JOHN STANMEYER/VII FOR TIME

IN THE CLINK: Estrada kills time in his spartan bedroom

Estrada Behind Bars
	His Excellency the Jailbird
	By Anthony Spaeth Camp Capinpin

Posted Monday, May 3, 2004; 21:00 HKT
Joseph Estrada insists he's the lawful leader of the Philippines. But although the deposed President is still living at the government's expense, it's as a prisoner in a shabby two-bedroom house surrounded by razor wire on an army base two hours' drive from Manila. A fridge stands in the dining room, the spare bedroom is crowded with exercise machines, and Jacob, 8, youngest son of the 67-year-old Estrada, whiles away the time with a noisy video game. The boy's dad is on trial for corruption and perjury (he denies the charges), but Estrada's health is intact, and his sense of humor too. After admitting to having trouble with his knees, Estrada, known for his weakness for women, adds with a naughty wink: "Above the knees, I'm perfect." He still loves rich food: lunch consists of pâté, garlic bread, grilled jumbo shrimp and thick slabs of corned beef flown in from California.

The reason for Estrada's good spirits is obvious: he expects Fernando Poe Jr. to win the presidency next week. "We have been friends for 40 years," Estrada says, "but he never asked me any favors. I can't ask him any favor except one: to give me a fair trial." (A presidential pardon is also possible, although the Philippine constitution only allows one after a conviction.) Estrada denies rumors that he engineered Poe's candidacy or that he might act as a shadow President if Poe wins: "I believe Nixon and Carter were better people as ex-Presidents. I'll just imitate them."

In mug shots after his arrest in April 2001, Estrada looked shocked and depressed, and he confirms that was how he felt. "My first year was really pretty awful," he says. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be a prisoner. I was a superstar! A President!" He says the depression lasted for eight months, until the day the Supreme Court appointed a special tribunal to try him, which Estrada views as a kangaroo court. "I blew my top," Estrada recalls. He also dismissed his legal team, deciding to defend himself through publicity, including a CD titled And the Truth Will Set You Free. Slowly his sense of humor returned. "I have to laugh," Estrada explains, "or I'll deteriorate in here."

Estrada claims he was pulled from office by prominent businessmen and the Catholic Church, which resented his policies on birth control. "I may have committed some mistakes in governance," he says, "but with a straight face I can say corruption was not one of them." He rejects the notion he might be persuaded to go into exile in the future—especially if Poe loses—and points out that Washington denied him a visitor's visa last November, when he wanted to go to Palo Alto, California, for knee surgery. "For God's sake," he laughs, "I'm not the Shah of Iran!" The former President may be in the clink—but he's not beyond hope.

	Playing His Part [Dec. 04, 2003] Another film actor aims for the Philippines' presidential seat Elevated Threat [Oct. 27, 2003] With the arrest of a suspected high-level terrorist in Mindanao, President Arroyo admits that Jemaah Islamiah has become a real danger in the Philippines Yes, No—Okay, I'll Run [Oct. 09, 2003] After months of saying she wouldn't, Philippines President Gloria Arroyo throws her hat into the election ring For the Love of Mike [Sep. 10, 2003] The Philippines' Arroyo faces down coups, insurgencies—and now her own husband A Time For Prayer [Aug. 04, 2003] As mutineers seize a Manila complex and demand that the government resign, Arroyo faces her presidency's toughest test "It's Not a Sprint: It's a Marathon" [Aug. 04, 2003] TIME's Exclusive interview with Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo More Related Items | Search all issues of TIME Magazine