Manila, Oct 16: Philippine Police were transferring ousted President Joseph Estrada today from detention at a military hospital to an Army camp, citing an anti-government plot to spring him from custody. The disgrace former leader was being relocated even though the anti-graft court trying him for massive corruption has not given its permission to relocate him. The court was to have held a hearing on the matter tomorrow.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo succeeded Estrada after he was ousted in a military-backed revolt in January 2001. She said that ``the safety and security of the former president is a matter to be determined by the police authorities, and to be worked out with them directly with the court".
``This is an operation matter that does not need clearance from the (presidential) palace,'' she said in a statement. Ed Urieta, the sheriff of the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court, said the transfer is allowed ``because of the previous court order that when there is extreme urgency, (police) can move the former President for as long as the Sandiganbayan sheriff and any of his lawyers are informed.'' Bureau Report