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REPUBLICOFTHE

SANDIGANBAYAN

SPECIALDIVISION
PEOPLEOFTHE

CriminalCaseNo.26558

Plaintiff,

For:PLUNDER

versus

JOSEPHEJERCITOESTRADA,
FormerPresidentofthe
Republicofthe,
JOSEJINGGOYESTRADA,
CHARLIEATONGTIUHAYSYANG,
EDWARDS.SERAPIO,
YOLANDAT.RICAFORTE,PRESENT:
ALMAALFARO,
JOHNDOEalsoknownasLEONARDODECASTRO,PJ,Chairperson
ELEUTERIORAMOSTANorMR.UY,VILLARUZ,JR.,and
JANEDOEalsoknownasPERALTA,JJ.
DELIARAJAS,
JOHNDOESandJANEDOES,PROMULGATED:
Accused.

September12,2007
xx

DECISION

RepublicAct(RA)No.7080asamendedwasapprovedonJuly12,1991,creatingand
introducingintoourcriminallegalsystemthecrimeofplunder. Thislawpenalizespublic
officers who would amass immense wealth through a series or combination of overt or
criminalactsdescribedinthestatuteinviolationofthepublictrust.RANo.7080ortheAnti
Plunder Law was a consolidation of Senate Bill no. 733 and House Bill No. 22752. The
ExplanatoryNoteofSenateBillNo.733,quotedinthecaseof Estradav.Sandiganbayan
(G.R.No.148965,February26,2002,377SCRA538,555),explainsthereasonbehindthe
lawasfollows:
Plunder,atermchosenfromotherequallyaptterminologieslikekleptocracyand

economictreason,punishestheuseofhighofficeforpersonalenrichment,committed
thruaseriesofactsdonenotinthepubliceyebutinstealthandsecrecyoveraperiod
oftime,thatmayinvolvesomanypersons,hereandabroad,andwhichtouchsomany
statesandterritorialunits. Theactsand/oromissionssoughttobepenalizeddonot
involvesimplecasesofmalversationofpublicfunds,bribery,extortion,theftandgraft
butconstituteplunderofanentirenationresultinginmaterialdamagetothenational
economy. TheabovedescribedcrimedoesnotyetexistinPhilippinestatutebooks.
Thus, the need to come up with a legislation as a safeguard against the possible
recurrenceofthedepravitiesofthepreviousregimeandasadeterrenttothosewith
similarinclinationtosuccumbtothecorruptinginfluenceofpower.

Themajorityopinionintheabovecitedcase,pennedbyHonorableJusticeJosueN.
Bellosillo,furtherexplainedtherationalebehindtheAntiPlunderLawinthismanner:
Ournationhasbeenrackedbyscandalsofcorruptionandobsceneprofligacy

ofofficialsinhighplaceswhichhaveshakenitsveryfoundation.Theanatomyofgraft
andcorruptionhasbecomemoreelaborateinthecorridorsoftimeasunscrupulous
peoplerelentlesslycontrivemoreandmoreingeniouswaystomilkthecoffersofthe
government. Drastic and radical measures are imperative to fight the increasingly
sophisticated,extraordinarilymethodicalandeconomicallycatastrophiclootingofthe
nationaltreasury. SuchisthePlunderLaw,especiallydesignedtodisentanglethose
ghastly tissues of grandscale corruptionwhich, if left unchecked, will spread likea
malignanttumorandultimatelyconsumethemoralandinstitutionalfiberofournation.
ThePlunderLaw,indeed,isalivingtestamenttothewillofthelegislaturetoultimately
eradicatethisscourgeandthussecuresocietyagainsttheavariceandothervenalities

inpublicoffice.
Thesearetimesthattrymenssouls. Inthecheckeredhistoryofthisnation,
few issues of national importance can equal the amount of interest and passion
generated by petitioners ignominious fall from the highest office, and his eventual
prosecutionandtrialunderavirginalstatute.Thiscontinuingsagahasdrivenawedge
ofdissensionamongourpeoplethatmaylingerforalongtime.Onlybyresponding
totheclarioncallforpatriotism,toriseabovefactionalismandprejudices,shall
weemergetriumphantinthemidstofferment.[EmphasisSupplied]

Thepresentcaseisthefirstofitskindtobefiledchargingthehighestofficialofthe
land,aformerPresident,amongothers,oftheoffenseofplunder. Needlesstostate,the
resolutionofthiscaseshallsetsignificanthistoricalandlegalprecedents.
Throughoutthesixyearsoverwhichthecourtproceedingsinthiscaseunfolded,this
Courtconfrontednumerousnovelandcomplicatedlegalissues(includingtheconstitutionality
oftheplunderlaw,proprietyofhousearrest,amongothers),heardlengthytestimoniesfrom
severaldozensofwitnessesfrombothsidesandperusedvoluminousdocumentaryevidence
andpleadingsfromtheparties.Consideringthepersonalitiesinvolvedandthenatureofthe
crime charged, the present case aroused particularly intense interest from the public.
Speculationsontheprobableoutcomeofthecasereceivedunparalleledattentionfromthe
mediaandothersectorsofsociety.Indeed,thefactualandlegalcomplexitiesofthecaseare
furthercompoundedbyattemptstosensationalizetheproceedingsforvariousends.
However,thisCourtisevermindfulofitsimperativedutytoactasanimpartialarbiter:
(a)toservetheinterestoftheStateandthepublicinpunishingthosewhowouldsoseverely
abusetheirpublicofficeandthoseprivateindividualswouldaidthemorconspirewiththem
and(b)toprotecttherightoftheaccusedtobeonlyconvicteduponguiltprovenbeyond
reasonabledoubt.Thus,thedecisionofthisCourtfollows,uponnootherconsiderationother
thanthelawandareviewoftheevidenceonrecord.
STATEMENTOFTHECASE
ANDTHEPROCEEDINGS
__________________________
ThiscaseforplundercommencedwiththefilingonApril4,2001oftheInformation

