Prosecutors in Philippine President Mr Joseph Estrada's impeachment trial have demanded the unsealing of bank records which they said would show he had amassed 3.3 billion pesos ($63.5 million) in less than two years in office.
They said the amount was far in excess of the assets of 35 million pesos he declared in 1999, a violation of the country's anti-graft law.
Prosecutor Mr Joker Arroyo made the demand on the 23rd day of Mr Estrada's trial on corruption charges but the president's lawyers vigorously opposed the move, saying the court had no jurisdiction over the issue.
The prosecution said the bank records would include a savings account which it said Mr Estrada had opened with Equitable-PCI Bank using the alias Jose Velarde.
"That's why we want it opened, to show how the president amassed 3.3 billion pesos within a span of one-and-a-half years", Mr Arroyo told the court.
"That's the kind of money he placed in that savings account".
Mr Estrada will be removed from office if convicted on any one of four charges against him - corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the constitution.
He has denied keeping any fictitious bank accounts and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Reuters