DEAL FOR ACQUITTAL IN THE WORKS – KMU: Militant labor groups accused former
Estrada defense lawyer Estelito Mendoza yesterday of brokering a deal with
Supreme Court (SC) justices, involving huge sums of money and foreign trips
in exchange for a ruling that would favor the ousted leader.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Bayan Muna made the accusation while
warning SC justices against rendering a decision that would make deposed
President Joseph Estrada immune to all criminal charges.
KMU chairman Crispin Beltran said they have received information that
Mendoza, the lead defense counsel in the aborted impeachment trial, was
behind the rumored deal with the justices.
The labor leader reminded the SC that a decision in favor of the ousted
leader could be considered "an act of treachery" since it negates "the
verdict of the people."
Beltran said militant groups will picket the SC today to ensure the
justices do not render a pro-Erap decision.
Meanwhile, the Estrada Resign Movement, which is now known as the People
Power 3 Movement for Justice and Social Transformation, denounced the move
of the High Tribunal to temporarily block the filing of criminal charges
against Estrada.
Fr. Joe Dizon, spokesman for the movement, noted the issue at hand was
meting out justice "against a leader who was forcibly removed for
unmitigated plunder, immorality and other criminal acts.
Estrada won a temporary reprieve when the SC issued last week a 30-day
freeze order against the filing of criminal charges against him. The People
Power 3 Movement called on the justices of the SC to junk Estrada's motion
to declare him legitimate president, and to allow the prosecution, arrest
and punishment of the ousted leader for plunder and other criminal acts.
Phil. Star, 02/27/2001
SC TO RULE ON ERAP SUIT ON MARCH 13: Joseph Estrada had always avoided the
number 13, even denying at times that he was the 13th president of the
Philippines.
Here's the "bad" news--13 justices of the Supreme Court will decide on
March 13 whether he is still the country's President.
Estrada has no choice as this is the date being eyed by Chief Justice
Hilario Davide Jr. for the tribunal to decide on whether he is still the
country's President, according to Supreme Court spokesperson Ismael Khan.
Estrada yesterday insisted that he was the country's President. "I'm still,
legally and constitutionally the President of the Republic," he told
reporters, who outnumbered his well wishers at the Zamboanga Airport.
He was in Zamboanga City to campaign for his wife, former first lady Dr.
Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, a senatorial candidate of the Puwersa ng Masa. Anti-
Estrada protesters are accusing the court of dragging its feet on Estrada's
case, despite what they claim were overwhelming evidence of his guilt.
Khan told reporters that Davide "expects" the tribunal to resolve whether
Estrada or Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the country's legal president "in 10
working days."
Upon the prodding of reporters, the spokesperson of the tribunal personally
asked Davide about the time that the tribunal would need before it could
issue a ruling on the controversial issue.
"The Chief Justice answered that he expected a ruling in 10 working days
beginning (today). The tribunal will exert its best effort to follow this
(deadline). That's the extent of my understanding," Khan said in a
telephone interview.
Normally, all 15 justices including the Chief Justice sit in en banc
sessions of the court.
However, Davide and Justice Artemio Panganiban have inhibited themselves
from the case in response to a petition filed by Estrada lawyer Rene
Saguisag.
Hence, only 13 justices will sit in the en banc session on March 13.
Senior Associate Justice Josue Bellosillo will preside over the Supreme
Court en banc when it discusses the legality of Ms Macapagal's presidency.
Lawyers of Estrada insist that Estrada had been forced to leave Malacanang
to prevent bloodshed.
Estrada said that he was merely a "President on leave" and that Ms
Macapagal was just an "acting President."
He also said that Ms Macapagal could not assume the presidency because the
conditions for succession as provided for by the Constitution had not been
met. Inquirer, 02/28/2001
RP RECEIVES AWARD FOR BLOODLESS REVOLT (Manila) For their "wonderful gift
of the spirit of Edsa to the world," the Filipino people will receive an
award from the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Foundation (Nobel Foundation)
and the Center for Global Non-Violence as the celebration of People Power
I culminates at the Edsa Shrine today.
The Philippines will be the first country to receive such a recognition for
the promotion of change through peaceful means, as exemplified by People
Power I and II, the two popular revolts that toppled the late strongman
Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada on Jan. 20.
At a testimonial lunch hosted yesterday by the Edsa People Power Commission
(EPPC) at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Nobel Foundation chair Pierre
Marchand said the Filipinos’ exercise of direct democracy was a living
example to the world that change could be effected without shedding blood.
"The world is sick and tired of war and violence," Marchand said, adding:
"You have given a gift to a world that knows only force and violence—of
effecting radical change without firing a shot, without creating new enemies
nay, by making friends of old enemies, showing them the respect that
triggered a national shift, a paradigm change that could not be denied.
"You were able to prove that a human being is above all systems and laws."
The Nobel Foundation is composed of peace advocates such as the late Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, the Dalai Lama of Tibet
Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Jose Ramos-Horta of East Timor, Mikhail
Gorbachev of the Soviet Union, Henry Kissinger of the United States and
Adolfo Perez Esquivel of Argentina.
The award will be presented to President Macapagal-Arroyo in a ceremony at
the Edsa Shrine.
The ceremony will be among the highlights of the International Decade for a
Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, which
the United Nations declared starting this year.
Legacy, inspiration
In a statement to be read today, Ramos-Horta paid tribute to the Filipino
people for doing a repeat of the "great revolutionary legacy" it gave the
world through People Power I.
"Your People Power II is even more amazing as it was almost a spontaneous
combustion of a nation’s wrath when it felt that truth and justice were
being suppressed," said the East Timorese leader. He added: "History rarely
allows a people to recreate an already singular phenomenon, but again you
God-fearing and fellow Asians have shown the world that the governed must
be eternally vigilant in holding elected leaders accountable.
"Indeed, you have shown with your fervor in your latest democratic triumph
that public office is a public trust."
Ramos-Horta thanked the Filipino people for serving as the "inspiration"
of the East Timorese people for their own peaceful democratic revolution.
The Christian-dominated East Timor officially ceded from Indonesia in
1999 following a UN-sponsored referendum.
Ramos-Horta said the Philippines and East Timor shared a history of being
colonized by Spain and Portugal, the same religion, and, "more importantly,
the same history of continuous struggle for self determination."
"In 1986, your revolution gave the East Timorese people—those in the jungle
as well as those in the diaspora—the inspiration to continue our difficult
quest for freedom.
"Now you enhanced your great revolutionary legacy last Jan. 16-20 when the
Filipino people again surprised the world with a reprise of your 1986
uprising," he said.
Without Bayan
The testimonial lunch gathered participants of the 1986 revolt, including
Ramon Pedrosa and Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino of the August Twenty-One
Movement (Atom); Christopher Carreon and Ramon del Rosario Jr., EPPC
executive director and chair, respectively; businessman Jose Concepcion;
and members of religious groups.
The newly appointed commissioners of the EPPC, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
secretary general Teodoro Casiño and "running priest" Robert Reyes, were not
present.
Casiño is among the convenors of People Power III, a new movement for justice
and peace launched last week to remind Ms Macapagal of her "unfulfilled
promises" to the masses that catapulted her to power.
But those present at the Club Filipino, some of whom flew in from abroad,
were cheerful.
"The world awaits you," Marchand told his audience. "The world awaits your
experience."
He hailed another peace initiative by a Filipino—the Global Forum on Civil
Society proposed by the late Senate President Marcelo Fernan.
Marchand announced that Fernan’s proposal was approved at the last session
of the UN in New York.
He said the Global Forum, to be guided by Philippine civil society, "the
only NGO (nongovernment organization) in the world with the actual
experience of changing violent situations non-violently," would soon start
its task of serving as a counterpart of governments and states and as the
conscience of the world.
Marchand said the world could not embark on its mission of promoting peace
without the spirit of Edsa.
"You, dear Filipino people, cannot stay within the shells of your existence.
You cannot lie content upon your laurels that you have so richly won," he
said.
"You were given a national gift. Do not keep it to yourselves," he added.
He also said "the world will never be the same again . . . if the spirit of
Edsa prevails beyond the shores of this tiny archipelago."
For the people
Lou-Ann Guanson, vice president of the Center for Global Non-Violence, said
that while the award would be received by Ms Macapagal, it was intended to
honor the Filipino people, whose courage and love for peace ensured the
triumph of the two uprisings.
"I don’t know if they’re going to keep it in Malacañang. They can keep it
wherever, but that is for the Filipino people," Guanson said. With a report
from Dona Pazzibugan. Inquirer News Service, 2/25/01
PIMENTEL RAPS US SOLONS OVER GMA: Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
scored yesterday three visiting American legislators for prejudging a case
pending before the Supreme Court (SC) questioning the legitimacy of the
Arroyo administration.
The US Embassy in Manila clarified, however, that California Rep. Dana
Rohrabacher of California was "speaking for himself and not for the United
States government."
Pimentel said the three Republican congressmen's statements were "out of
bounds," since the SC has yet to rule on the issue.
Rohrabacher the other day President Arroyo's authority to govern is
"totally legitimate," adding that the US and other foreign governments have
fully recognized that authority.
Congressmen Darrell Issa of California and Roger Wicker of Mississippi
echoed Rohrabacher's observations.
Pimentel stressed that the issue is an internal matter, and labeled the
visiting lawamakers' comments as "premature."
He said the American lawmakers have no business talking about the issue.
While he strongly criticized the three-member delegation of the US House of
Representatives, he expressed confidence that the SC would uphold the
legitimacy of the Arroyo administration for the good of the country. Phil.
Star, 02/25/2001
MACAPAGAL: NO PLOTS, JUST CONSULTATIONS: Belying the allegation of lawyer
Rene Saguisag that she had plotted a coup against her predecessor, President
Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday said that she merely held "consultations" with
five ranking military and police officials when she was still part of the
Estrada administration.
In a speech at the 15th anniversary of the People Power I Revolution at the
People Power Monument on Edsa, Ms Macapagal said the consultations had to
do with the growing outrage by all sectors over graft and corruption and
the inability to govern of then President Joseph Estrada.
She was reacting to a call by Saguisag, a lawyer of Estrada, that Executive
Secretary Renato de Villa investigate her for admitting that she had been
meeting since January 2000 with the five military and police officials who
were disgruntled with Estrada.
"I really do not know if there is really basis to initiate an investigation
in that direction. Coup plot against whom?" De Villa said.
Former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado also sees no need to investigate
the senior military and police officers. Mercado said there was nothing
wrong if military officers expressed their thoughts, especially with the
then Vice President.
He said Ms Macapagal had the right to talk with these officers because she
was the Vice President.
De Villa said he doubted that an investigation or case against the
President would prosper.
In Davao City, the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said
Saguisag was giving the military and Ms Macapagal "too much credit than
they deserve" when he accused them of plotting against Estrada.
Alvin Luque, Bayan-Davao City secretary general, said Saguisag ignored the
fact that it was the mass of people who really "plotted" and ousted
Estrada from power, not the military. Inquirer, 02/26/2001
UNUSUAL 'SALUBUNGAN' AT EDSA I CELEBRATION: Besides the clergy and the
religious, militant organizations provided most of the warm bodies at the
Edsa Shrine yesterday afternoon, emphasizing their message that former
President Joseph Estrada should not escape justice like the late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos.
"People Power I and People Power II taught us lessons, we cannot afford to
have another Marcos eloping from the people's verdict and demand for
justice," said Satur Ocampo of the Bayan Muna party-list group.
Other militant groups like Courage, Alliance of Concerned Teachers,
Migrante, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Akbayan joined the
celebration.
Akbayan unfurled a huge banner on the Ortigas Flyover that said "Goodbye
Trapos (traditional politicians)."
While most of those who came reminisced about the historic events last
month, other participants, like former President Fidel Ramos, reenacted the
events of February 1986, such as the "salubungan," when Ramos' military
group came out of Camp Aguinaldo to join millions of civilians on Edsa.
But yesterday, former President Corazon Aquino's brother Butz Aquino, who
represented civilians in past salubungans, was a no-show when the event was
reenacted around 1:30 p.m. at the People Power Monument in White Plains.
Aquino sided with former President Estrada during People Power II.
An alternative--and unusual--salubungan took place at the corner of Ortigas
and Edsa as the leftist groups, with Teddy Casino and Ocampo in the lead,
merged with the Ramos contingents.
For its part, left-wing alliance Sanlakas, active in the anti-Estrada
movement yet cynical toward the Macapagal presidency, said Filipinos would
rather prepare for another popular revolt--an "Edsa III"--because "Edsa I
and II failed us."
Sanlakas members held their own program at the People Power Monument, a few
hundred meters from where the Macapagal administration marked the event
with speech, song and prayer at the Our Lady of Edsa Shrine. Inquirer,
02/26/2001
3 BANKS TURN OVER ESTRADA ACCOUNTS: Nine banks are following the lead of
Equitable PCI Bank.
Ombudsman Aniano Desierto yesterday announced that five banks turned over
to his office early this week the statements of accounts of ousted
President Joseph Estrada and two of his mistresses -- former movie starlets
Guia Gomez and Laarni Enriquez.
Desierto said the International Exchange Bank, Metrobank, Security Bank and
Trust Co., Asia United Bank and United Coconut Planters Bank submitted the
documents upon his request.
He added that Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Allied Bank, Bank of Commerce
and Urban Bank promised to turn over the bank records of Estrada and his
mistresses as soon as possible.
Desierto said he also requested the banks to surrender the statements of
accounts of Estrada's other mistresses, including Joy Melendrez, Peachy
Osorio and Rowena Lopez.
The Ombudsman subpoenaed the documents after private prosecutors and 82
non-government organizations sought the forfeiture of P20 billion worth of
bank assets and mansions allegedly belonging to Estrada.
Half of the P20 billion allegedly represented money stashed in secret bank
accounts and the rest was prime real estate.
Desierto said the bank records in his office's possession showed that
Estrada maintained an account with the Metrobank branch in San Juan and
three accounts with the Security Bank branch also in San Juan.
Both Gomez and Estrada also had accounts with Asia United Bank. Gomez, the
mother of JV Ejercito, also has an account with the Metrobank branch in
Greenhills, San Juan, and another account with a Security Bank branch that
Desierto did not disclose.
Enriquez also has an account with the Security Bank branch in San Juan.
Desierto, however, requested the Inquirer to withhold the exact amount
contained in each of the accounts so as not to jeopardize the ongoing
investigation by the Ombudsman Fact-Finding and Intelligence Bureau (FFIB).
The FFIB, chaired by lawyer Pelagio Aposto1, is conducting a probe of the
forfeiture case filed by private prosecutors and 22 non-government
organizations.
In the forfeiture case, the private prosecutors said that Estrada had
deposits in several banks either "in his name, in his different aliases or
number/letter accounts or held in the name of or jointly with his wife, his
mistresses and cronies."
They said the bank assets should be forfeited in favor of the government as
these were either ill-gotten or unexplained wealth that the former
President did not declare in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Estrada declared a net worth of only P35 million in his 1999 Statement of
Assets and Liabilities. Inquirer, 02/16/2001
ESTRADA GETS 7-DAY REPRIEVE ON PLUNDER PROBE: The embattled Joseph Estrada
has gained a reprieve, with Ombudsman Aniano Desierto agreeing to
temporarily stop action on the six criminal cases lodged against the ousted
president.
Desierto will stop action on the Estrada cases for seven days pending the
resolution of the fallen leader's challenge to the legitimacy of Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's presidency, as well as his insistence that he was still
covered by presidential immunity against criminal charges.
The hearing was presided over by Justice Josue Bellosillo, Chief Justice
Hilario Davide and Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban having inhibited
themselves.
Former Sen. Rene Saguisag and law dean Pacifico Agabin argued on Estrada's
behalf, saying Ms Macapagal was President only in an acting capacity.
They also asked that the Ombudsman's investigation be stopped in view of
the supposedly biased publicity against Estrada.
Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and Desierto argued that Estrada
surrendered the presidency when he left Malacanang on Jan. 20.
Perez said Ms Macapagal's installation as President averted a coup that
would have established a junta with Estrada as "figurehead."
The Supreme Court ordered the two parties to file their written arguments
within five days. Each was given another two days to submit a reply to the
other.
The tribunal will start deliberations on Estrada's suits after the two
parties shall have complied with the order.
At the hearing, Justice Jose Vitug asked Desierto if his office could stop
its investigation on the charges of plunder, bribery and corruption against
Estrada even just out of respect to the tribunal, which had two suits
pending before it.
Estrada had earlier sought a temporary restraining order to stop the
Ombudsman's investigation.
Desierto said, however, that he could no longer stop the preliminary
investigation as this was already "finished" and "submitted for
resolution."
He said all he could do to accommodate the tribunal's request was not to
issue a resolution or file charges against Estrada in the seven-day period.
He later told reporters, "this does not preclude the Office of the Ombudsman
from publicly divulging the results of its preliminary investigation after
the special panel shall have completed its resolution." Saguisag asked the
high court to stop the proceedings of the Ombudsman against his client,
claiming there was "prejudicial publicity" against Estrada.
He suggested that the Ombudsman continue with the proceedings against
Estrada after a "cooling-off period," probably after the May elections.
Inquirer, 02/16/2001
DOJ: JAIL FOR ESTRADA AFTER FILING OF CHARGES: Ousted President Joseph
Estrada would be jailed upon the filing of criminal charges against him in
the Sandiganbayan next week, Justice Secretary Hernando Perez yesterday
said.
For his part, Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said charges could be filed against
Estrada, former first lady Dr. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito-Estrada and San Juan
Mayor Jinggoy Estrada in the anti-graft court as early as Monday.
The Supreme Court has scheduled tomorrow the presentation of oral arguments
on Estrada's petition for a suspension of the Ombudsman's investigation of
criminal complaints filed against the deposed leader.
Perez brushed aside the idea of any special courtesies for the ousted
President, saying, "in our Constitution, all people are equal. If we are
all equal in crime, then we should all get equal treatment."
Perez added that two businessmen he described as "former officials of the
government" had joined the list of former Estrada allies who were willing
to testify against him. However, he would not identify them.
So far, at least three Estrada associates have agreed to testify for the
prosecution.
On Monday, Estrada failed to meet a deadline to file a counter-affidavit
with the ombudsman on why he should not be charged.
Perez said Estrada's failure to meet the deadline would speed up the cases
against the ousted leader.
Desierto said his office could now initiate criminal proceedings against
Estrada after he waived his right to answer the charges against him.
Estrada faces charges of plunder, graft, malversation of public funds,
bribery and perjury in connection with the "Juetengate" scandal, tobacco
tax kickbacks, and ill-gotten wealth.
Plunder is a non-bailable offense punishable by death. Desierto, however,
did not say which of the cases a five-man special investigating panel would
file in the Sandiganbayan first. Andrew Ammuyutan, chief legal counsel of
the Office of the Ombudsman, said Estrada would be arrested should the
Sandiganbayan decide not to hold further preliminary hearings.
The special panel headed by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Margarito P. Gervacio
Jr. yesterday rejected Estrada's motion for reconsideration seeking a stop
to its investigation of the complaints by private prosecutors and
nongovernment organizations.
Gervacio said Estrada did not raise new issues in his motion for
reconsideration and had failed to secure a temporary restraining order from
the Supreme Court. Inquirer, 02/14/2001
MACAPAGAL RULES OUT EXILE: 'NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW': Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo
yesterday ruled out foreign exile for Joseph Estrada, saying her ousted
predecessor must answer for his alleged crimes before he could hope for
amnesty.
Speaking on the issue for the first time, Ms Macapagal said she would not
allow Estrada to fly to Boston for a planned cataract surgery in March.
The justice department has imposed a travel ban on Estrada who faces six
cases, including plunder, in the Office of the Ombudsman.
Ms Macapagal disclosed that various quarters had been urging her to allow
the ousted President to leave, thereby hastening the healing of the
nation's wounds caused by Estrada's impeachment trial.
"The representations were quite transparent. Senate President (Aquilino)
Pimentel (Jr.) proposed it. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines proposed it," she said.
