Former actor, became Mayor of San Juan in 1969, Senator in 1987, Vice President in 1992. Elected 13th president of the Philippine republic during the 1998 elections. Estrada is the first actor to be awarded the Famas Hall of Fame in 1981 for receiving the Best Actor Award for five consecutive years. On Jan. 14, 1991, Estrada became one of the Outstanding Senators as adjudged by the Philippine Free Press. In 1993, Estrada was declared Man of the Year by ABS-CBN. He is the first Philippine President to be impeached, and the first Asian leader to stand trial in an impeachment process. He has pleaded not guilty to the crimes charged against him.

The Accused

Prosecutors

3rd-term representative of the 2nd District, Leyte; served as city fiscal in Quezon City; placed 7th in 1958 bar; law professor and bar reviewer for 30 years. Senior deputy minority leader.

3rd-term representative of the 1st District of Makati is known in law circles as the first lawyer to challenge at the Supreme Court the constitutionality of Proclamation 1081 imposing martial law.

Many believe that this 1st-term representative of the 1st District of Ilocos Sur was included in the panel because of his closeness to Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, a star witness of the prosecution.

Opposition congressmen said the 3rd-term representative of Quezon city possessed managerial skills, the main reason he was chosen to head the prosecution panel.

Top 10 in the bar with a grade of 99 percent in remedial law, 95 percent in international law. This Iloilo congressman was Tanodbayan during Cory Aquino’s term.

A 1st-term congressman from the 2nd District of Agusan del Norte; one of the House’s staunchest anti-death penalty advocates. He was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian in 1982.

Various women’s groups reportedly lobbied fiercely for the inclusion of the former Miss Caltex as prosecutor. Representative of the 4th District of Cebu City.

Expert in corporate law. A member of the Spice Boys of the House, he worked for private firms including Far East Bank and Trust Co. and several Ayala-owned enterprises.

Before his election to the House from the 2nd District of Samar in 1998, he taught law in San Beda. Pre-bar reviewer in UP, UST and Manuel L. Que-zon University. Placed 7th in Bar exams.

Congressman, 3rd District of Pampanga. Even before becoming a lawyer, he was already an associate professor at San Sebastian College’s college of law.

Has an MA in law from Harvard. Now on his 2nd term as representative of the fourth district of Quezon province; is better known as one of the 12 senators who voted to reject the new US bases treaty in 1991.

Senators - Judges

Recently elected Senate President; was valedictorian when he finished law at Xavier University. For 40 years now, he has either practiced, taught or made laws. Was jailed four times for his anti-Marcos activities.

Former police officer, best remembered for capture of drug lord Pepe Oyson; began his political career in 1992 by running for a Congressional seat in his home province of Surigao del Norte. On his 2nd term, appointed DILG secretary.

Co-founder of Pecabar Law Offices; served as defense counsel to the libel case filed by President Aquino against a columnist; other sensational cases include the 1994 Filmfest scam and the Vizconde massacre.

Was first elected to the Senate for a 3-year term in 1992. Ran for reelection in 1995 for a full term in the Upper House; was a repre-sentative of 3rd district of Quezon City from 1987 to 1992. A staunch advocate of children’s, women’s rights, tourism and poverty alleviation.

When named secretary of public information by President Marcos, he was only 29, making him the youngest appointee to the Cabinet since 1948. Resigned in 1980 to join the opposition at the Batasang Pambansa, where he was first elected in 1978. Studied at UST, CRC, Harvard Institute of Int’l Dev.

Before joining politics in 1988 as vice mayor of Quezon City, he was a TV host, then became the president and general manager of Tasha Recording Studio, vice president for special projects of TAPE Inc., Vice President of Vicor Music Corp. and Sports and Cultural Affairs consultant of Arellano University.

Has an impressive academic record of excellence in law. She took up law courses in top universities, here and abroad. Accredited as an expert in international law by the United Nations agencies. UP law professor; author of 14 books; Ramon Magsaysay Awardee. The Australian Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 1997. Before politics, she was presiding judge of QC Regional Trial Court; was legal officer of the UN; became Agrarian Reform secretary in 1989 and commissioner of Immigration and Deportation in 1988. She ran for president in 1992 but narrowly lost to Fidel Ramos.

Started political career in 1963 as Cebu City councilor. In 1968, he won as the city’s vice mayor and then became a senator in 1971. He left the country during the martial law years. In 1987, he ran and won a Senate seat.

Studied at Harvard, Georgetown University, UP and University of San Carlos. He served as director of several companies including San Miguel Corp., San Miguel Brewery-Hong Kong, PNB, Republic Bank, Telecommunications Holdings Corp.

Was an awarded movie actor-producer; spent 7 years in government service at Bureau of Customs as senior intelligence officer from 1965 to 1972. Has degree in commerce from FEU.

At 18, graduated AB English, magna cum laude; got Law degree with Abbot’s Award for Overall Excellence at San Beda College; Master of Comparative Law, University of Pennsylvania.

Lawyer, professor, legislator, Cabinet member, book author. Got his Bachelor of Laws at Ateneo. Was elected delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention; one of the topnotchers in the senatorial elections in 1987.

Rose to popularity while health secretary (1992-1995). Served as President of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. Magsaysay awardee for international understanding, 1986.

Got Law degree cum laude (Class salutatorian) from UP, 1953; trained at the International Tax Program of Harvard Law School where he obtained his Master of Laws. Founder of Pecabar, one of the country’s hotshot law firms.

Got Law degree from UP in 1969; same year, placed 3rd in the bar; served as associate editor of the Philippine Collegian; He joined as senior associate Angara, Abello, Conception, Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) Law Offices and rose from the ranks until he became managing partner and head of the law firm in 1986. Served in the Aquino and Ramos Cabinets, was Senate president until last month.

Finished his Bachelor of Science degree from the PMA,1961. Earned numerous awards including the Bronze Cross for heroism, Gold Cross for gallantry, Distinguished Conduct Star for acts of gallantry, Distinguished Service Star for invaluable service, the Philippine Legion of Honor for eminently meritorious service.

Earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Philippine Military Academy, graduating as Class Baron,1971. Got his Masters degree in Business Management from AIM, 1981. Was recipient of 3 Gold Cross Medals for gallantry in action in 1973-74.

Known as the "Living Legend" in Philippine basketball; started as varsity player for UE where he earned a degree in Business Administration in 1968.

Award-winning broadcaster before topping the Senate race of 1998; reservist in the Philippine Air force with a rank of Lt. Col. Has an MA in National Secu-rity Administration from the National Defense College.

Only son of the country’s most loved president, Ramon Magsaysay, finished college at De La Salle University; pursued graduate studies at Harvard School of Business Administration.

Only Filipino elected president of the International Labor Organization. Was secretary of Labor from 1967 until the end of the Marcos era. Under President Aquino’s term, was appointed to the Constitutional Com-mission. Was Senate president until this year.

The youngest sister of Ninoy has served 3 terms in Congress as representative of Malabon-Navotas. Supporter of children’s, women’s rights. Holds college degrees in Liberal Arts major in Literature and History from the Assump-tion, in International Studies from Ciudad Ducal in Avila, Spain. Has an MA in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines.