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.