Widespread opposition, however, prompted the Macapagal administration to
scuttle the plan.
"In the end, we had to make a decision. And the decision is to require him
to answer the charges here in the Philippines," she said.
Asked to clarify her earlier statement that she was ready to forgive
Estrada if he repented, Ms Macapagal said: "No. I said forgiveness could
only come after penance . . . only after repentance."
She said that talk about reconciliation should not be interpreted to mean
the government would let Estrada get away with his alleged crimes.
Inquirer, 02/14/2001
GUINGONA: ESTRADA CAN SEE FILIPINO DOCTORS: No need to go to the United
States. Deposed President Joseph Estrada can have his failing eyesight
treated in the Philippines by local doctors, Vice President Teofisto
Guingona Jr. said yesterday.
His observation was shared by Justice Secretary Hernando Perez and Rep.
Ralph Recto, who both said sophisticated machines for eye operations are
already available in the country.
On the other hand, Sen. Gregorio Honasan urged the Arroyo administration to
allow Estrada to leave for the United States to undergo eye treatment.
Press Undersecretary Roberto Capco expressed suspicions on the real motive
of the former president in insisting that he be allowed to leave for his
long-scheduled eye treatment in Boston, Massachusetts despite a travel ban
against him and his family.
Guingona and Capco said Estrada should not be allowed to leave the country
as he has to personally answer the plunder charges lodged against him
before the Office of the Ombudsman.
They admitted, however, that the fallen leader could either appeal his case
to the courts or post bond to enable him to travel abroad.
The two officials also said a compromise agreement is possible.
Perez said he checked with a local group of ophthalmologists and found out
the treatment Estrada was seeking was locally available.
The government has barred Estrada and 23 other people, including his wife
Dr. Luisa Ejercito, from leaving the country as charges of plunder and
corruption have been filed against him.
If Estrada is allowed to go abroad, the destination should be a country
with which the Philippines has an extradition treaty so he can be brought
back in case he overstays in the host country to evade prosecution by the
Philippine government.
Recto also said Estrada's traveling companion should be his wife "to reduce
the possibility of a romantic or financial hanky panky." Phil. Star,
02/12/2001
IMPEACHMENT COURT FORMALLY CLOSED (Manila) The Senate formally closed
yesterday one of the most dramatic chapters in its history by adopting a
resolution declaring the impeachment court functus officio with the ouster
of President Joseph Estrada through people power.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., author of the measure, said events
have overtaken the functions of the impeachment court and there is no more
need to rekindle doubts and public passions.
He rejected suggestions that the closure be made by a reconvened
impeachment court, saying doing so would only rekindle old wounds.
"The impeachment trial is already moot and acade-mic," Pimentel said.
Sen. John Osmeña said that while he signed a Se-nate resolution expressing
support for the Arroyo administration, he is concerned that closing the
impeachment trial would prevent Estrada from giving his side before the
court.
Pimentel, however, argued that the forum for the vindication of Estrada is
already the Ombudsman’s office and not the impeachment court.
With the adoption of the resolution, all records of the impeachment court
would be consigned to the archives of the Senate. However, the Senate
president is authorized to open the controversial second envelope on the
so-called Jose Velarde account and to give certified copies of documents to
interested parties.
Pimentel said he did not believe the documents and records of the
impeachment court are covered by the rules of confidentiality and so, could
be shared with interested parties.
Only Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago voted against the resolution. She said
that by formally closing the trial, the impeachment court will be left
without any decision on the charges against Estrada.
She pointed out that a decision would have settled the issue on Estrada’s
disqualification from running for public office again.
"By closing the impeachment trial without any decision, we will leave
hanging the issue on whether Mr. Estrada could run again in 2004," Santiago
argued.
She said that under the Constitution, a person who has served less than
four years as president could run again.
Sen. Raul Roco refuted the legal opinion of Santiago. Roco said that
Estrada could not run for president in 2004 because the Constitution
prohibits reelection.
"Erap is disqualified by the Constitution, even if there is no decision by
the impeachment court on his perpetual disqualification from running for
public office," said Roco, the incoming education secretary.
Phil.Star 2/8/01
HIGH COURT JUNKS ERAP BID: The Supreme Court yesterday rejected deposed
President Joseph Estrada's bid to stop Ombudsman Aniano Desierto from
investigating complaints of plunder, bribery and graft against him.
The high court, however, directed Desierto, Justice Secretary Hernando B.
Perez and the Office of the Solicitor General to submit on Feb. 12 their
written comments on Estrada's motion for a temporary restraining order or
writ of preliminary injunction.
Also ordered to file their comments were the complainants--lawyers Ramon
Gonzales, Leonardo de Vera, Dennis Funa, Romeo Capulong and Ernesto B.
Francisco Jr. as well as the anti-crime groups Volunteers Against Crime and
Corruption (VACC) and Graft Free Philippines Foundation Inc.
The court scheduled oral arguments on Feb. 15. Through his lawyers Cleofe
Verzola and Pacifico Agabin, Estrada asked the high tribunal on Monday to
suspend the Ombudsman's investigation of the complaints, claiming he still
enjoyed presidential immunity from prosecution.
