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Estrada freed

MANILA: Free for the first time in 6 1/2 years, ousted Philippine President Joseph Estrada thanked his successor for pardoning him and vowed to stay out of “dirty politics” while dedicating the rest of his life to helping the poor. The former action star’s first hours of freedom on Friday played out live on national television like a scene from one of his old films, which won him legions of fans for his portrayals of underdog heroes. Mr. Estrada’s release from house arrest was followed by a speech to thousands of cheering supporters in Manila’s San Juan district, where he once served as mayor, then a bedside visit to his ailing 102-year-old mother and a dinner of his favourite foods. “There is no substitute for freedom,” the 70-year-old Estrada said before leaving his villa east of Manila. — AP

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