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Saturday, July 08, 2006
Estrada to sue ex-beauty queen for 'libel'
FORMER President Joseph Estrada is filing a P30-million libel suit against former beauty queen Joelle Marie Pelaez, her mother Blanquita, and the Manila Standard Today in connection with the series of news reports linking the detained leader to money laundering.
Estrada's lawyer, Rufus Rodriguez, said the former President is also filing a case of malicious prosecution against Pelaez. He said the twin charges would be filed next week or as soon as his client can secure a permit from the Sandiganbayan Special Division to appear before the Manila City Prosecutor's Office.
The nature of the cases requires the complainant to personally appear before the prosecutor to swear to the charges he is filing, Rodriguez said.
Estrada has been detained for more than five years now for cases of perjury and plunder which are now pending before the Sandiganbayan Special Division.
The ousted leader, according to Rodriguez, has become even more determined to file the charges as it has very clear to him that the Pelaez mother-and-daughter were being used by powerful individuals who are determined to destroy his credibility. He said these individuals are opted to poison the minds of the Sandiganbayan justices, so they would rule against the former President.
He said that since May 2006, Pelaez with the help of the Manila Standard Today and upon her arrival last week has been maliciously harping on the alleged large-scale money-laundering scheme of Estrada.
In the cases filed by the former beauty queen, Rodriguez said there was no mention of money laundering in the two cases she filed before the Pasig and Makati prosecutor's offices. "In fact, the forgery case she filed against two officials of the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) before the Pasig court does not even include President Estrada. While the case of other deceit that Ms. Pelaez filed against (former) President Estrada and some officials of UCPB and San Miguel Corp. does not mention money laundering," he said.
The other deceit case, he explained, is considered the most minor of the estafa charges in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and the weakest case that can be filed against an individual.
Furthermore, Rodriguez said Pelaez's case refers to her loss of two condominium units, which were foreclosed by UCPB for her failure to pay a P5 million loan.
"At best, these cases would be extremely hard to prove. And where is the money laundering angle that Ms. Pelaez has been mentioning since her telenovela was first published in May?" Rodriguez asked.
He also questioned the timing of Pelaez's coming to the country and filing the case after Estrada testified before the anti-graft court to disprove allegations that he amassed over P4 billion in ill-gotten wealth.
"Again, it is clear that all Ms. Pelaez wants to do is to destroy (former) President Estrada because she left immediately for the US after filing the case even before the prosecutor conducted his preliminary investigation which would require her presence," he said. (DBP/Sunnex)
(July 8, 2006 issue)
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