Lead prosecutor scolded for 'delaying' Estrada trial

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Teresita de Castro on Wednesday reprimanded Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio for allegedly delaying the plunder and perjury trial of former President Joseph Estrada. De Castro's remarks came after the lead government prosecutor insisted on showing video footage of Estrada with businessman Mark Jimenez and officials of Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgica Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (Impsa). De Castro said Villa-Ignacio could only present the video footage once he is able to present to the court a complete copy of the $470-million hydroelectric power contract between the Philippine government and Impsa. Among the documents that must presented, De Castro said, is a copy of the sovereign guarantee clause, the insertion of which Estrada purportedly approved. This new provision would compel the government to shoulder loan payments that Impsa fails to pay. Jimenez supposedly offered P40-million "grease money" to Estrada for the approval of the insertion of the sovereign guarantee clause. The RP-Impsa deal involved the rehabilitation of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan hydroelectric power plant in Laguna province. The Impsa deal was approved on Jan. 23, 2001 or two days after President Arroyo assumed the presidency and upon the recommendation of former Justice Sec. Hernando Perez. The prosecution panel only succeeded in presenting to the graft court the first and last pages of the RP-Impsa power deal but Villa-Ignacio insisted this was enough to prove that Estrada lied when he claimed in a previous testimony that he rejected Jimenez’s bribe. De Castro was quoted by GMA 7's DZBB as telling Villa-Ignacio: "Don't mislead us. Be fair to the court and to the accused. Do not delay the proceedings." Radio and television reports said an irate De Castro decided to suspend Estrada's cross-examination after realizing that the afternoon’s session would be unproductive because the prosecution team was unable to immediately come up with the complete Impsa contract. During his cross examination, Estrada insisted he never received any "kickback" from Jimenez nor approved the power rehabilitation-supply deal. "I rejected that P40 million offered by Mark Jimenez because I did not want that sovereign guarantee provision in the contract. I knew that if Impsa fails to pay its debts, the government would assume its payment and that would badly affect the people," he said. De Castro also reminded Villa-Ignacio that it is the prosecution's duty to present documentary and testimonial evidence to pin down Estrada on charges of plunder and perjury, not the other way around. "You cannot ask the accused to present records that would be against his defense," she told the lead prosecutor in open court. She made the comment after Villa-Ignacio demanded from Estrada documents proving that five of his alleged 13 undisclosed business ventures have still not closed down. The prosecution earlier accused Estrada of deliberately omitting from his 1998 statement of assets and liabilities net worth (SALN) between nine to 13 of his real estate properties and business ventures, supposedly making him liable for perjury. In an interview with DZBB, Estrada claimed the defense panel scored victory following Wednesday’s trial. "Wala silang ma-produce na evidence laban sa akin. Maraming beses silang binara ng korte ngayon pero kahit noong nakaraang hearing din naman eh. Irrelevant din ang mga tanong niya sa akin sa cross-examination," he said. He added he is not worried even if Jimenez is presented by the prosecution as rebuttal witness. "Hindi ako nababahala doon, anytime. Pananakot lang naman iyon eh," he said. Also on Wednesday, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson claimed former Estrada pal Charlie "Atong" Ang now wants to be a prosecution witness against the ousted leader. Interviewed during his birthday celebration in Ilocos Sur, Singson claimed Ang called him from the United States and said he wanted to help in the case against Estrada. "Gusto niyang tumulong sa kaso pero tinanggihan ko. Mas maraming alam si Ang pero baka magkagulo at magtagal pa ang kaso,” he was quoted in radio reports. Ang and Singson have not seen eye to eye because of a turf war involving Bingo 2-Ball, the legalized gambling the Estrada government was eyeing to replace jueteng, pilot-tested during the Estrada administration. Singson also claimed plastics king William Gatchalian is now also on his side of the political fence. Jimenez, also an alleged former crony of Estrada, had already crossed the line and is now ready to testify against the deposed leader. Jimenez and Gatchalian were in Ilocos Sur to celebrate with Singson and President Arroyo.-GMANews.TV