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Thursday, March 23, 2006
Estrada denies getting kickbacks from excise taxes
MANILA -- After five years since he was indicted for plunder and perjury charges, former President Joseph Estrada finally had his day in court to defend himself from the charges hurled against him by the government.
Estrada, who said to have waited so long to defend himself, has point-by-point denied the allegation that he received P130 million kickback from the tobacco excise tax as claimed by prosecution star witness, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson.
Estrada, for the first time since he was ousted from Malacañang, had met face to face with Singson who was also in the courtroom when the former President took the witness stand.
Singson, who had claimed that he was a close friend of Estrada said in his testimony in 2002 that the former President accepted P130 million in kickbacks from the tobacco excise taxes.
He claimed that he delivered the money, along with Charlie "Atong" Ang to the former President's residence on Polk Street, San Juan, and portion of it was received allegedly by no less than former First Lady now Senator Luisa Ejericto.
Estrada, answering the direct examination conducted by one of his lawyers, Jose Flaminiano, said he never received or accepted money from the tobacco excise taxes, given the fact that he was even offered more than that by the Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (Impsa).
"Kung yung US$14 million o P700 million na alok sa akin ng Impsa ay hindi ko tinanggap yun pa kayang 10 percent na aagawin ko pa mula sa tobacco farmers (If I didn't get the US$14 million or P700 million from Impsa, why would I even get money from tobacco farmers). Wala naman akong konsensiyang magawa iyon (I have the conscience not to do that)," Estrada said.
He claimed that brokers for Impsa had offered him the grease money in exchange for giving the firm sovereign guarantee, which past Presidents had provided to foreign firms.
He was also quick to deny Singson's claims that he was a close friend of his. He described his friendship with Singson as "ordinary and just a political ally".
"We are not that close. I consider a close friend who is sincere, trustworthy and loyal and he is not one of them. I only have one close friend, and that he is the late Fernando Poe Jr.," he said.
Estrada insisted that he never accepted the offer of Impsa, believing that granting the firm its request for sovereign guarantee would only make the country suffer.
He also pointed out that since he was elected mayor of San Juan in the late 60s up to the time he was elected as Vice President, his name was never linked to any anomaly and he would not allow that especially at the time he was elected as President.
Estrada also said there was no truth to claims of Singson that the governor was with Ang when he delivered the P130 million in kickbacks.
He said he had not seen Ang since he was elected President, claiming that he warned Ang to distance himself from him because "hindi maganda ang image niya sa (he had a bad image in the) media."
Estrada, who was clad in an off-white Barong Tagalog and brown pants was accompanied by his wife and three children -- Senator Jose "Jinggoy' Estrada, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito and Jackie Ejercito-Lopez.
Friends and political allies including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Alfredo Lim, former senator Ernesto Maceda, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay attended the hearing to show support for the ex-leader.
Before he began his testimony, Estrada expressed appreciation to thank the Sandiganbayan Special Division for granting him his requests. These include granting him the chance to have his knees operated, to attend the 100th birthday of his mother, attend the wake of the late actor Poe and his brother, and to have his eye surgery.
"Thank you very much. I really appreciate it," he told the court.
He said he had mixed feelings on the opportunity to testify in court.
"I have mixed feelings. I welcome this opportunity to present my side because I was denied that right in the impeachment trial when prosecutors walked out. I was not able to defend myself, I was convicted in the streets," he said.
In a related development, Singson, who was asked to comment on the initial testimony of Estrada, said it was expected of the former President to tell lies because he is an actor.
"Inaasahan ko na yan na hindi siya magsasabi ng totoo (I expected him not to tell the truth). I am 100 percent sure that he will lie. But he is an actor. He can very well fake it," said Singson, who was wearing dark sunglasses during the entire hearing.
Singson further added that he decided to attend Wednesday's hearing to personally see the former President, his physical condition and as well the way he would answer queries.
The next hearing is set on March 29. (DBP/Sunnex)
(March 23, 2006 issue)
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