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Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Lacson star witness says sorry for 'using' senator to get back at Mike
MANILA - The star witness of opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson apologized for using the senator in getting back at First Gentleman Mike Arroyo over old conflicts during the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Tuesday.
"Humihingi ako ng paumanhin kay Senator Lacson dahil siya ay aking nagamit para maganti kay Mike Arroyo," said Eugenio "Udong" Mahusay Jr., whose sworn statements were used by Lacson in his allegations against the First Gentleman.
Mahusay denied having any knowledge on who is Jose Pidal in person.
At the hearing that was televised live, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo reiterated his challenge to Senator Lacson to prove his allegations in court.
"I have committed no crime. I have been falsely accused," said Arroyo after he confronted Lacson in his opening statements on the rightful venue where he thinks Lacson should file his charges against him.
At the Senate hearing, Arroyo stood firm on earlier statements that his brother Ignacio Arroyo was the real owner of the bank accounts.
However, he declined to answer questions on how Ignacio Arroyo had obtained the money and what he did with it, saying that his businessman-brother would answer such questions.
Ignacio Monday claimed ownership of two of the bank accounts under the name "Jose Pidal" and denied that any of the funds were proceeds from criminal activity.
Ignacio said the accounts were closed on August 2001, the month before an anti-money laundering statute that outlawed the use of aliases became effective.
At the hearing, First Gentleman Arroyo said he had no regular job and merely collected "passive income" from interest earnings.
The senators tried to question him on alleged properties his family had in the United States but the President's husband said his brother would answer those questions. Sunnex/AFP
(September 2, 2003 issue)
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