Fears for the security of former President Joseph Estrada have prompted the Philippine police to propose that the detained leader be held in a military hospital during his approaching trial on corruption charges.
They also suggested the trial be held in a gymnasium at the hospital compound to avoid the risks and inconvenience of having Estrada shuttle back and forth for trial hearings, presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Monday.
Estrada, in police custody since April 25, is being treated at the military's Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Manila suburbs while awaiting trial on charges of graft and economic plunder, the last punishable by death or life in jail.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said last weekend she was prepared to construct a bungalow at the hospital complex to serve as a detention area for her arch rival but the final decision was up to the courts.
The police said putting Estrada in a military hospital would cut security risks to him and ensure he receives proper medical attention.
Doctors have found Estrada, 64, to be suffering from ''chronic bronchitis'' and arthritic pains in his knees and right shoulder.
As a result, Estrada tires easily and suffers from shortness of breath and coughing, his doctors said.
They said they had ordered Estrada, a heavy smoker, to lay off cigarettes.
``We have not caught him smoking, but I don't know, there are times when we are not with him,'' attending physician Liberato Casison told Reuters.
Estrada has asked the court to transfer him from police detention to house arrest, as a courtesy to a former president, but the court has not said when it will rule on the petition.
The former movie actor is scheduled to be formally arraigned on a separate charge of perjury on May 31.
The plunder charge stems from prosecution allegations that Estrada amassed more than four billion pesos ($80 million) in alleged ill-gained wealth during his 31 months in office -- MANILA (Reuters)
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