MANILA -- The lawyer for ex-Philippine president Joseph Estrada Friday dared judges to sentence his client after the deposed leader resisted prosecutors' attempts use him as a witness in his own trial.

"We are daring them to convict him even without jurisdiction. So be it. Let history run its course, whatever will be the consequences," said lawyer Alan Paguia after Estrada rejected a court summons to testify.

A stern-faced Estrada was taken from his detention in a military hospital to the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court, where he stands accused of plundering a personal fortune of 80 million dollars during his 30 months in office.

The justices ordered him to take the witness stand but he refused. His lawyers also refused to produce other witnesses or evidence, saying that this would be an admission that he recognizes the jurisdiction of the court.

Estrada has maintained that he is still the legal president and is therefore immune from legal action.

Prosecutors earlier secured a court ruling ordering Estrada to take the witness stand to make him pronounce under oath that he was not going to call any witnesses in the corruption case against him.

But his lawyers defied the court, alleging it was an attempt to embarrass the ousted leader. Estrada himself did not speak a word during the court hearing. The justices eventually gave in. Justice Edilberto Sandoval said "The court is powerless to prevent him" from refusing to defend himself.

"We have no recourse but to accept it. He is an accused," Sandoval said.

The court said that earlier statements by the lawyers that Estrada would not present any defense witnesses, would suffice. They added that Estrada could always change his mind and call the witnesses anyway.

Estrada was ousted in a popular uprising in 2001 due to a worsening corruption scandal.

He had earlier attempted to have the courts summon his successor, President Gloria Arroyo and the Supreme Court justices to testify on whether he had been legally ousted from power. However the court turned him down.

Estrada theoretically faces the death penalty if convicted.