Justice Badoy: Estrada lawyers accuse him of bias

Mr Estrada, who was ousted from power in January amid popular protests, is charged with plundering $80m in state funds during his 30 months in office.

The trial "will continue", the court said on Tuesday.

"This will not affect court proceedings," said a spokesman.

The court said it was suspending Justice Badoy indefinitely pending its ruling on a petition by Mr Estrada's lawyers asking that the judge be taken off the case for his "inability to act with the cold neutrality of an impartial judge".

Judges' feud

This is just the latest twist in a series of legal rows and delays in the trial.

Less than two weeks ago another senior judge at the Sandiganbayan anti-corruption court that is hearing the Estrada case was also relieved of his duties.

Mr Estrada has been in custody since April

Francis Garchitorena - who was hearing separate perjury charges against Mr Estrada - was suspended after complaints that cases were proceeding too slowly.

A few weeks before that, the two judges had been involved in a public spat when Justice Badoy said Justice Garchitorena was trying to force him out.

Justice Garchitorena denied pressuring his colleague but did say there had been complaints that Justice Badoy often arrived late for hearings and had others do his paper work.

Mr Estrada and his defence team have previously made unsuccessful petitions to have Justice Badoy removed because of alleged bias.

The former movie star - detained in a military hospital - has asked to be released for 10 days over Christmas.

Government lawyers told reporters they would block the request, warning it would set a dangerous precedent.