RP prosecutors open mystery bank records<\/p>\n
MANILA (AP): Prosecutors in Philippine President Joseph
\nEstrada's impeachment trial obtained handwriting samples on
\nWednesday that they say will prove the leader spent millions of
\ndollars in graft money under a false name.<\/p>\n
The samples consist of six signatures in documents for an
\naccount at Equitable PCI Bank that prosecutors claim Estrada used
\nto write a $2.8-million check to buy a mansion for one of his
\nmistresses.<\/p>\n
Estrada denies he used the account or owns the mansion, which
\nwas bought with funds from the account, but says it belongs to a
\nfriend.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors plan to call as a witness at least one handwriting
\nexpert to try proving that the documents, signed \"Jose Velarde,\"
\nwere actually signed by Estrada.<\/p>\n
The person who signed the documents did not fill in other
\ninformation slots on the bank records, such as address,
\noccupation, nationality or the sum of the initial deposit.<\/p>\n
The signature card, a sheet that account holders must sign
\nseveral times for future signature verification, was stamped
\n\"dormant,\" meaning it had not been used for some time.<\/p>\n
A prosecutor said the signature on a microfilm copy of the
\n$2.8-million check appeared to be different from signatures on
\nother documents from the same account.<\/p>\n
The documents also show Velarde was introduced to the bank by
\na person with the initials G.L.G.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors said the initials could be those of George L. Go,
\nwho stepped down on Tuesday as chairman of the bank, saying he
\nwanted to eliminate speculation that it was involved in
\nwrongdoing of any kind.<\/p>\n
Go, a friend of Estrada, also resigned last month as a trustee
\nof a scholarship foundation for Muslim youth, which prosecutors
\nclaim Estrada used as a front to cover up payoffs.<\/p>\n
Estrada is on trial on counts of bribery, graft, betrayal of
\npublic trust and violating the constitution. A guilty verdict by
\ntwo-thirds of the 22-member Senate on any of the four counts
\nwould force him from office.<\/p>\n
Jaime Dichaves, a prominent businessman, has said he holds the
\nVelarde account. Dichaves, a close friend of Estrada, did not say
\nwhy he opened the account under a different name and has not said
\nif the signatures were his.<\/p>\n
In other testimony in the trial's tenth day Wednesday, a
\nwitness said Estrada directly ordered a government agency to
\ngrant a personal favor to a gambling buddy.<\/p>\n
Rufo Colayco, the former president of Clark Development Corp.,
\na government agency which runs an industrial free trade zone
\nnorth of Manila, said Estrada asked him to give a license to
\noperate a gas station to a personal friend, businessman Lucio Co,
\ndespite competition for the license.<\/p>\n
Colayco also said that he was fired by Estrada one day after
\narguing with Co over how much rent a casino owned by Co would pay
\nthe agency.<\/p>\n
The impeachment trial centers on testimony by Luis Singson,
\nthe governor of Ilocos Sur province and a reputed gambling boss.
\nSingson, a former gambling and drinking buddy of the president,
\naccuses Estrada of taking more than 400 million pesos
\n($8 million) in bribes from illegal gambling lords and skimming
\n130 million pesos in tax revenues intended for tobacco farmers.<\/p>\n
Also Wednesday, officials said three of Estrada's closest
\nCabinet aides will resign to run in next year's general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Cabinet Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said he will resign
\nby the end of this year and at least two other Cabinet officials,
\nInterior Secretary Alfredo Lim and Press Secretary Ricardo Puno,
\nwill also resign to run in the polls.<\/p>\n
The three Cabinet members have staunchly defended Estrada.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-prosecutors-open-mystery-bank-records-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }