Philippine Ex-President Gets Life

Disgraced Philippine ex-president and former movie star Joseph Estrada was sentenced to life in prison today for plundering  $85 million from the nation's treasury. Estrada, 70— still popular despite his 2001 ouster amid corruption charges—returned under house arrest to his villa near Manila until his appeals are heard.

There was a peaceful demonstration by 300 Estrada supporters outside court, but one political analyst said the protests could become violent if he is jailed. "If Estrada will be handcuffed, brought to prison, wearing an orange suit and that is shown on national television, that will have a very big impact on the Filipino people emotionally," he said. (More Philippines stories.)