The Philippines today blocked disgraced ex-president Joseph Estrada, accused of plundering the economy, from leaving the country day and ordered bank accounts frozen.
The government said it was stopping him from leaving the country because he was needed for investigations into allegations of corruption and illegal acquisition of wealth.
The Ombudsman says it plans to charge Estrada, dumped from office on Saturday, with economic plunder, an offence punishable by death.
The bank accounts were frozen on the grounds that the former movie actor might have evaded tax.
The double body blow came on a day rumours swept the capital of coup plots by Estrada sympathisers, but officials said all was calm.
Estrada was stripped of office by the Supreme Court as protests mounted following the collapse of the trial.
Estrada has said in letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives that he has only given up office temporarily, raising speculation that he could attempt to re-take the presidency.
Reuters