The former Philippine president, Mr Joseph Estrada, refused to enter a plea on a charge of perjury when he appeared in court yesterday in Manila on the first in a number of charges of wrongdoing while he was in office.
With the court heavily guarded by thousands of troops, Mr Estrada told the judge he was following the advice of his lawyer and not entering any plea. He became the first former Philippine head of state to face trial on criminal charges.
The former film star is charged with perjury for allegedly failing to disclose his entire assets in a 1999 financial declaration in which he placed his total worth at 35.8 million pesos (about £700,000).
The prosecution has accused him of owning interests in businesses and maintaining bank deposits which he did not include in his official declaration. This was his first court appearance since he was arrested in April.
With his refusal to plead, the court automatically entered a plea of "not guilty" and set the next hearing for August 2nd.
Around 2,500 troops guarded the court house while more than 2,000 were deployed around the presidential palace.
Perjury is punishable by a minimum jail term of six months and a maximum of two years and four months. Mr Estrada is also to be arraigned next month on separate charges of corruption, using an alias to hide his bank deposits and economic plunder, an offence punishable by death.
Police said they had uncovered plots by unidentified groups to assassinate the ousted leader and to overthrow the current administration.
Mr Estrada's lawyer, Mr Raymund Fortun, said yesterday that the former president was advised not to plead because the prosecution had not made it clear under what law he was being tried and what specific wrongful acts he had committed.
Around 70 anti-Estrada protesters, surrounded by police, demonstrated in front of the court.
The presiding justice, Mr Francis Garchitorena, addressed Mr Estrada as "Mr President" during the hearing and ordered court officials to observe the same respect.