Deposed Philippine president Mr Joseph Estrada refused to enter a plea in court this morning when he was formally arraigned on a charge of incorrectly declaring his assets.
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Deposed Philippine president Mr Joseph Estrada
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"Your honor, I will have to follow the advice of my lawyer and not enter any plea," Mr Estrada told the court after he became the first former Philippine head of state to face trial on criminal charges.
The refusal to plead means the court automatically enters a plea of "not guilty" for the defendant.
Thousands of troops guarded the court after police said they had uncovered a plot by unidentified groups to assassinate the ousted leader.
Mr Estrada is charged with perjury for allegedly falsifying official papers on the extent of his assets. Perjury is punishable by minimum imprisonment of six months and a maximum of two years and four months.
The former movie star is 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.