whichisquotedhereunder:
INFORMATION

TheundersignedOmbudsmanProsecutorandOICDirector,EPIB,Officeofthe
Ombudsman, hereby accuses former Joseph Ejercito Estrada, together with Jose
JinggoyEstrada,CharlieAtongAng,EdwardSerapio,YolandaT.Ricaforte,Alma
Alfaro,EleuterioTana.k.a.EleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,JaneDoea.k.a.DeliaRajas,
andJohn&JaneDoes,ofthecrimeofPlunder,definedandpenalizedunderR.A.No.
7080,asamendedbySec.12ofR.A.No.7659,committedasfollows:
ThatduringtheperiodfromJune,1998toJanuary,2001,inthe
Philippines,andwithinthejurisdictionofthisHonorableCourt,accused
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, by himself and in conspiracy with his co
accused,businessassociatesandpersonsheretoforenamed,bytaking
advantageofhisofficialposition,authority,connectionorinfluenceas
PresidentoftheRepublicofthePhilippines,didthenandtherewillfully,
unlawfully and criminally amass, accumulate and acquire illgotten
wealth, and unjustly enrich himself in the aggregate amount of
P4,097,804,173.17, more or less, through a combination and series of
overtandcriminalacts,describedasfollows:
(a) by receiving, collecting, directly or indirectly, on many
instances, socalled jueteng money from gambling operators in
connivancewithcoaccusedJoseJinggoyEstrada,YolandaT.Ricaforte
andEdwardSerapio,aswitnessedbyGov.LuisChavitSingson,among
otherwitnesses,intheaggregateamountofFIVEHUNDREDFORTY
FIVE MILLION PESOS (P545,000,000.00), more or less, in
consideration of their protection from arrest or interference by law
enforcersintheirillegaljuetengactivities;and
(b)bymisappropriating,convertingandmiusingforhisgainand
benefitpublicfundintheamountofONEHUNDRREDTHIRTYMILLION
PESOS(P130,000,000.00),moreorless,representingaportionofthe
OneHundredSeventyMillionPesos(P170,000,000.00)tobaccoexcise
taxshareallocatedfortheProvinceofIlocosSurunderR.A.No.7171,in
conspiracywithcoaccusedCharlieAtongAng,AlmaAlfaro,Eleuterio
Tan a.k.aEleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,andJaneDoe a.k.a.Delia
Rajas, as witnessed by Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, among other
witnesses;and
(c) by directing, ordering and compelling the Government
ServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS)andtheSocialSecuritySystem(SSS)
topurchaseandbuyacombinedtotalof681,733,000sharesofstockof
theBelleCorporatiionintheaggregategrossvalueofOneBillionEight
HundredFortySevenMillionFiveHundredSeventyEightThousandFifty
SevenPesosandFiftyCentavos(P1,847,578,057.50),forthepurposeof
collectingforhispersonalgainandbenefit,asinfacthedidcollectand
receivethesum ofONEHUNDREDEIGHTYNINEMILLIONSEVEN
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P 189,700,000.00), as commission
fromsaidstockpurchase;and
(d) by unjustly enriching himself in the amount of THREE

BILLIONTWOHUNDREDTHIRTYTHREEMILLIONONEHUNDRED
FOURTHOUSANDONEHUNDREDSEVENTYTHREEPESOSAND
SEVENTEEN CENTAVOS (P 3,233,104,173.17) comprising his
unexplainedwealthacquired,accumulatedandamassedbyhimunder
hisaccountnameJoseVelardewithEquitablePCIBank;
tothedamageandprejudiceoftheFilipinopeopleandtheRepublicof
the.
CONTRARYTOLAW.

Various motions were filed by accused Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada
(FPres.Estrada),JoseJinggoyEstrada(JinggoyEstrada),andEdward(Serapio).Accused
SerapiofiledhisUrgentOmnibusMotion(a)toHoldinabeyancetheissuanceofwarrantof
arrestandfurtherProceedings;(b)toconductadeterminationofprobablecause;(c)forleave
to file accuseds motion for reconsideration and /or reinvestigation; and (d) to direct the
OmbudsmantoconductareinvestigationofthechargesagainstaccusedSerapiodatedApril
6,2001. WhileaccusedFPres.Estradafiledthree(3)motions;(1)UrgentMotiontoDefer
Proceedings,datedApril9,2001,(2)PositionPaperRe:ProbableCause(exabundantead
cautelam)datedApril9,2001whichwasjoinedbyaccusedJinggoyEstrada,and(3)Motion
to(a)remandthecasetotheOmbudsmanforpreliminaryinvestigationconsistentwiththe
HonorableSupremeCourtsResolutioninG.R.No.14751219(JosephE. Estradav.Hon.
AnianoDesierto,etal.);and(b)holdinabeyancejudicialactioninthecaseparticularlythe
issuanceofawarrantofarrestandstepsleadingtheretountilaftertheconductofaproper
preliminaryinvestigation,datedApril11,2001.
InaResolutionpromulgatedonApril16,2001,theCourtdirectedtheprosecutionto
submittotheCourtnotlaterthanApril18,2001therequiredaffidavits,counteraffidavits,and
supportingevidenceaswellasothersupportingdocumentsaccompanyingtheInformation,
whichwereneededtodeterminetheexistenceofprobablecausefortheissuanceornon
issuance of a warrant of arrest. As directed, the prosecution filed on April 18, 2001 its
ManifestationandCompliance.
OnApril19,2001,theprosecutionfiledanUrgentExParteMotiontoadmitAmended
Information,whichisquotedhereunder:
AMENDEDINFORMATION
TheundersignedOmbudsmanProsecutorandOICDirector,EPIB,Officeofthe

