January 12, 2001, Sun Star, Impeachment court to Fortuns, Villamor: Explain 'dirty trick',

January 12, 2001, Sun Star, Impeachment court to Fortuns, Villamor: Explain 'dirty trick',

MANILA -- Brother-lawyers Raymond and Sigfrid Fortun were asked by the impeachment court to explain why they should not be cited for contempt.The Fortuns, who are members of President Estrada's defense team, and lawyer Alfredo Villamor were accused by Senator-Judges Franklin Drilon, Renato Cayetano and Rodolfo Biazon of trying to mislead the impeachment court.

During the testimony of prosecution witness Ma. Caridad Rodenas last Monday, Sigrid asked her to look for "Delia Rajas," who withdrew a portion of the P130-million tobacco excise tax that was allegedly given to President Estrada.

Rodenas, a cashier of Land Bank of the Philippines Shaw blvd. branch, failed to identify the Rajas referred to by Sigfrid, as she had met another Delia Rajas.

But a Delia Rajas did appear. She turned out to be the cook of presidential friend Charlie "Atong" Ang's mother. But this Rajas is not the same person who opened an account with Land Bank and then withdrew the amount.

Villamor, Ang's lawyer, was included because he stood as counsel for the two women who escorted Rajas to the impeachment court.

It was Sigfrid's younger brother, Raymond, who had talked to Rajas and arranged for her unannounced appearance in court, which was described by senator-judges as a "dirty trick."

In seeking for the three lawyer's punishment, Drilon said that under the code of professional ethics, lawyers should not do any falsehoods or attempt to mislead the court via a "futile, pointless exercise."

Senator-Judge Nikki Coseteng also manifested that she may file the same charge against any official of the court for insinuating that she was not telling the truth.

She was referring to the presence of prosecution witness Jose Luis Yulo inside the courtroom last Tuesday during a testimony of another witness, which is a breach of the impeachment court's rules.

Yulo's presence was denied by prosecutor Raul Gonzales.

Yulo, former president of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), explained during his cross-examination Wednesday that he was informed by prosecutor Oscar Rodriguez that he was to take the witness stand after Ruben Almadro.

Almadro, a former PSE official, was testifying on the stock manipulation involving gambling firm BW Resources. The President's name was dragged into the financial scandal as it involved his pal, Dante Tan.

Yulo told defense lawyer Jose Flaminiano that he assumed that he was to go inside the courtroom. He was not stopped by the guards when he went in.

When the hearing went on a break, he went out but came back again "to avoid the prying media."

He was caught on camera and was noticed by some senator-judges in both incidents.

"I had no intention to come in. I thought I was due. I am not privy to the rules of the Senate (that potential witnesses are not supposed to watch or listen to a testimony).