July 13, 2001, Manila Bulletin, 'Loi' charges harassment, by Mario B. Casayuran,

July 13, 2001, Manila Bulletin, 'Loi' charges harassment, by Mario B. Casayuran,

Sen. Luisa ''Loi'' Ejercito Estrada said yesterday that the move by Ombudsman Aniano Desierto to have her arrested on plunder charges along with her husband, former President Estrada, is a clear case of persecution and harassment meant to embarrass her.

Speaking through her chief of staff in the Senate and legal counsel Rufus Rodriguez, Mrs. Estrada said the Desierto move "will not anymore be an act of prosecution but a pure form of persecution for being the spouse of (former) President Estrada and for no other reason."

Mrs. Estrada will formally join the Senate when she and 13 other senators attend the opening of the 12th Congress on July 23, three months after winning in the last May 14 senatorial elections. She won under the banner of the opposition Laban ng Demokratikog Pilipino-Puwersa ng Masa (LDP-PnM) coalition.

Rodriguez said Mrs. Estrada's arrest "will be a clear case of harassment to prevent her from effectively performing her duties as an opposition senator at the onset of the Senate sessions which start on July 23."

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III urged the administration to stop "too much politicking" now that the May 14 senatorial election is over. "We should work harder hand in hand for the economy to rebound as the peso continued its downward skid against the dollar," he said.

"Ano na naman pakulo yan ng Ombudsman. Sa halip na we can work together for our country's sake, lao pa nilang ginugulo, Akala ko ba reconciliation and hanap ni GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo). Kung ano ano na namang istorya ang pinalulutang nila. Kung aarestuhin si Dra. Loi, ibang usapan na yon (Instead of working together, the situation is getting worse.If Dr. Loi is arrested, that's a different story)," Sotto added.

Rodriguez, a former college of law dean, recalled that Desierto moved for the withdrawal of the case against Mrs. Estrada in relation to the P140- million tobacco excise tax case for lack of evidence.

To move now for the arrest of Mrs. Estrada is certainly a contradiction which can only come from a confused mind probably precipitated by vindictiveness and hatred against the Estrada family, Rodriguez said.

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson had testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and during the Senate impeachment trial agaisnt former President Estrada that he had given Charlie "Atong" Ang P140 million in cash to be given to the President at hisr Greenhills, San Juan, residence.

Singson testified that Ang had told him that he had given the P140 million to the Estrada family and that Mrs. Estrada herself thanked him for having "donated" P20 million to her.

Rodriguez called on the Sandiganbayan to be extra careful in evaluating the recent move of Desierto to have Mrs. Estrada arrested. He said he believes that the Sandiganbayan will see from the records that the case against Mrs. Estrada is "bereft of any evidence and that clearly, the Ombudsman's motive is to persecute, harass, and embarrass Sen. Loi Estrada."

Sandigan

The Sandiganbayan First Division is not expected to issue a warrant of arrest yet against former President Joseph Estrada, wife Sen. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito, and five others charged with graft involving the P130 million tobacco excise tax diversion.

This was disclosed yesterday by a Sandiganbayan source, saying that the division chaired by Presiding Justice Francis E. Garchitorena has not yet received the supporting documents of the case from the Office of the Ombudsman.

The source said that the court cannot even begin to determine if there is probable cause to order the arrest of the accused since the supporting evidence to the case has yet to be submitted.

It added that the First Division is still in the process of resolving the prosecution's bid seeking to reconsider its ruling denying the withdrawal of the graft case. (Edmer F. Panesa)