Desierto had given Estrada until Feb. 12 to reply to criminal charges of
economic plunder, misuse of funds, violations of the anti-graft law,
perjury, bribery and possession of unexplained wealth.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday also dismissed for lack of merit four
petitions by Estrada's allies and opponents seeking a clarification on Vice
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's assumption of the presidency at the
height of Edsa People Power II.
Amid the flurry of petitions in the Supreme Court, Desierto urged Estrada
to "face the music" and answer the charges against him.
If Estrada were to file a formal defense, the complainants would have five
days to counter, Desierto said.
After reviewing the evidence, the Ombudsman may decide to file the case in
the Sandiganbayan that may then issue an arrest warrant against Estrada.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday urged Desierto
to speed up its investigation of the cases against Estrada. Inquirer,
02/07/2001
SOLONS PRESS FOR OUSTER OF CENTRAL BANK CHIEF: The heat is on Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Rafael Buenaventura.
Two congressmen yesterday voiced suspicions that Buenaventura tipped off
ousted President Joseph Estrada about Urban Bank's impending closure last
year.
This allowed Estrada to withdraw a total of P143 million from Urban Bank a
day before the BSP shut it down, according to Rep. Oscar Moreno and City
Rep. Joker Arroyo.
Buenaventura, a classmate of Estrada at the Ateneo High School, denied the
allegations of the two congressmen who served as House prosecutors in the
Senate impeachment trial of Estrada.
Arroyo also said Buenaventura could have told Estrada about the imminent
collapse of the bank.
Ever since Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took over the presidency
from Estrada on Jan. 20, Buenaventura has been under pressure from various
groups to resign.
But Buenaventura, who took over as BSP governor after Estrada became
President in 1998, said he would not resign. He is guaranteed a six-year
term.
Moreno and Arroyo said Estrada withdrew a total of P143 million through one
of his alleged numbered accounts-—858--that once contained about P600
million.
Moreno said his sources, apparently from the banking industry, furnished
him documents pertaining to two managers' checks--in the amounts of
P107,191,780 and P36,572,315--issued by the Urban Bank Greenhills office on
April 24, 2000.
Estrada, according to Moreno, issued a letter of authority--signed as
"858"--to the Urban Bank branch manager asking him to issue the two
managers' checks to be paid to cash. Inquirer, 02/07/2001
GMA KEEPING OPTION OPEN ON VP CHOICE: She's keeping her options open.
President Arroyo indicated this yesterday on the matter relating to her
imminent appointment of a vice president following her takeover of the
presidency on Jan. 20.
While the President noted that three past presidents did not appoint a vice
president, she is considering naming one soon. She said the late Presidents
Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia and Sergio Osmena opted to have no vice
president.
"But I will make the proper decision at the appropriate time and let me
tell you that I am praying for guidance to select the best person to hold
that office," Mrs. Arroyo told reporters before taking off from Mactan
Airbase in Cebu City.
She said she should nominate the second highest official of the land for
legislative confirmation before Congress goes on recess on Feb. 8.
She admitted having difficulty in choosing her second in command even as
she expressed confidence the people will respect and accept her nominee.
Mrs. Arroyo also said she has to conduct several consultations before she
finally appoints the new vice president.
She refused to give any hint of the potential contenders. "Until I make my
decision, it's really better to avoid speculations because that would
really be a difficult decision for me to make."
Among the strong contenders to the vice presidency are Senate Minority
Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr., Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and
Senators Raul Roco, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Franklin Drilon. Phil. Star,
02/04/2001
PROSECUTORS PUSH FOR ESTRADA ARREST: Private prosecutors are urging the
Office of the Ombudsman to file with the Sandiganbayan a case of plunder
against ousted President Joseph Estrada so that he can be placed behind
bars within 30 days.
"He (Ombudsman Aniano Desierto) can, based on the evidence already
presented, decide to file a case of plunder that is non-bailable," lawyer
Romeo Capulong said. "He needs only probable cause for the filing of the
case."
Once the case is filed, the Sandiganbayan can issue a warrant of arrest and
put the former President in jail, according to Capulong.
He said the Ombudsman should act expeditiously as the "whole world" was
watching how the country's justice system would handle the case.
Estrada faces seven cases before the Office of the Ombudsman, ranging from
graft and corruption to plunder.
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its plan to file three
more cases of plunder, which is punishable by death if the amount involved
more than P50 million.
On Friday, former first lady Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy
Estrada and six others were named respondents in a supplemental complaint
filed with the Ombudsman in connection with the plunder case against
Estrada.
Citing the "avalanche of evidence" in the suspended impeachment trial,
the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) charged Mrs. Ejercito
and her son Jinggoy with estafa for allegedly pocketing part of the P200
million in tobacco excise tax meant for Ilocos Sur.
Also charged were Estrada's friend, Charlie "Atong" Ang and his maid
Delia Rajas, Alma Alfaro and Nuccio Saverio.
Capulong said one of the plunder cases against Estrada was already complete
and that the Office of the Ombudsman could already act on it.
To pin down Estrada, the DOJ is tapping businessman Mark Jimenez, a member
of the ousted President's inner circle, as a witness.
