Deposed Philippine president Estrada is takiong people for a ride

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2005

MANILA (AFP) — Deposed Philippines president Joseph Estrada has made a comeback -- at least on the electronic cards used by travellers on Manila's rail system.

The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) is again issuing cards with Estrada's face on them, four years after the former president was toppled in 2001 because of a massive corruption scandal.

MRT spokesman Mariano Gui said Tuesday the railway was using up about 700,000 of the previously unissued cards as an emergency measure because those with President Gloria Arroyo's face were becoming worn out.

He denied the move had political implications. Arroyo is under pressure from opposition forces to resign for allegedly trying to influence the outcome of last year's presidential election.

"We are running out of...