December 12, 2000, ABS-CBN 11:35 PM, Estrada lawyers fail to stop "prejudicial" transcripts,

MANILA, (ABS-CBN) -- Amid strong objections, the defense panel on Tuesday failed to stop the presentation of President Estrada's "prejudicial" statements before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippine (FOCAP) last month, where he apparently admitted to being bribed with P200 million by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson.

Defense lawyers Raul Daza and Estelito Mendoza teamed up to block Channel News Asia reporter Twink Macaraeg from reading excerpts from the press conference which the latter recorded through her television crew.

Estrada, in the press conference last November 10, answered queries from the foreign media in connection with the P200 million "donation" by Singson to the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation.

Chief Justice Hilario Davide overruled objections by Estrada's lawyers on the ground Macaraeg was merely reading excerpts not yet formally presented as evidence.

Macaraeg, the first media person to testify at the trial, read several excerpts where Estrada faced the inquisitive foreign press.

In the first excerpt, Estrada was asked by Hugh Williamson of the London-based newspaper Financial Times if he initiated any investigation on Singson after the latter informed him about the P200 million bribe.

"I did not because he was not carrying the money. I told him don't talk to me about jueteng," the President replied to Williamson's question.

Another excerpt quoted Estrada admitting the P200 million was taken by his lawyer Edward Serapio for the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation "in good faith.''

He was also quoted saying Singson may have given the money to the foundation in exchange for a favor.

The excerpts also revolved on questions about Estrada's gambling habits and his mahjong sessions with Singson.

In the excerpts, Estrada acknowledged playing mahjong but never went to a casino since he became President. He said he only entered a casino five times when he was Vice President.

The President also avoided questions about his earnings from mahjong sessions and whether these are reflected with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The President dismissed the query, saying "I did not bring my accountant."

The excerpts read by Macaraeg further showed Estrada saying while he won in the gambling sessions, he could not recall how much were his earnings.

Prejudicial to the accused

The defense panel, in objecting to the reading of the excerpts, argued the contents were "widely prejudicial to the accused" and that it had no bearing to bribery charges against the President.

Mendoza said the President was placed on the spot "live" by an irrelevant testimony.

However, prosecutor Sergio Apostol said the excerpts would eventually show how direct and indirect bribery was committed by Estrada in connivance with Singson.

This prompted Daza to argue that indirect bribery was not among the charges enumerated in the articles of impeachment against the President.

He said the only purpose served by the reading of the excerpts was "to embarrass the President unduly."

In his overruling of the objections, Davide said the reading of the transcript was just a "stage of identification" and that the defense could pose their objection when these are already presented as evidence.

That done, Macaraeg went on to finish the last two excerpts where Estrada reportedly defended brother-in-law Raul de Guzman from having knowledge on the source of the bribe money.

Estrada also admitted the P200 million was deposited at Equitable-PCI Bank.