Ombudsman, hereby accuses former PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, Joseph


EjercitoEstrada a.k.a.ASIONGSALONGAANDa.k.a.JOSEVELARDE, together
withJoseJinggoyEstrada,CharlieAtongAng,EdwardSerapio,YolandaT.Ricaforte,
AlmaAlfaro,JOHNDOEa.k.a.EleuterioTanOREleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,Jane
Doea.k.a.DeliaRajas,andJohnDOES&JaneDoes,ofthecrimeofPlunder,defined
and penalized under R.A. No. 7080, as amended by Sec. 12 of R.A. No. 7659,
committedasfollows:
ThatduringtheperiodfromJune,1998toJanuary,2001,inthe
Philippines,andwithinthejurisdictionofthisHonorableCourt,accused
Joseph Ejercito Estrada, THEN A PUBLIC OFFICER, BEING THEN
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, by
himself AND/OR in CONNIVANCE/CONSPIRACY withhiscoaccused,
WHOAREMEMBERSOFHISFAMILY,RELATIVESBYAFFINITYOR
CONSANGUINITY, BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, SUBORDINATES
AND/OROTHERPERSONS,BYTAKINGUNDUEADVANTAGEOFHIS
OFFICIAL POSITION, AUTHORITY, RELATIONSHIP, CONNECTION,
ORINFLUENCE, didthenandtherewillfully,unlawfullyandcriminally
amass, accumulate and acquire BY HIMSELF, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, illgotten wealth in the aggregate amount OR TOTAL
VALUEofFOURBILLIONNINETYSEVENMILLIONEIGHTHUNDRED
FOURTHOUSANDONEHUNDREDSEVENTYTHREEPESOSAND
SEVENTEENCENTAVOS [P4,097,804,173.17],moreorless,THEREBY
UNJUSTLY ENRICHING HIMSELF OR THEMSELVES AT THE
EXPENSEANDTOTHEDAMAGEOFTHEFILIPINOPEOPLEAND
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, through ANY OR A
combination OR A series of overt OR criminal acts, OR SIMILAR
SCHEMESORMEANS,describedasfollows:
(a) by receiving OR collecting, directly or indirectly, on
SEVERALINSTANCES,MONEYINTHEAGGREGATEAMOUNTOF
FIVE HUNDRED FORTYFIVE MILLION PESOS (P545,000,000.00),
MOREORLESS,FROMILLEGALGAMBLINGINTHEFORMOFGIFT,
SHARE,PERCENTAGE,KICKBACKORANYFORMOFPECUNIARY
BENEFIT, BY HIMSELF AND/OR in connivance with coaccused
CHARLIEATONGANG,JOSEJinggoyEstrada,YolandaT.Ricaforte,
EdwardSerapio,ANDJOHNDOESANDJANEDOES,inconsideration
OFTOLERATIONORPROTECTIONOFILLEGALGAMBLING;
(b)byDIVERTING,RECEIVING,misappropriating,converting
OR misusing DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, for HIS OR THEIR
PERSONAL gain and benefit, public funds in the amount of ONE
HUNDREDTHIRTYMILLIONPESOS[P130,000,000.00],moreorless,
representing a portion of the TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS
[P200,000,000.00]tobaccoexcisetaxshareallocatedfortheProvinceof
IlocosSurunderR.A.No.7171,BYHIMSELFAND/ORinCONNIVANCE
with coaccused Charlie Atong Ang, Alma Alfaro, JOHN DOE a.k.a.
EleuterioTan OR EleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,andJaneDoea.k.a.
DeliaRajas,ANDOTHERJOHNDOESANDJANEDOES;
(c)bydirecting,orderingandcompelling,FORHISPERSONAL
GAINANDBENEFIT,theGovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS)
TOPURCHASE,351,878,000SHARESOFSTOCKS,MOREORLESS,

and the Social Security System (SSS), 329,855,000 SHARES OF


STOCK, MORE OR LESS, OF THE BELLE CORPORATION IN THE
AMOUNTOFMOREORLESSONEBILLIONONEHUNDREDTWO
MILLION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED
SEVEN PESOS AND FIFTY CENTAVOS [P1,102,965,607.50] AND
MORE OR LESS SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY FOUR MILLION SIX
HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY
PESOS[P744,612,450.00],RESPECTIVELY, OR ATOTAL OFMORE
ORLESSONEBILLIONEIGHTHUNDREDFORTYSEVENMILLION
FIVEHUNDREDSEVENTYEIGHTTHOUSANDFIFTYSEVENPESOS
AND FIFTY CENTAVOS [P1,847,578,057.50]; AND BY COLLECTING
ORRECEIVING,DIRECTLYORINDIRECTLY,BYHIMSELFAND/OR
IN CONNIVANCE WITH JOHN DOES AND JANE DOES,
COMMISSIONS OR PERCENTAGES BY REASON OF SAID
PURCHASES OF SHARES OF STOCK IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE
HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND
PESOS [P189,700,000.00], MORE OR LESS, FROM THE BELLE
CORPORATION WHICH BECAME PART OF THE DEPOSIT IN THE
EQUITABLEPCI BANK UNDER THE ACCOUNT NAME JOSE
VELARDE;
(d) by unjustly enriching himself FROM COMMISSIONS,
GIFTS,SHARES,PERCENTAGES,KICKBACKS,ORANYFORMOF
PECUNIARY BENEFITS, IN CONNIVANCE WITH JOHN DOES AND
JANEDOES,intheamountofMOREORLESSTHREEBILLIONTWO
HNDRED THIRTY THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED FOUR
THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS AND
SEVENTEENCENTAVOS[P3,233,104,173.17] ANDDEPOSITINGTHE
SAME UNDER HIS ACCOUNT NAME JOSE VELARDE AT THE
EQUITABLEPCIBANK.
CONTRARYTOLAW.

