PLUNDER WATCH
Chronology of the Erap Plunder Trial

20 Jan. 2001- President Joseph E. Estrada flees Malacanang as 80,000-strong marchers on Mendiola call for his ouster and arrest

7  Feb. -  Estrada Resign Movement and Bayan hold a picket-rally outside the Office of the Ombudsman to press for the filing of criminal charges against ousted Pres. Estrada; 1st dialogue with Ombudsman Desierto

23 Feb. - People Power III Movement launched with 8-point action plan topbilled by the campaign to bring Estrada and cohorts to justice

27 Feb.  - Broad multisectoral rally at Supreme Court to assert the ouster of Estrada, his lack of immunity to criminal suit and the legitimacy of People Power II which ushered in a new government

2-3 April - Manila to Baguio Caravan to rally at the Supreme Court, Baguio City.  Supreme Court hands down decision upholding the validity and legality of the change of government.

25 April - Arrest of Estrada

1 May - Attack of pro-Estrada mob on Malacanang, the culmination of several days of huge rallies by Estrada loyalists at the EDSA shrine

14 May - Senatorial elections give a 8-4-1 victory to the People Power Coalition but at least 4 candidates of the Pwersa ng Masa make it to the magic circle including Estrada henchman, Gen. Panfilo Lacson

29 May - Launching of Plunder Watch

12 June - First  Plunder Watch Council of Leaders Meeting, Magallanes Parish Center

21 June - Launch of the Plunder Watch Forum Series at Miriam College with DOJ Sec. Hernando Perez and Bayan Muna representative-elect Satur Ocampo as speakers

26 June - 3rd dialogue with Ombudsman Desierto; Estrada arraigned for perjury at 1st Division of Sandiganbayan with Justice Francis Garchitorena presiding

26 June - Bayan issues new memo calling on its members to launch an national campaign to bring Estrada to justice

29 June - Supreme Court decides against live coverage of Estrada trial

6 July - Plunder Watch mass action at the Supreme Court underscoring the public clamor for live coverage of the Sandiganbayan trial; Plunder Watch together with Kompil II submits a “Request for Review of Majority Opinion” to the Supreme Court

10 July - Estrada arraigned for plunder at the 3rd Division of the Sandiganbayan, Justice Anacleto Badoy presiding; Plunder Watch sends letter to Omb. Desierto urging him to implead Jaime Dichavez, Dante Ang, and other Estrada cronies in the plunder charge against Estrada et al

16 July- People’s Summit holds workshop on the Campaign for Justice Against Estrada and passes a resolution demanding Estrada’s speedy trial and conviction for the crime of plunder

 23 July - Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state-of-the-nation address to Congress is met with a rally by more than 13,000 people demanding among others Estrada’s punishment for his crimes against the people during his incumbency

8 Aug. - Plunder Watch Council of Leaders Meeting at Miriam College to assess the performance of the public prosecutors

3 Sept. - Press Conference to make public “Open Letter to Omb. Aniano Desierto” decrying the inept and bungling performance of the Office of the Ombudsman in prosecuting the Estrada cases

5 Sept - DOJ press conference re appeal to the Supreme Court the Court of Appeals ruling throwing out Kuratong Baleleng case against Gen. Panfilo Lacson

14 Sept. - Bayan and COPA march/rally to the Supreme Court on the Kuratong Baleleng case

16 Sept. - Plunder Watch press conference with Kompil II and private prosecutors raising the alarm re Estrada motion filed at the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the plunder law.

18 Sept. - Oral arguments at the Supreme Court re Estrada motion challenging constitutionality of plunder law.  Plunder Watch mobilizes inside and outside the Supreme Court.  Erap loyalists gather a much bigger crowd.

1 Oct. - 1st day of trial of plunder case against Estrada; his lawyers are all absent.  Trial continues.

16 Oct. - Plunder Watch and Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response troop to the Senate to denounce Estrada permit to attend the celebration of the Senate anniversary. A formal letter from Plunder Watch stalwarts was thereafter delivered to Sen. President Frank Drilon.

17 Oct. - Scheduled 2nd day of trial on the plunder case.  Hearing is postponed due to objections of the Defense and a motion to vacate said first day of trial on the grounds that Estrada was not adequately represented by counsel at that time.  Plunder Watch mass action included a contingent of Kompil II members.  Plunder Watch dialogued with Omb. Desierto.

4 Nov. - Justice Badoy press conference wherein he revealed pressure exerted by Justice Francis Garchitorena for him to reseign from hearing the plunder case against Estrada

5 November - Plunder Watch press conference regarding the Garchitorena-Badoy row and SC impending decision on the constitutionality of the plunder law which its sources say is split at 6-6-2-1 (6 pro-constitutionality; 6 against, 2 undecided and 1 abstention)

14, 15, 16 Nov. - 3-day noon mass and protest action at Supreme Court

19 Nov. - SC hands down decision 10-4-1 upholding the constitutionality of the plunder law.