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By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
Former President Joseph Estrada said he is
willing to die if the antigraft court pushes ahead with plans to
seize his property.
“Nakahanda akong lumaban, pinagpawisan ko
ito at handa akong makipagpatayan dito [I’m ready to fight. I
worked hard for this and I’m ready to die],” Estrada said
Tuesday when asked how he feels about Sandiganbayan moves to
confiscate his assets.
The confiscation of Estrada’s assets adjudged
to be “fruits of plunder” is a highlight of the antigraft
court’s guilty verdict on the former President’s plunder trial.
The Sandiganbayan has started processes for its
November 6 writ of execution against the ousted leader’s
properties. Its sheriff, Ed Urieta, clarified that they will not use
force as a gesture of respect for the former President.
In an interview aired over radio station dzMM,
Estrada said he is ready to defend the assets that he had acquired
before he became president in 1998.
“If he [Urieta] is determined [to confiscate
my assets], I’m also determined to fight. I’m ready to die for
[my hard-earned assets],” he added.
The Department of Justice, meanwhile, hinted of
a possible revocation of Estrada’s pardon if the government found
that he violated the provisions of the executive clemency.
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said
Estrada must comply with all the conditions attached to the pardon
for it to be considered binding. The government, in turn, must check
on Estrada’s compliance.
Devanadera, however, said she does not remember
any pardon being revoked. The executive branch has entrusted the
Sandiganbayan to carry out the conditions of the pardon based on its
ruling in September, she added.
“The executive branch has done its duty of
granting pardon and it is up to the court to implement the
conditions mentioned in the pardon document,” including the
forfeiture of Estrada’s properties, she added.
Estrada insists the pieces of property that
include his mansion in Greenhills, San Juan, and his rest house in
Tanay, Rizal, were built when he was still an actor.
He revealed that many of these assets were not
registered in his name, as ownership has been passed on to the
Ejercito family or his children.
Sandiganbayan Clerk of Court Renato Bocar said
“for as long the account is under the name of Joseph Estrada,”
such assets are covered by the forfeiture order of the antigraft
court. He added that the forfeiture is not limited to Estrada’s
bank accounts alone, but all those registered under his name,
whether from his wife or children or other persons.
Estrada, 70, also insisted that even the cars
that Sandiganbayan is targeting were bought when he was not yet
president.
Urieta earlier announced that he will start the
forfeiture action by confiscating Estrada’s luxury vehicles.
He said the Sandiganbayan Security and Sheriff
Services Division has started working with the Land Transportation
Office (LTO) to identify the expensive cars that may be subjected to
forfeiture.
Some 250 motor vehicles are listed under the
name of Joseph Estrada, according to LTO records. The Sandiganbayan
wants to clear if these are really owned by the former president or
a namesake.
A letter addressed to LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya
asked the agency to furnish Sandiganbayan with a list of all
vehicles registered in the name of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, to
ensure that proper proceedings may be undertaken.
Urieta started moving for the forfeiture of
Estrada’s assets after the five-day limit for Estrada to pay close
to a P1-billion worth of plundered assets to the government ended
Monday midnight.
The sheriff said he and his men are ready for
any resistance from the Estrada camp.
He added that his office will also coordinate
with banks to inquire about questioned accounts, including the Jose
Velarde account, of the former President.
Estrada, however, said Urieta cannot confiscate
his assets without a formal order from the Sandiganbayan justices.
According to him, the antigraft court has yet to
decide on the motion to quash that his lawyers filed against the
writ of execution issued by the justices for the forfeiture of his
alleged “fruits of plunder.”
The antigraft court is set to hear Estrada’s
motion on Friday in which he contends that the court cannot
confiscate his assets that are not stipulated in the court decision.
The Sandiganbayan ordered the forfeiture of
Estrada’s assets including the P545 million in the Erap Muslim
Youth Foundation account, P189 million in the Jose Velarde account
and the “Boracay mansion” in New Manila, Quezon City.
Last week, Urieta said his office had discovered
“other” Jose Velarde accounts that have cash deposit of at
least P400 million. Earlier reports said the Jose Velarde account
ordered forfeited by the anti-graft court now has only P2,000 in
deposit.
He added that the Sandiganbayan may move for the
forfeiture of the account if the original Jose Velarde account has
really been emptied. Estrada had repeatedly denied owning the
account.
He said it was owned by his friend, Jaime
Dichaves, his coaccused in the plunder charge.
Urieta earlier said they will move for the
confiscation of Estrada’s estate only if the value of the luxury
cars will fall short of the required amount ordered forfeited by the
Sandiganbayan.
--With reports from Jefferson Antiporda, Jomar Canlas and Angelo
S. Samonte
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