On April 20, 2001, the Court in its Minute Resolution granted and admitted the
prosecutionsUrgentExParteMotiontoAdmitAmendedInformationdatedApril18,2001.
OnApril25,2001,theCourtpromulgateditsResolutionwhichstated:
XxxxxxxxxtheCourtfindsandsoholdthatprobablecauseforthe
offenseofPLUNDERexiststojustifyissuanceofwarrantsforthearrestofaccused
Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Mayor Jose Jinggoy Estrada, Charlie
Atong Ang, Edward Serapio, Yolanda T. Ricaforte, Alma Alfaro, John Doe a.k.a.
EleuterioTanorEleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,andJaneDoea.k.a.DeliaRajas.
Nobailisfixedfortheprovisionallibertyoftheaccusedforthereasonthatthe
penaltyimposablefortheoffenseofplunderunderRANo.7080,asamendedbySec.
12ofRANo.7659,isreclusionperpetuatodeath.
DirectorGeneralLeandroR.Mendoza,ChiefofthePhilippineNationalPolice,
shallimplementthewarrantofarrestuponservicetohimbyMr.EdgardoA.Urieta,
Chief of the Sheriff and Security Services Division of the Sandiganbayan. Once
arrested,alltheaccusedshallundergotherequiredprocessesandbedetainedatthe

PNP,,subjectto,anduntil,furtherordersfromthisCourt.

Onthe25thdayofApril2001,onthebasisofthesaidresolution,theCourtissuedan
Order of Arrest and Hold Departure Order for all the named accused in the present
information. ThePhilippineNationalPolice(PNP)submittditsReportofCompliancedated
April25,2001whichstated:

1. That in compliance with the Order of Arrest issued by the


HonorableCourtintheabovecaptionedcriminalcase,accusedJosephE.Estradaand
Jose Jinggoy Estrada, both residence of no. 1 Polk Street, North Greenhills, San
Juan, Metro Manila voluntarily surrendered to the undersigned on 25 April 2001 at
about3:00oclockPMatsaidresidenceinthepresenceoftheircounsels.
2.Thatrightaftertheirsurrender,theywerebroughtinsideCampCrame,
QuezonCityfortherequiredprocessesandpendingfurtherordersfromthisHonorable
CourttheyshallbekeptinCampCrame;

A Compliance/Return of Warrant of Arrest was also filed on April 26, 2001 by P/Chief
SuperintendentNestorB.Gualberto.
AstoaccusedSerapio,thePNPsReportofCompliancereadsinpart:
2. That one of the accused named therein, Atty. Edward S. Serapio,
surrenderedtotheChief,PhilippineNationalPolice,throughtheCriminalInvestigation
andDetectionGroup(CIDG)inCampCrame,QuezonCityonApril25,2001atabout
9:45PMwheretherequiredprocesseswereadministeredtohimandpendingfurther
ordersfromthisHonorableCourtheshallbekeptinCampCrame;

TheCourt,initsMinuteResolutiondatedApril26,2001,setthearraignmentofthe
detainedaccusedonMay3,2001whichwascancelledduetothedifferentmotionsfiledby
theaccused.AccusedJinggoyEstradafiledhisMotiontoQuashorSuspenddatedApril24,
2001 and a Very Urgent Omnibus Motion dated April 30, 2001. Among other motions,
accusedFPres.EstradafiledhisMotiontoQuashdatedJune7,2001andaccusedSerapio
filedhisMotiontoQuash(Re:AmendedInformationdatedApril18,2001)datedJune26,
2001.InitsResolutiondatedJuly9,2001,theCourtdeniedalltheaforesaidmotionstoquash
and accused Jinggoy Estradas Very Urgent Omnibus Motion dated April 30, 2001. The
CourtsResolutiondatedJuly9,2001wassustainedbytheHonorableSupremeCourtinthe
Decisions rendered in Joseph Ejercito Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 148560,

