Estrada, Joseph Ejercito (1937– )

Filipino right-of-centre populist politician, president 1998–2001. Despite opposition to his candidacy from the Roman Catholic Church and the business and political elite, Estrada, enjoying a power-base among the poor and with the backing of the right-of-centre Laban ng Masang Pilipino (LMP; Struggle of the Filipino Masses), secured a clear victory in the May 1998 presidential elections. He promised to alleviate poverty, combat corruption and crime, and establish peace and order across the Philippine islands, including secessionist Mindanao, within six months. However, in October 2000, to accompanying public demonstrations calling for his resignation, corruption charges were brought against him. He was impeached in November, and although the trial collapsed, public outrage drove him from office in January 2001, and he was arrested on charges of corruption and plundering the state in April.

After an early career as a filmstar and playboy, Estrada became a charismatic politician. He served as mayor of San Juan 1969–86 and was elected to the Philippines Senate in 1987 and as vice-president in 1992. As president, he inherited a worsening economy with a growing budget deficit and rising unemployment, but pledged to continue with the market-centred reform programme initiated by his predecessor Fidel Ramos.

The protests that drove him from office in January 2001 followed the indefinite suspension of his trial for corruption after pro-Estrada senators blocked the presentation of vital evidence regarding the president's bank accounts. Estrada's senior military commanders and entire cabinet deserted him to join the opposition movement that had called for his impeachment.