President Macapagal-Arroyo said Saturday she had given Justice Secretary
Hernando Perez full authority to decide if Jimenez and those offering to
testify in the corruption cases filed against Estrada should be granted
immunity.
Yesterday, Rep. Joker Arroyo reiterated that the government should be wary
of the Jimenez offer to testify.
"He didn't volunteer when we were looking for witnesses. Now that everything
is over, he's testifying. Why? Is he looking for something in exchange?"
Arroyo said.
The militant group Sanlakas yesterday urged the government not to betray
the spirit of Edsa 2 and instead prosecute Estrada and his cronies.
Wilson Fortaleza, Sanlakas national president, said in a statement that
"the people want prosecution and punishment not only for Estrada but also
for his accomplices."
He said justice must be served by incarcerating Jimenez, Ang, Serapio and
Dante Tan, who was implicated in the country's biggest stock manipulation
scandal.
In Davao City, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said it would mount
street protests again if the DOJ cut deals with cronies of Estrada in
exchange for pieces of evidence and testimonies against the former
President.
Inquirer, 02/05/2001
WOMEN WITNESSES LEAVE SAFEHOUSE; THREAT NOT OVER: After spending almost two
months in a safehouse, Emma Lim and Menchu Itchon, prosecution witnesses in
the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada before he was ousted,
were finally able to go back to their homes last week.
But the threat to their lives is not over because they will most likely be
called as witnesses again, this time in the criminal cases filed against
Estrada with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Arrangements are being made for their turnover to the government's witness
protection program. Until then, they will continue to be protected by the
group of security men hired last December by the House prosecution team.
It was this security team that protected Lim, Itchon and members of the
prosecution panel.
The team members are unarmed and number less than a dozen. They look
harmless, but one look in their eyes and you know that they mean
business--that they will die for the witnesses, no ifs or buts.
They more than made up for their lack of firearms with brains, training and
the right connections.
The team took orders from a man who for years was assigned the task of
protecting then President Fidel V. Ramos and visiting dignitaries,
including Pope John Paul II.
Now retired, Gen. Leo S. Alvez used to be the commander of the Presidential
Security Group (PSG).
This made Alvez the prosecution's logical choice for chief of security,
explained Pangasinan Rep. Hernani Braganza who headed the prosecution
panel's secretariat.
It also helped that the safehouse chosen by the team, the Orchid Garden
Suites on Pablo Ocampo Street, was not only near the Senate but was in
Manila, under the area of responsibility of Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, head
of the Western Police District (WPD).
Razon used to be Alvez's deputy at the PSG. Alvez had talked to Razon and
told him about his concerns for the security of the witnesses. By promising
to help secure the area, Braganza said Razon was "putting his career on the
line."
But Alvez was quick to stress that Razon's help should not be interpreted
to mean that he had already withdrawn support from the Estrada
administration at the time. Because the witnesses were his "constituents,"
Razon only did his job as WPD chief when he extended assistance to the
security team.
The Orchid Garden Suites was also an ideal choice for a safehouse because
the Roces family, which was perceived to be "cause-oriented," had
controlling interest in the hotel.
At the time he was hired by the prosecution, Alvez was in Cebu enjoying his
retirement. He flew to Manila upon Braganza's request.
On Nov. 28, he accepted the job without any condition. Six days later on
Dec. 4, Alvez went to see Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of
Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes, his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy
(PMA) Class of 1966. Alvez informed Reyes, his bunkmate at the PMA and
compadre, of his new job.
More than a month later, Alvez would meet with Reyes in Camp Aguinaldo once
more, this time to convince him to withdraw support from Estrada. Braganza
said that when the prosecution was just starting to form the security team,
they wrote Reyes and asked if he could provide a security detail for the
witnesses. Reyes replied that this would need clearance from the Office of
the President.
According to Velasquez's chronicles, no advance security arrangements had
been made for Clarissa Ocampo, Equitable PCI Bank senior vice president,
when she took the witness stand of the impeachment trial on Dec. 22.
This prompted Braganza to place an urgent call to Alvez's team, then at the
Orchid Garden Suites, to provide security to the bank official. The group
escorted Ocampo out of the Senate after her testimony.
Ocampo was taken to the bank's main office in Makati and there it was
agreed upon that a separate security team would protect Ocampo and other
bank personnel. That team was under former Defense Secretary Renato de
Villa. Inquirer, 02/025/2001
ESTRADA TO ANG: DON'T TESTIFY AGAINST ME: Apparently worried that one of
his closest allies would betray him, deposed President Joseph Estrada has
called a sister of his friend Charlie "Atong" Ang to check whether the
former gaming consultant would testify against him.
Estrada allegedly asked the Ang family to stop Charlie from giving the
Arroyo administration any testimony that could pin down the deposed
president on charges of corruption and plunder.
A source from the ruling Lakas-NUCD said the Ang family gave assurances
that Charlie would not turn state witness in Estrada's expected trial for
corruption and economic plunder.
Ang is one of Estrada's friends who have offered to testify against him in
exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution.
Perez has said he was carefully studying the offers of Estrada allies to
testify against the fallen leader on charges of corruption and economic
plunder.
