MANILA (AFP) - A special anti-graft court has ordered the arrest of former Philippine president Joseph Estrada for corruption and perjury.

It was the first time a warrant of arrest had been issued against Estrada since he was ousted in a military-led popular uprising on January 20 after being embroiled in a corruption scandal.

However it was announced the deposed leader's lawyers had indicated they would post bail immediately.

Court sheriff Ed Urrieta Monday said "the counsel of the ex-president advised us that Erap will be coming to post bond anytime now". Erap is the nickname of Estrada, a former movie star.

Court sources said Estrada needed to post a 150,000-peso (3,000-dollar) bond to gain temporary liberty.

He was indicted two weeks ago on eight charges of corruption involving more than four billion pesos, all but one of which is bailable.

A division of the court which is handling the case of plunder against him has yet to issue a ruling. Plunder, or large-scale corruption, is punishable by death and does not allow bail.

The court division which issued the arrest warrants had determined that there was "probable cause" to put Estrada on trial for diverting 130 million pesos in tobacco excise taxes and for misrepresenting his assets in official documents.