Government blames a major local Muslim rebel group and says it was not linked to the trial while opposition groups accuse Estrada of orchestrating the blasts to divert attention. The 21 senators acting as judges in the trial decide in a 11-10 vote to disallow examination of Estrada's alleged P3 billion secret bank account allegedly built up from illicit sources. This is seen as a virtual acquittal of Estrada. Prosecutors in the trial quit en masse. Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets to protest the Senate decision and call for Estrada to quit.
Security forces are on full alert.
Estrada, trying desperately to buy time, authorizes his bank records to be opened and urges a snap presidential election in May, but fails to stop a wave of defections as cabinet members resign and the military withdraw their support. Estrada refuses to resign, Supreme Court declares the presidency vacant, and Vice President Arroyo is installed as the new president. Two and a half hours later, Estrada and his family leave the presidential palace. Ombudsman Aniano Desierto indicts Estrada for plunder and seven other related charges of graft amounting to more than P4 billion and files charges before the Sandiganbayan. Plunder is punishable by death.