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Sunday, August 31, 2003
Ex-Solgen says gov't should seize Pidal account
By Ben O Tesiorna
DAVAO -- The government should move for the forfeiture of the Jose Pidal account in favor of the government, former Solicitor General Frank Chavez said.
Chavez said what the present solicitor general should do is file "escheat proceedings" in court to declare the government as owner of the Jose Pidal account since no one is claiming it after all.
"P270 million is not peanuts. Since nobody is claiming it, the government should now file a case in court to seize the P270 million (in the Jose Pidal account) and put in the national treasury," he said.
Chavez added that "feelers" were sent to him a few days ago asking if he could represent Jose Pidal. He, however, turned down the offer.
"I found the offer too hot. I simply would not touch it with a ten feet pole," he said.
Chavez also did not concur with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel's opinion that the Senate is hopeless in compelling the bank to divulge any information on the Jose Pidal account.
He added that the Senate should enforce its authority adding that it could well compel the bank to do such since the purpose of the Senate inquiry is not to look at the amount in the Jose Pidal account but only to determine if it really exists.
Earlier, Eugenio Mahusay, a former employee of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo said in an affidavit that he was asked on several occasions by the First Gentleman to deposit or withdraw millions of pesos from the banks near the LTA building and that the bank accounts were in the names of Jose Pidal, Vicky Toh, Tomas Toh, Kelvin Tan and Lualhati Foundation.
He also mentioned seeing some public officials inside the LTA office doing personal transactions with Mike Arroyo.
He also said that just recently he was in front of Mike Arroyo when he signed checks to be deposited in the bank accounts.
Senator Panfilo Lacson presented Eugenio last week as his "star witness" against Mike Arroyo. The senator said Eugenio could prove that Mike Arroyo and Jose Pidal are one and the same person.
(August 31, 2003 issue)
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