Philippine President Joseph Estrada remained out of the public eye for the third straight day Wednesday, but his aides rejected rumors he feared a possible assassination attempt.
Acting Press Secretary Michael Toledo said Estrada was "not hiding" following reports about rumors that he could be assassinated after a spate of deadly bomb attacks in Manila last Saturday.
Local radio reports said there were rumors that additional security has been provided to the first family for fear of assassination attempts on Estrada, who is presently facing a Senate corruption trial.
Estrada is represented by his lawyers at the trial and need not attend the hearing.
Toledo said Estrada was locked in the presidential palace attending to official matters, including meetings with his cabinet officials and preparations for his annual state of the nation report.
When asked whether the purported threats to his life were a factor in Estrada's schedule, Toledo said this was nothing new and would not serve to deter the president from performing his duties.
"As you know, with any public officer, especially the highest elected official in the land, the president, the threat of any bodily harm (against them) is always there," Toledo said.
"I think that's a matter we are all aware of, that's common knowledge. But as to whether or not this deters the president from doing his functions or from continuing his job as president of the republic, definitely not."
He assured the public that the elite Presidential Security Group (PSG) "is definitely there to secure the safety" of Estrada.
Officials earlier rejected claims by the opposition that the presidential palace orchestrated the Manila bombings that left 17 people dead to allow Estrada to declare a state of emergency and scuttle the corruption trial.
Estrada was impeached by the House of Representatives in November on corruption and other charges and if convicted by the Senate could be thrown out of office -- MANILA (AFP)
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