November 19, 2001) and Jose Jinggoy Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 148965,
February26,2002).
OnJuly10,2001,theCourtdeniedthemotiontodeferfiledbyaccusedFPres.Estrada
andJinggoyEstradaandproceededwiththearraignmentofaccusedFPres.Estrada,Jinggoy
Estrada,andSerapioundertheAmendedInformation.Theaccusedhavingrefusedtoenter
aplea,theCourtenteredapleaofnotguiltyforallthethree(3)accused.
PetitionsforBail/HouseArrest
WiththedetentionofaccusedFPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstradainonApril25,2001,
bothaccusedfiledonthesamedayanUrgentExparteMotiontoPlaceonHouseArrest.
TheCourtonJune9,2001,issuedaResolutiondenyingaccusedFPres.Estradas
UrgentExParteMotiontoPlaceonHouseArrestandissuedanOrderfortheconfinementof
accusedFPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstradaat.Domingo,Sta.Rosa,Laguna,subjecttothe
need for their continued confinement at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC)
wheretheywerethenconfined.Inviewofthesaidresolution,accusedFPres.Estradaand
JinggoyEstrada,onJune13,2001,filedanOmnibusMotion(Re:Resolutionpromulgatedon
June9,2001)pressinginthealternativeaMotionforDetentioninTanay,Rizal.
OnMarch17,2004,FPres.EstradafiledaMotiontoModifyCustodialArrangement
dated March17,2004and,onMarch30,2004,thecounselde officioofaccused FPres.
EstradafiledaManifestationdatedMarch29,2004informingtheCourt,amongothers,that
thesaidaccusedwaswillingtohavehispropertyinTanay,Rizalplacedunderthecontroland
supervisionoftheCourtandthePhilippineNationalPoliceforthedurationofhisdetention.
OnJuly12,2004,theCourtissuedajointresolutiongrantingFPres.Estradasmotion
tomodifyCustodialArrangementdatedMarch29,2004subjecttotheconditionsimposedby
theCourt.AccusedFPres.EstradafiledaComplianceandAcceptanceofConditionsonJuly
13,2004. Sincethen,accusedFPres.EstradahasbeendetainedinhispropertyatTanay,
Rizal.

When the Court ordered the arrest and detention of the accused in these cases,
accused Serapio filed his petition for bail on April 27, 2001. Accused Jinggoy Estradas
petitionforbailwasincludedinhisVeryUrgentOmnibusMotiondatedApril30,2001.
AccusedSerapiosPetitionforBailwasdeferredindefinitelyasprayedforbythesaid
accusedwhile,onAugust14,2001,accusedJinggoyEstradafiledanUrgentSecondMotion
for Bail for Medical Reasonsdated August16,2001 which the prosecution opposed. On
December 20, 2001, the Court issued its Resolution denying accused Jinggoy Estradas
UrgentSecondMotionforBailforMedicalReasons.

Consideringthedenialofthesaidmotionforbailformedicalreasons,accusedJinggoy
Estrada,onApril17,2002,filedanOmnibusApplicationforBaildatedApril16,2002.After
hearing,theCourtissuedaResolutiononMarch6,2003whichgrantedaccusedJinggoy
EstradasOmnibusApplicationforBail.TheprosecutionsMotionforReconsiderationdated
March13,2003wasdeniedinthisCourtsResolutiondatedApril30,2003.Theaforesaid
ResolutionsgrantingbailtoMayorJinggoyEstradawereupheldbytheHonorableSupreme
CourtinaDecisionpromulgatedinG.R.No.158754, Peoplevs.Sandiganbayan(Special
Division)andJoseJinggoyEstrada(August10,2007).
AstoaccusedSerapio,theCourtsResolutiondatedSeptember12,2003alsogranted
accusedmovantSerapiosUrgentPetitionforBaildatedApril27,2001. TheCourtfixedthe
amountofbailofaccusedSerapioandJinggoyEstradaatFiveHundredThousandPesos
(P500,000.00)eachwhichwastopaidincash.
Whilethecasewasalreadyinthetrialstage,onJanuary4,2002thecounselsforthe
accusedEstradaswrotealettertotheActingPresidingJusticerequestingforareraffleofthe
casesagainsttheaccused,citingasgroundsthecontinuinguncertaincomposition ofthe
justiceshandlingthecasesagainsttheaccusedFormerPresident,etal.,atthattime. The
prosecution filed its Opposition to Request for ReRaffle On January 9, 2002 and its
Comment/SuggestiononJanuary10,2002thataSpecialThirdDivisionbeconstitutedtobe

composedofthepresentPresidingJustice,theonlyremainingmemberoftheThirdDivision
towhichthecasewasraffled,andtwootherSandiganbayanJusticeswhoarenotretirables
withinthenextthree(3)years.JusticeAnacletoBadoy,theChairmanoftheThirdDivision,
was due to retire on October 2002, while Justice Ilarde, the other member, retired on
November27,2001.OnJanuary11,2002,theSandiganbayanEnBancissueditsResolution
012002 recommending to the Supreme Court that the cases against accused FPres.
Estrada,etal.,bereferredtoaSpecialDivision. TheSupremeCourtonJanuary21,2002
promulgateditsResolutionCreatingtheSpecialDivisionoftheSandiganbayanwhichshall
hear, try and decide with dispatch the Plunder Case and all related cases filed or may
hereafterbefiledagainstaccusedFPres.Estrada,andthoseaccusedwithhim,untiltheyare
resolved, decided and terminated. In the Special Division of the Sandiganbayan, the
SupremeCourtretained,asJuniorMember,thepresentPresidingJusticewhowasthenthe
onlyremaining memberofthe ThirdDivisiontowhichthePlunderCase wasraffled,and
designatedthethenPresidingJusticeMinitaV.ChicoNazario,asChairperson,andAssociate
JusticeEdilbertoG.SandovalasSeniorMember. ThiswasnotthefirsttimethataSpecial
Division of the Sandiganbayan was constituted to try a case. A Special Division was
previouslyconstitutedtotryanddecidetheAquinoGalmancasesinthatcompositionofthe
saidDivisionwasalsomaintaineduntilthecasewasdecidednotwithstandingthesubsequent
changes in the composition of the Division due to promotions and/or retirement of its
members.
Duringthesameyear,thecounseldeparteofaccusedFPres.EstradaandJinggoy
Estradaallwithdrewtheirappearances.TheCourtonMarch1,2002,inordertoprotectthe
rightsandinterestoftheaccused,appointedthePublicAttorneysOffice(PAO)andthosewho
havebeenrecommendedbytheBoardofGovernoroftheIntegratedBarofthe,torepresent
accusedFPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstradaascounseldeoficio,namely,FormerPresiding
JusticeoftheSandiganbayanManuelPamaran,Atty.ProsperoCrescini,Atty.IreneJurado
andAtty.ManuelMalaya. ThePAOlawyersmentionedtheirdurationascounseldeoficio,
hence,(Ret.)PresidingJusticePamaranandtheprivatepractitionersrepresentedaccused
FPres. Estrada and Jinggoy Estrada up to the time the prosecution rested its case and
submittedtotheCourtitsFormalOfferofEvidence.However,beforethepresentationofthe

