Estrada suspends plan for Philippine statute changes

He said his government would focus instead on more feasible short-term economic measures with quot;less cost to national unity.quot;

Estrada had vowed repeatedly not to abandon his goal of removing constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of land and key industries, saying they discourage investment in the country.

But many Filipinos believe that opening up the charter, ratified a year after the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, could endanger its democratic provisions. Tens of thousands of people protested against the proposed changes in several demonstrations last year.

Estrada, whose popularity has plunged in recent months, spent much of his speech announcing changes in policies and personnel aimed atrejuvenating his administration and boosting its sagging support.

The changes included the firing of scores of advisers who have been criticised for abusing their positions, and a revamp of key Cabinet economic posts that, however, stopped short of expectations. quot;The revamp of the govenment is by no means over,quot; Estrada said. quot;As we reorganise we shall re-energize.quot;

Estrada confirmed that Trade Secretary Jose Pardo will replace Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu, who resigned suddenly this past week. Espiritu, an experienced banker, helped lead the country8217;s recovery from the Asian financial crisis. Pardo, who has close ties to business as former president of the Philippine franchisee of 7-eleven and Burger King but has limited experience in fiscal policy, will be replaced as trade secretary by House Majority Leader Manuel Roxas II, a former investment banker and the grandson of a former Philippine president. Roxas authored a Bill that would open the retail trade sector to foreign investors.

Estradaalso appointed former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim to head the department of interior, which includes the national police replacing Ronaldo Puno.

KOREAN CHARGE: Meanwhile, North Korea has accused the US of involvement in alleged mass executions of political prisoners by South Korean police during the Korean war.

The communist state8217;s claim came one day after a South Korean newspaper quoted declassified US military documents that said South Korean police executed thousands of political prisoners in the first weeks of the war.

One of the documents said 1,800 political prisoners were executed over three days in the first week of July 1950 in Taejon, 150 km South of Seoul. 8220;This fact is part of the massacres of political prisoners committed by the US imperialists and the South Korean rulers on the eve of the Taejon liberation operation launched by the North Korean people8217;s army,quot; said KCNA, North Korea8217;s official foreign news outlet.