Lawyers seek replacement of prosecutors in Estrada trial

They were expected to call back to the witness stand Emma Lim — who in her testimony on Friday claimed to have collected illegal gambling proceeds — Estrada’s son Jose Ejercito, an aide and a local gambling boss, he said.

Lagman said Lim was expected to present more documents to back up her claims, adding that Singson, an erstwhile friend of Estrada, would be called to the witness stand on Tuesday.

Prosecution member Salacnib Baterina said critics "should just watch" the trial progress, noting that they were just laying the groundwork for Estrada’s eventual conviction. He said he was willing to be replaced "if I can’T prove anything."

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) was reported today to have called for the prosecutors’ replacement, all of whom are members of the House of Representatives, stressing they were "no match for the powerhouse defence panel."

Estrada’s defence team is led by former Supreme CourtChief Justice Andres Narvasa.

"The way things are going, President Estrada will beacquitted not because there is no evidence but because the evidence will not be established at all due to the inexperience of prosecutors in litigation and trial work," the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted IBP President Arthur Lim as saying.

Lim proposed that the 11 House prosecutors allow IBPlawyers to do the actual litigation while the panel act as managers or supervisors. Such a set-up is allowed under the rules approved by the Senate.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel was forced to call ameeting between both sides before the trial resumes on Monday, to iron out "procedural lapses" committed by the prosecutors.

He noted they were unprepared in the presentation ofdocuments and evidence, forcing the tribunal to suspend sessions several Times during the first two days of the hearing.

But Senator Renato Cayetano said it was expected thatprosecutors would have the jitters on the first two days of the landmark Senate trial.

"It is unethical to criticise the prosecution panel atthis point of time and to volunteer your services," Cayetano said. "They (the IBP) should just relax because to say the panel of prosecutors are incompetent does not speak well for the IBP and they should just let the panel do its job ."