On November 13, 2000, Philippine President Joseph Estrada was impeached by the Philippine House of Representatives for corrupt government activities.

Joseph Estrada, commonly known as Erap, was born in 1937 in Tondo, the poorest district of Manila, Philippines. He was raised in an upper middle class family and was an unruly child that was expelled from high school his sophomore year.

Estrada entered acting and gained celebrity status over the course of his career where he appeared in over 100 movies over thirty plus years. Estrada used his movie-star status as a springboard into politics. He acted as mayor of San Juan, a Senator, and then as Vice President with Philippine President Fidel Ramos.

In 1998, Estrada was elected President of the Philippines and remained in power until 2001. Shortly into his presidency, reports of corruption began to emerge. He was accused of drinking with Cabinet members during sessions late into the evening hours and taking bribes from gambles. For example, gambler, Luis Singson, allegedly had given Estrada over $11 million dollars as payoffs from gambling activities and other illegal actions. These allegations caused uproar throughout the Philippines.

On this day, November 13, 2000, Philippine House Speaker Manuel Villar, Jr. passed the articles of impeachment against Philippine President Joseph Estrada. In 2001, the Philippine Supreme Court said Estrada “constructively resigned” from office after a lengthy impeachment trial that never concluded. Estrada was not found guilty in his perjury trial but was found guilty of government corruption. He became the first Philippine president who was impeached and convicted.

Estrada appealed his conviction and maintained that he never resigned from the presidency, but was illegally forced to resign.

In 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned Joseph Estrada from his conviction. Estrada has since stated that he will run for President again even though the Philippine Constitution prohibits him from seeking another term. Estrada claims he never finished his term.