The proof was presented by the defense during the continuation of the plunder trial of the former President.

Estrada, appearing for the eighth time before the anti-graft special division court, presented the damning video as proof of the conspiracy by the elite to depose him, led by Mrs. Arroyo from Day One of his presidency.

The video was taken sometime in late February 2001, shortly after the Edsa II revolt, where Mrs. Arroyo admitted openly and with the media present, that she had conspired with several groups, among them the military and police generals, even naming them.

Mrs. Arroyo said a group had introduced her to some military men who were then ready to withdraw their support from President Estrada.

Among these mentioned by Mrs. Arroyo, who had allegedly conspired with her, were then Colonel Arry, one Col. Garcia and retired General Trio.

Also mentioned by Mrs. Arroyo was businessman Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco as the one who would arrange for her hiding place at Hacienda Luisita.

Ironically, Arroyo is now cracking down on Hacienda Luisita and leftist groups who have all turned against her.

The video was presented as evidence by the defense panel, with the court hearing and seeing Mrs. Arroyo admitting how she and her generals planned to oust Estrada.

She was heard to say that she had been meeting with several groups including some military officers on how to oust Estrada.

“And I guess that leads to the confusion of who really gave up and there is credit for everyone, everybody’s role was important, and everybody’s role contributed to the success of People Power 2," Mrs. Arroyo said in the tape.

Estrada did not name the source of the video but told reporters after the hearing that the source is a former member of Copa.

He added he had high hopes that the video of the coup plot against him would serve to convince the justices that his charge of Mrs. Arroyo being a major part of the conspiracy to overthrow his administration has solid basis.

He said he regretted ever having appointed Mrs. Arroyo as one of his Cabinet secretaries with a portfolio, pointing out that when he was then President Fidel Ramos’ vice  president, he was never given a portfolio.

“With her, I gave her (a portfolio). I trusted her,” Estrada said.

Earlier, Malacanang had denied that Mrs. Arroyo had plotted to oust him. It said Mrs. Arroyo became president, not through ouster plots because she was the constitutional successor and that there was no plot to oust the former leader.

As part of the evidence presented by the detained leader, as a follow-up to the alleged conspiracy to oust him from his presidency, defense lawyers showed the Sandiganbayan justices a video tape of Mrs. Arroyo’s oath-taking as acting president.

There was also another videotape of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, caught saying to the media that he was on his way to the Edsa Shrine to administer the oath of office to the ‘Vice President as Acting President.’

The justices were also shown the videotape of Mrs. Arroyo’s oath taking when she said, “It is with all humility that I accept the privilege and responsibility to act as President of the Republic."

At the termination of the defense panel’s direct examination of Estrada and the start of the cross-examination, government lawyers headed by Special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio, tried to introduce the issue of money laundering in the case by bringing up the name of former beauty queen runner up Joelle Pelaez, who had claimed she was used by Estrada to launder P2 billion in bonds, but admitted that she had no proof of this.

This was objected to by the defense counsel, Jose Flaminiano who asked if Jimenez was an accused in this case, since there are several John and Jane Does in the information.

It was also pointed out by Flaminiano that the questions posed by Villa-Ignacio could not be asked, since nothing of this was said by Estrada during his direct examination.

The prosecutor threatened to impeach the credibility of Estrada and claimed he would be calling Mark Jimenez as a rebuttal witness.

But Flaminiano argued that Jimenez had not been mentioned in the direct testimony of his client.

Ilocos Governor Luis Singson, who was seated beside Jimenez, told reporters after the hearing that Jimenez’s testimony would destroy all the lies of the former leader, claiming that Jimenez will be testifying to the truth.

But Estrada dismissed Jimenez’s presence in court, saying the former Manila congressman is a character that is difficult to describe, adding that: “If you can’t say anything good about a man, I’d rather not say anything," Estrada said.

The detained leader also pointed out that if the prosecution had a really strong case against him, he wondered why it is only now that the prosecution introduces Jimenez and others, like Joelle Pelaez, into the picture.