Deposed Philippine President Joseph Estrada waves from his vehicle today as he leaves the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila. Estrada, who once pulled off the biggest election victory, was sentenced to life in prison today after a landmark six-year trial on charges that he took bribes and kickbacks in office. AARON FAVILA | Associated Press   A supporter of deposed President Joseph Estrada raises his clenched fist as he shouts slogans upon hearing the guilty verdict handed down today by the anti-graft court. PAT ROQUE | Associated Press   Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada, right, the son of ousted President Joseph Estrada, wipes his sweat as he talks to the media today outside the anti-graft court following his acquittal on plunder charges along with lawyer Edward Serapio. BULLIT MARQUEZ | Associated Press

And so Estrada's plunder trial, which dragged on for six years, came to a 10-minute end Wednesday. The man who parlayed his popularity as an underdog hero in films to win a landslide presidential victory was convicted, sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to forfeit a mansion and more than $15.5 million.

Estrada, 70, has often called his presidency the "last and best performance of my life." Always wearing a white wristband with the presidential seal in public, he has retained some of his popularity while fighting accusations that he illegally amassed about $81 million in bribes and proceeds from illegal gambling, and falsely declared his assets.

The allegations sparked mass street protests that developed into the country's second "people power" revolt in January 2001 and forced Estrada to leave the Malacanang presidential palace out the back door, never to return.

He was cleared of the perjury charge, the first verdict read in the packed courtroom.

Then came the guilty verdict for economic plunder, an offense that once could have carried the death penalty but now should mean 40 years minus the six he has spent under house arrest. Estrada's successor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has banned capital punishment.

Two co-defendants — Estrada's son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and lawyer Eduardo Serapio — were acquitted of plunder.

ESTRADA PLANS TO APPEAL

Suddenly, it was over, though Estrada made clear he will appeal. It was unclear whether Estrada will spend time in prison or be allowed to continue living under house arrest. In any case, he was allowed to return to his villa Wednesday.

And there are rumors of a possible pardon to end a case that has been a constant thorn in Arroyo's side.

"This is the only forum where I could tell the Filipino people my innocence," a somber Estrada told reporters. "That's why I took a gamble. I thought the rule of law will prevail over here. This is really a kangaroo court. This is a political decision."

The former president said he feels he has been acquitted by the people because candidates he backed won election this year.

The government said the case showed no one is above the law.

"This is the last chance for the state to show that we can do it, that we can charge, prosecute and convict a public official regardless of his stature," special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said. "It shows that our judicial system really works."

And Arroyo said: "We live by the rule of law. We abide by what the courts decide."

Riot police and troops kept hundreds of Estrada backers well away from the building where the trial was held, and security also was tight around the presidential palace — violent protests followed Estrada's arrest in 2001. But the turnout Wednesday was small compared with past demonstrations.

Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye appealed for calm.

"We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail," Bunye said. "Meantime, we have a country to run, an economy to grow and a peace to win. We hope that this sad episode in our history will not permanently distract us from this goal."

TRIAL STARTED BACK IN 2001

The trial ran from October 2001 to June 15, with prosecutors claiming Estrada hid assets and bought mansions and vacation houses for his mistresses.

Estrada denied the charges and accused Arroyo of masterminding his removal in a conspiracy with leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and senior military officers.

The Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, said the verdict should be a "constant reminder to the people elected or appointed to serve. The moral in this is 'be moral."'

He said the law should be respected and the appeals process followed "instead of settling the score in the streets or elsewhere." And he called for prayers to "give peace to our land" and expressed sympathy for Estrada "in the continuing learning story of his life."

———