1.   The president is to stand trial before the Senate on Thursday for allegedly pocketing millions of dollars of illegal gambling payoffs and tobacco taxes.

2.   Opposition politicians said Sunday they would move forward in seeking the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada despite his apology for a scandal over alleged gambling payoffs.

3.   Earlier Wednesday, a woman who allegedly kept records of the gambling payoffs failed to appear at a Senate inquiry after being suddenly hospitalized, officials said.

4.   Estrada is accused of taking illegal gambling payoffs.

5.   Estrada is accused of enriching himself in office with tobacco tax kickbacks and illegal gambling payoffs.

6.   Last month, a provincial governor accused Estrada of accepting millions of dollars in gambling payoffs and kickbacks from tobacco taxes.

7.   On Monday, the House of Representatives sent impeachment charges to the Senate against Estrada, who is accused of taking illegal gambling payoffs.

8.   President Joseph Estrada, accused of accepting illegal gambling payoffs, urged the Senate on Saturday to speed up his impeachment trial and appealed for calm from protesters.

9.   The ledgers were prepared by an accountant designated by Estrada to monitor the gambling payoffs, Singson said.

10.   The president denies allegations that he received millions of dollars in illegal gambling payoffs and kickbacks from tobacco taxes.