evidence for the defense, accused FPres. Estrada, in a Letter dated September 1, 2004,
informedtheCourtthathehavedecidedtoreengagetheservicesofthemembersofhis
originaldepartepaneloflawyers.
UponconclusionofthepresentationofprosecutionevidenceandaftertheCourthave
ruledontheofferofevidenceoftheprosecution,accusedFPres.Estrada,JinggoyEstrada
andSerapiofiledtheirrespectivemotionforleaveofcourttofiledemurrertoevidence.Ina
JointResolutiondatedMarch10,2004,theCourtgrantedaccusedFPres.EstradasMotion
for Leave to File Demurrer to Evidence in Criminal Case Nos. 26905 and 26565 while it
deniedthesamemotionofalltheaccusedinCriminalCaseNo.26558forlackofmerit.
Subsequently,theDemurrertoEvidenceofaccusedFPres.Estradawasfiled. InitsJoint
ResolutiondatedJuly12,2004,theCourtresolvedtodenyFPres.EstradasDemurrerto
Evidence in Criminal Case No. 26905 but granted the Demurrer to Evidence of FPres.
EstradainCriminalCaseNo.26565.
After the presentation of the evidence for accused FPres. Estrada and Jinggoy
Estrada, accused Serapio manifested that he opted not to present his own evidence but
adoptedtheevidencepresentedbyFPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstrada.Thesaidaccused
thenformallyofferedtheirevidence. TheCourtissueditsresolutionontheformalofferof
evidenceforaccusedFPres.Estrada,JinggoyEstradaandSerapio.Ontheotherhand,the
prosecutionmanifestedthatitwasnotpresentinganyrebuttalevidencebutformallyoffered
additional evidence and tendered excluded evidence in its Supplemental Formal Offer of
Exhibits [Re: Exhibits Identified, Presented, and Marked during the Cross Examination of
DefenseWitnesses]withTenderofExcludedEvidencedatedMarch29,2007. TheCourt
issueditsMinuteResolutiondatedApril19,2007onthesaidadditionalofferofevidenceof
theprosecution.
InanOrderdatedMay9,2007,theCourtgavethepartiesaperiodoftimetofiletheir
respective memoranda and scheduled the Oral Summation requested by accused FPres.
EstradaandJinggoyEstradaonJune15,2007. AftertheOralSummation,thecasewas
submittedfordecision.

Incidentally, on November 10, 2006, the National Bureau of Investigation filed its
ReturnofAliasOrderofArrest,informingtheCourtthatoneoftheaccusedinthiscase,
AtongAngwasextraditedfromtheandwasalreadyunderthecustodyofthesaidagency.At
hisarraignment,accusedAtongAngrefusedtoenterapleaandtheCourtenteredapleaof
notguiltyforthesaidaccused.
OnJanuary24,2007, whenthe casewas scheduled for PreTrialonly foraccused
AtongAng,theprosecutionandthesaidaccused,assistedbyhiscounsel,manifestedinopen
courtthattheyhadexecutedaPleaBargainingAgreement. TheCourtsResolutiondated
March14,2007approvedthePleaBargainingAgreemententeredintobytheparties.
On March 19, 2007, during accused Atong Angs rearraignment, the said accused
pleadedguiltytoalesseroffenseofCorruptionofPublicOfficialsunderArticle212inrelation
toArticle211oftheRevisedPenalCode.Onthesameday,theCourtrendereditsdecision
againstaccusedAtongAngsentencingsaidaccusedtotwo(2)yearsandfour(4)monthsof
prisioncorreccionalminimum,asminimum,tosix(6)yearsofprisioncorreccionalmaximum,
as maximum, and to pay the amount of P25,000,000.00 to the Government as his civil
liability.AccusedAtongAngimmediatelyfiledaPetitionforProbation(withMotiontoDeduct
PeriodofPreventiveImprisonmentfromtheTermofImprisonmentandtoPostBailPending
Resolutionthereof)whichtheCourtgrantedinaResolutiondatedMay25,2007. Accused
AtongAngisnowunderprobation.
STATEMENTOFTHESTIPULATIONS
OFTHEPARTIESATPRETRIAL
________________________________
Afterthearraignmentoftheaccused,thepretrialwasconductedwhichledtothe
issuanceoftheAmendedPreTrialOrderdatedJune14,2001,quotedinparthereunder:

