January 9, 2001, Sun Star, 'Big bettors' lure Estrada to Cebu?, by Elias O. Baquero,

Defense lawyers getting death threats too, says President. Story, 2

Ilocos Sur governor recounts presence of Senators Osmeña, Oreta at alleged mahjongg parties President threw while visiting Cebu

CEBU -- Cebu is President Estrada's favorite destination because several Cebuano businessmen throw millions of pesos into mahjong games just to get acquainted with him.

So said Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson during an interview with Sun.Star Saturday. He reported that those who met Estrada during the President's visit in Cebu are big names in the business community.

Singson, the President's erstwhile friend, said he always accompanied Estrada in his Cebu visits. He did not name names, except for Victor Jose "Jojo" Tan Uy.

Uy's name came up during the impeachment trial against Estrada as being allegedly the same person as Eleuterio Tan, who withdrew P90 million from Land Bank of the Philippines Shaw blvd. branch.

The amount is part of the P130-million tobacco excise tax from Ilocos Sur, which was allegedly diverted to Estrada's personal funds.

Uy, who was in Manila yesterday, has denied knowing Tan. He has filed a P5-million damage suit against Tan for besmirching his name.

A company ID and a driver's license presented by Tan to cash the checks on Aug. 28, 1998 bore the photos of Uy.

Aside from the Cebuano businessmen, Singson said Sens. John Osmeña and Tessie Oreta were also always present in Estrada's Cebu visits.

"Itong si Osmeña pa-whisper-whisper kay Estrada, at ito namang si Oreta tutulong sa pagbalasa ng mahjong tiles," he said. (Osmeña would be whispering to Estrada, while Oreta would be helping mix the mahjongg tiles.)

"Ito namang si Jojo Uy ang palaging kumausap kay Estrada. Palakad-lakad yan at palaging may kinausap sa cell phone. Nag-verify sa mga sasakyan nga gamitin sa grupo ni Erap at sa pagkain. Nag-arrange din kung sino ang dapat kausapin sa presidente," Singson said when asked about Uy.

(Uy always talked to Estrada. He would move around and talk on his cell phone to check on the vehicles to be used by the President's entourage, the food and drinks, and the people who were scheduled to talk with Estrada.)

Uy is heir to the Uy Masuy Wine Factory, which is into trading and the restaurant business, among other ventures.

It was during one of the President's visits in Cebu last April that Osmeña and Oreta allegedly received P1 million in checks each, as their share of Estrada's mahjong winnings.

Estrada, who was on a four-day visit, was supposed to meet with local officials to discuss urban poor housing aboard the presidential yacht, BRP Ang Pangulo.

However, the meeting was cancelled as the President had a mahjong session with his friends, including Osmeña and Oreta, according to Singson.

The President has been to Cebu at least six times since he assumed office in 1998.

His last visit was last Aug. 10 for the Philippine Judges' Association national convention and the ceremony naming the 2nd Mactan-Mandaue Bridge after the late Senate president and chief justice Marcelo B. Fernan.

The President is now facing charges of bribery for allegedly receiving P500 million from gambling lords, skimming Ilocos Sur's share of tobacco excise taxes, violating the Constitution and betraying public trust.