Among those who have offered to turn state witness are controversial
businessman Mark Jimenez, who is facing extradition to the United States,
and Filipino-Chinese businessman Jaime Dichaves.
Sources at the justice department said Jimenez can be given immunity "if he
tells all he knows." Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said earlier Ilocos Sur
Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, who blew the whistle on Estrada's alleged
involvement in jueteng operations in the country early last October, has a
good chance of getting immunity. Phil. Star, 02/05/2001
US NOT IN A HURRY OVER MJ EXTRADITION: The American government is "prepared
to wait however long it takes" for the Philippines to extradite fugitive
businessman Mark Jimenez, who is wanted in the United States for several
federal crimes.
US Embassy spokesman Thomas Skipper said his government does not want to
interfere in legal proceedings where Jimenez is expected to testify against
disgraced former President Joseph Estrada.
US authorities in Manila also assured the Philippine government that the
reported presence of US marshals, supposedly in the country to arrest
Jimenez, is mere speculation.
"They said there is no truth to that, it's just media speculation," a
senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Acting
Foreign Affairs Secretary Lauro Baja laughed off reports that agents
would abduct Jimenez similar to the way former Panamanian strongman Manuel
Antonio Noriega was brought to the US to answer drug trafficking charges
two decades ago.
The US government last year asked the Philippines to extradite Jimenez
after he fled the US in 1999 following his indictment in Florida.
He was indicted for alleged tax evasion, mail fraud and illegal campaign
contributions to the US Democratic Party.
But Jimenez successfully used local courts to fight off his extradition
even as he allegedly helped Estrada enrich himself through illegal
transactions with some of the country's biggest corporations.
Upon its succession, the Arroyo administration prepared to charge the
fugitive with economic plunder, a capital crime, but Jimenez bought himself
more time after he agreed on Friday to testify against his friend.
Jimenez, former Estrada adviser on Latin American affairs, is expected to
testify that Estrada conspired to manipulate stock prices and collected
kickbacks from big corporations. Phil. Star, 02/01/2001
DOJ FILING MORE CASES OF PLUNDER VS ESTRADA: The Department of Justice
plans to file with the Office of the Ombudsman three more cases of plunder
against ousted President Joseph Estrada, according to Justice Secretary
Hernando Perez.
Perez also said the DOJ would try to recover the mansions, bank deposits
and other assets of the former president.
Estrada is already facing seven criminal cases at the Office of the
Ombudsman, including plunder and graft. These were filed by lawyers and
anti-crime groups.
Perez did not reveal details of the three new plunder cases that the DOJ
was developing. But he said the pieces of evidence were "very strong" and
could pin down Estrada.
Perez said he did not want to alert those involved in these cases because
they might try to flee the country.
Perez said President Macapagal-Arroyo had instructed him to "go ahead and
prosecute those who appear to be guilty of graft and corruption whoever
they may be."
He said the DOJ had the discretion of not filing a case against those who
would testify against the former president before the Ombudsman.
But the justice department cannot grant immunity to the witnesses if
charges had been filed against them, according to Perez. Perez also told
reporters in Malacanang that the DOJ was screening three people as possible
witnesses against Estrada.
One of them is Charlie "Atong" Ang, a gambling buddy of Estrada whose
disagreement with Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson over Bingo 2-Ball
triggered the "Juetengate" scandal that led to the impeachment and ouster
of Estrada.
But Perez said several persons had sent word that Ang would not qualify as
state witness because he was not the "least guilty" among the parties in
the jueteng controversy.
Perez would not name the two other witnesses being screened by the DOJ.
But he earlier admitted that businessman Mark Jimenez, a member of the
inner circle of Estrada, would testify against the former President.
Jimenez is now under the Witness Protection Program of the DOJ. Edward
Serapio, Estrada's personal lawyer, and Rowena "Weng" Lopez, one of
the mistresses of Estrada, have also expressed willingness to cooperate
with government prosecutors.
Stung by criticisms that Jimenez was a "Johnny come lately," his lawyer
yesterday said that Jimenez was ready to testify against President Estrada
in the Senate impeachment trial before Estrada was ousted. Inquirer,
02/02/2001
PALACE UNFAZED BY COUP THREATS: Malacanang is not fazed by coup plotters
but is more concerned about the terrorist threat they pose to innocent
civilians.
Administration spokesperson and Presidential chief of staff Renato Corona
said those forces out to destabilize the Macapagal government were small in
number and are no threat to the new dispensation.
"There are reports (that) they have the arms to back them up but this has
not been verified. Even if it is, how many people do they have--20, 30,
even 50? I really don't know," Corona said Wednesday in a late press
briefing.
Asked who the "destabilizers" were, Corona said they were connected with
the previous administration.
"The problem is not that these people might topple the government, it's the
fact that innocent persons could get hurt should they resort to terrorist
activities," Corona said.
Asked about supposed meetings between Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and
Gregorio Honasan and former national police chief Panfilo Lacson, Corona
said, "We get that (information) from the text all the time."
Corona downplayed the meetings. "I don't really know what they're meeting
(about)," he said.
In his first public statement Wednesday, Estrada denied he and his
followers were out to destabilize the government. Inquirer, 02/02/2001
