Phillipines Supreme Court orders Estrada hearing

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The Phillipines Supreme Court is ordering a public hearing next week to consider Joseph Estrada's claim that he is still the "lawful and incumbent" president and therefore immune from prosecution on plunder and criminal charges. Estrada contends the Court denied him due process when it swore-in Mrs. Arroyo as President on January 20 and is now asking the court to declare Arroyo as "Acting President". Meanwhile, the Court will allow the Ombudsman to continue to investigate corruption charges against Estrada.