Thursday, March 23, 2006 (Philippines)

Hot pursuit ends with body bag holding fugitive Roberto “Bito” Placer (above), Wounded in the exchange of fire were SPO1 Adonis Dumpit and SPO1 Joel Sanchez. (Sunstar Cebu photo/Alex Badayos) MANILA - Ousted president Joseph Estrada sharply denied yesterday that he took huge kickbacks in office, defending himself against capital charges of plunder and defiantly telling an anti-graft court that he was framed. With hundreds of Estrada’s backers rallying outside, the testimony capped five years of court proceedings that he hopes will vindicate him. “These are trumped-up charges, a frame-up,” the actor-turned-politician said when questioned about kickback allegations. [full story]