When this case was called for pretrial on September 3, 2001, accused JOSEPH

EJERCITOESTRADA,JOSEJinggoyP.ESTRADAappeared,assistedbycounsels,Atty.Jose
B.Flaminiano,Atty.CleofeVillarVerzola,Atty.ReneA.V.SaguisagandAtty.RaymondParsifal
A.Fortun.AccusedEdwardS.Serapiolikewiseappeared,assistedbyhiscounsels,Atty.Sabino
Acut,Jr.andAtty.MartinIsraelL.Pison.ThePeoplewasrepresentedbyOmbudsmanAnianoA.
Desierto,DeputyOmbudsmanMargaritoP.Gervacio,Jr.,DeputySpecialProsecutorRobertE.
Kallos,OmbudsmanProsecutorIIIAntonioT.ManzanoandHumphreyT.Monteroso.
The accused Estradas and Edward S. Serapio submitted their WAIVER OF
APPEARANCEdatedSeptember3,2001statingasfollows:
AccusedJosephEstrada,JoseJinggoyEstradaandEdwardS.Serapioherebywaive
theirappearanceduringthepretrialandthetrialofthiscasesubjecttotheconditionsthat:
a)wheneverhis/her/theirname/s/arementionedatanystageofthe
proceedingsofthis/thesecase/swhetherintestimonialordocumentary
evidence,suchname/srefer/stohis/her/them;and
b) wheneverhis/her/theirappearanceshallberequirebytheCourt
atanytime,theywillappear,otherwisewarrant/sshallissuefortheir
arrest.
Theaforementionedthree(3)accusedverballymanifestedinopenCourtthattheyfully
understandandagreewiththeirconditionscontainedintheirWaiverofAppearance.
Xxxxxxxxx
Theprosecution,theaccusedEstradasandaccusedSerapioagreedtostipulateonthe
followingfacts,asproposedbytheprosecutiontowit:
1.ThataccusedJosephEstrada(Estradaforshort)tookhisoathof
office as President of the Republic of the on 30th June 1998, [cf.
Proposal No. 1(Forallspecifications)of accusedEstradas Proposed
StipulationofFactsofthedefensedated01August2001];
2. ThataccusedJosephEstradaismarriedtoDra.(nowSenator)
LuisaP.Ejercito;[cf.ProposalNo.2(ForallSpecifications)ofaccused
EstradasProposedStipulationofFactsofthedefensedated01August
2001];
3. ThataccusedJoseJinggoyEstrada,Jr.(Jinggoyforshort)is
the son of accused Joseph Estrada; [cf. Proposal No. 3 (For all
Specifications)ofaccusedEstradasProposedStipulationofFactsof
thedefensedated01August2001;
4. EdwardS.Serapioisalawyerandaformerprofessoroflawat
theAteneodeManilaUniversitySchoolofLaw;[cf.ProposalNo.1of
accused Atty. Edward Serapios Request for Stipulation of Facts and
AdmissionofDocumentsdated01August2001;
5. On April 29 1999, Atty. Serapio was appointed by President
Joseph Estrada as Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs with the
rank of Undersecretary. [cf. Proposal No. 2 of accused Atty. Edward
SerapiosRequestforStipulationofFactsandAdmissionofDocuments
dated01August2001;
6. He accepted such appointment. [cf. Proposal No. 2. 1 of
specificationofaccusedAtty.EdwardSerapiosRequestforStipulation
ofFactsandAdmissionofdocumentsdated01August2001.
TheotherstipulationsoffactsproposedbytheaccusedEstradasandadmittedbythe
prosecutionwere:
1. That From 19982001, Mr. Luis Chavit Singson was elected
Governor of the province of Ilocos Sur; [cf. Proposal No. 6 (For all
Specifications)ofaccusedEstradasProposedStipulationofFactsof
thedefensedated01August2001];
2. That the amount of P40 Million was withdrawn by a person
representingherselftobeaccusedAlmaAlfarofromLandBankofthe

PhilippinesShawBranchon28th August1998;[cf.ProposalNo.5of
specification (b) of accused Joseph E. Estrada and Jose Jinggoy
EstradasStipulationofFactsandAdmissionofDocumentsdated01
August2001.
TheaccusedEstradasproposedandtheprosecutionadmittedthefollowingstipulation
offacts:
1. That accused Joseph Estrada personally knows Mr. Rodolfo
Bong Pineda; [cf. Paragraph 13 of the Prosecutions Additional
StipulationofFactsdated01August2001];
2.ThataccusedJosephEstradapersonallyknowsAtongAng;[cf.
Paragraph17oftheProsecutionsAdditionalstipulationofFactsdated
01August2001];
3.ThataccusedJosephEstradapersonallyknowsMr.LucioCo;[cf.
Paragraph23oftheProsecutionsAdditionalStipulationofFactsdated
01August2001];
4. That accused Joseph Estrada personally knows Mr. Jaime
Dichaves;[cf.Paragraph24oftheProsecutionsAdditionalStipulation
ofFactsdated01August2001];
5.ThataccusedPresidentEstradaisacloseandchildhoodfriendof
CarlosA.Arellano;[cf.Paragraph1Re:BellecaseoftheProsecutions
AdditionalStipulationofFactsdated01August2001];
6.ThataccusedPresidentEstradaappointedCarlosA.Arellanoas
ChairmanoftheSocialSecuritySystemonJuly1,1998;[cf.Paragraph
2 re: Belle case of the Prosecutions Additional Stipulation of Facts
dated01August2001];
7. That Carlos A. Arellano was appointed by accused President
EstradaasPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheSocialSecurity
System;[cf.Paragraph3re:BellecaseoftheProsecutionsAdditional
StipulationofFactsdated01August2001];
8. ThataccusedPresidentEstradaknewoftheexistenceofBelle
Corporation; [cf. Paragraph 7 re: Belle case of the Prosecutions
AdditionalStipulationofFactsdated01August2001];

ProposedStipulationofFactsoftheprosecutionadmittedbyaccusedSerapio:

