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Philippine President Estrada Urged to Resign over Gambling Scandal

``He has lost the moral ascendancy to govern,'' said Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who helped lead a 1986 ``people's power'' revolt that led to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos' ouster. ``For the good of the people, he must relinquish his office.''

A provincial governor has claimed Estrada received more than $11 million in payoffs, most of it from illegal gambling. Estrada has denied the charges, which involve a numbers game called jueteng.

``No evidence has been presented which directly links him to anything, other than the bare allegations of an individual who is very, very clearly heavily involved in the very illegal activities that he is talking about,'' presidential spokesman Ricardo Puno said.

Opposition lawmakers and citizens' groups said Wednesday that they would file impeachment and criminal impeachment complaints against Estrada..

"…Gov. Luis Singson claimed earlier this week that he personally oversaw $8.6 million in illegal gambling payoffs to Estrada over a 21-month period. He said Estrada also received $2.8 million from the province's tax revenues.

"…An impeachment complaint will be filed Friday or Monday, said Rep. Heherson Alvarez, secretary general of the opposition Lakas-NUCD party. A separate criminal complaint against the president will be filed with the government ombudsman, opposition lawmaker Rep. Ernesto Herrera said.

Approval of an impeachment vote in Congress is unlikely because the ruling LAMP party holds a large majority. But a prolonged impeachment debate could badly weaken the president politically.

The economy could ``fall into ruin'' if the bribery scandal drags on, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, Estrada's top aide, warned Wednesday…"

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