, ousted from power in 2001, has been accused of plunder for allegedly pocketing 130 million pesos (2.78 million U.S. dollars) in tobacco excise tax and for benefiting from the earnings of "jueteng", an illegal numbers game similar to a lottery.
Source: Xinhua
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