Estrada aide under fire

Estrada aide under fire

MANILA (Reuters): The United States sought on Thursday the extradition of a powerful adviser to Philippine President Joseph Estrada on charges of illegal contributions to President Bill Clinton's election campaign and other offenses.

The U.S. embassy asked for assistance in the arrest of Mark Jimenez, a Philippine presidential adviser on Latin American affairs, so he could stand trial in the United States.

There was no immediate comment from Estrada but a source at the presidential palace said Estrada's office had not received a copy of the request and "it might be premature" to comment.

The request said Jimenez was wanted in the United States "for tax evasion, wire fraud, conspiracy, false statements and campaign financing charges" and an arrest warrant had been issued for him. Jimenez is a majority owner of Future Tech International, a Miami, Florida-based firm.