The former President said he had a lunch appointment last Saturday with Villar and his wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, at his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, where he is detained.

Estrada said the Senate President came to consult and discuss with him the latter’s reelection plans for the midterm elections in May.

However, police security prohibited the Villars from seeing the detained leader for security reasons.

Two days before the campaign period begins on Feb. 13, administration and opposition parties are moving fast to form a strong and winnable senatorial lineup.

Villar, a member of the so-called Wednesday group along with reelectionist Senators Joker Arroyo, Francis Pangilinan, and Ralph Recto, is reportedly the only one interested in joining the United Opposition (UNO) senatorial slate.

Due to the strict security measures imposed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Estrada’s detention center in Tanay, the Villars were not allowed to go inside the house.

"How will a Senate President be a threat to my security?" Estrada asked.

The PNP was prompted to implement a tight security following National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’s statement of a supposed plot by the New People’s Army (NPA) to assassinate the former leader as part of a destabilization plot.

Estrada was barred from using his mobile phones, while visits were limited to his family members and one of his lawyers.

Rufus Rodriguez, counsel for Estrada, earlier said the action of the security force is a blatant violation of the detained leader’s right.

Rodriguez also alleged that political motive could be behind the move as elections draw near.

"This is clearly a desperate move on the part of the administration to prevent President Estrada from participating in any discussion or planning session on campaign strategies which will ensure the landslide win of the opposition’s senatorial candidates," Rodriguez said.

"It is the government’s hope that by marginalizing him, they will likewise compromise the chances of his candidates in the May 2007 elections by barring any attempts at complete unification by all parties with ties to the opposition," he added.