January 12, 2001, Sun Star, Disbarment charges filed vs. Mendoza,

January 12, 2001, Sun Star, Disbarment charges filed vs. Mendoza, 

MANILA -- At least three proponents of the impeachment complaint filed Thursday a disbarment case with the Supreme Court against lawyer Estelito Mendoza, lead counsel for President Estrada, and two others "for conduct constituting deceit, gross misconduct in office, grossly immoral conduct and violation of the lawyer's oath."

Included in the charge sheet were lawyers Fernando Chua and Manuel Lazaro, counsel for Jaime Dichavez.

Complainants Teodoro Casiño of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kairos convenor Fr. Joe Dizon and the group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) charged the three lawyers with obstruction of justice for allegedly colluding and confederating with one another.

The charge is being supported by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Committee on Human Rights and Due Process (IBP-CHDP), Public Interest Law Center (PILC), Organization of United Solicitors for Truth and Estrada's Resignation (Ouster), Caucus of Lawyers for Estrada's Abrupt Resignation (Clear) and CLAMOR.

They asserted that the High Court should act on the testimony of Equitable PCIBank senior vice president Clarissa Ocampo that the three officers of the court allegedly connived to transfer the account of Jose Velarde to Jaime Dichaves on Dec. 13, 2000 at the law office of Mendoza in Makati City.

According to the complainants, the three should be held responsible for "suppressing" five documents pointing to President Estrada's ownership of the Jose Velarde account.

These include:
Three copies of the Investment Management Agreement dated Feb. 4, 2000 between Ocampo and the President, who allegedly used the name Jose Velarde.
Two Equitable signature cards for account C-163, with customer ID no. T/A 101-78056-1 signed thrice by the President as Jose Velarde.

Two copies of the Directorial Letter of Investment in Wellex dated Feb. 4, 2000 addressed to Equitable-PCI Bank Trust Banking and signed by Mr. Estrada as Jose Velarde.

Letter of Authority to debit from SA/CA 0160-62501-5 dated Feb. 4, 2000 to Equitable PCIBank Pacific Star Branch and signed by the Chief Executive as Jose Velarde.

Pages of Equitable-PCI Bank Investment Guidelines bearing the President's conforme using the signature Jose Velarde.