1. That Erap Muslim Youth Foundation (hereinafter the


Foundation)hasahugefundofmorethanP211Million.
Theonlyissuethatwasraisedbythepartiesforresolutioniswhetherornotaccused
JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, JOSE Jinggoy P. ESTRADA and ATTY. EDWARD S.
SERAPIOareguiltyoftheoffensechargedintheAmendedInformation.
The accused Estradas raise also the issue of whether or not the allegations in the
informationwouldconstitutethecrimeofplunderasdefinedbyR.A.No.7080.(,ANDMOTION
TOCORRECTPRETRIALORDERDATEDSEPTEMBER13,2001,filedbyaccusedEstradas
onSeptember21,2001)

Theevidencesubmittedbytheprosecutionandthedefenseinsupportof,orindenial,
ofthespeculationsofthepredicateactsadvertedtoineachoftheparagraphsarediscussed
hereunderinseriatim:
EVIDENCEPRESENTED:
RE:SUBPARAGRAPHAOFTHE

AMENDEDINFORMATION
____________________________
(a) byreceiving OR collecting, directlyorindirectly,on SEVERAL
INSTANCES, MONEY IN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF FIVE
HUNDRED FORTYFIVE MILLION PESOS (P545,000,000.00), MORE
OR LESS, FROM ILLEGAL GAMBLING IN THE FORM OF GIFT,
SHARE,PERCENTAGE,KICKBACKORANYFORMOFPECUNIARY
BENEFIT, BY HIMSELF AND/OR in connivance with coaccused
CHARLIEATONGANG,JOSEJinggoyEstrada,YolandaT.Ricaforte,
EdwardSerapio,ANDJOHNDOESANDJANEDOES,inconsideration
OFTOLERATIONORPROTECTIONOFILLEGALGAMBLING;

The alleged coconspirators of accused Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada


namedinthisparagraph(a)are:CharlieAtongTiuHaySyAng(AtongAng),JoseJinggoy
Estrada,YolandaT.Ricaforte(Ricaforte)andEdwardS.Serapio.Theparagraphalsorefers
tounidentifiedcoconspiratorsbytheusualJaneDoesandJohnDoes.
I.EVIDENCEFORTHEPROSECUTION

Theprincipalwitnessoftheprosecutioninthisfirstspecificationofthepredicateactsof
plunderisFormerIlocosSurGovernorLuisChavitC.Singson.Hetestifiedextensivelyon
thechargethatFPres.Estradaaccumulatedillgottenwealthintheabovementionedamount
throughthemonthlyremittancetohimofseemsofmoneycollectedfromoperationsofillegal
gambling, commonly known as jueteng, based in the different provinces of the country
allegedlyinconsiderationoftheprosecutionorunimpededoperationofsaidillegalgambling.
The gist of the testimony of Singson relative to paragraph (a) of the Amended
Informationissetforthhereunder:
GOVERNORLUISCHAVITCRISOLOGOSINGSON (Gov.Singson)was61years
old,married,abusinessman,andaresidentof,Poblacion,Vigan,atthetimehetookthe
witnessstandasprosecutionwitness.TheexaminationofthewitnesswasdonebySolicitor
General Simeon Marcelo under the control and supervision of the Ombudsman who was
present.ThecounseldeoficioofaccusedFPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstrada,(Ret.)Justice

ManuelR.Pamaran,objectedtotheappearanceoftheSolicitorGeneral,whichtheCourt
noted.[TSNdatedJuly17,2002,pp.166167]ThetestimonyofGov.Singsonwaspresented
tocorroboratethetestimoniesofprosecutionwitnessesMariaCarmencitaItchon,EmmaB.
LimandtheEquitablePCIBankBranchManagerswhereRicaforteopenedaccounts,andto
provethataccusedFPres.Estrada,JinggoyEstrada,AtongAng,Ricaforte,Serapioandthe
otheraccused,inconspiracywithoneanother,amassedandaccumulatedillgottenwealthfor
principalaccusedFPres.Estradasbenefitwhilehewasthe13 thPresidentoftheRepublicof
the Philippines in the amount of Four Billion Ninety Seven Million Eight Hundred Four
ThousandOneHundredSeventyThreePesosandSeventeenCentavos(P4,097,804,173.17),
partofwhichwasderivedfrom:
(1)thecollectionofjuetengprotectionmoneyfromNovember1998to
August 2000, in the amount of Five Hundred Forty Five Million Pesos
(P545,000,000.00)moreorlessandtheamountofTwoHundredMillionPesos
(P200,000,000.00)alsofromthesaidillegalgamblingprotectionmoney;and
(2) misappropriation,diversionandconversionforhispersonalgain
as benefit public funds in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Million Pesos
(P130,000,000.00) more or less, representing a portion of the Two Hundred
Million pesos (P200,000,000.00) Tobacco Excise Share allocated for the
ProvinceofIlocosSurunderRepublicActNo.7171.
Gov.SingsonwasalsopresentedbytheprosecutiontoprovethatJinggoyEstradaand
Serapioconspiredwithand/oractedascoprincipalsbyindispensablecooperationofFPres.
EstradaintherunningoftheillegalnumbersgameofjuetengandinthereceiptbyFPres.
Estradaofjuetengprotectionmoney;thataccusedJinggoyEstradaregularlycollectedjueteng
protectionmoneyeverymonthfromJanuaryof1999toAugust15,2000,asanindispensable
partoftheamassingandaccumulatingillgottenwealthbyprincipalaccusedFPres.Estrada
andaspartoftheseriesand/orcombinationofovertorcriminalactsconstitutingthecrimeof
plunder;thatSerapioconspiredwithFPres.Estradaandtheotheraccusedinreceivingthe
TwoHundredMillionPesos(P200,000,000.00)whichcamefromjuetengoperationsandin
hidingand/or launderingthe same through thebanking system andthatSerapiowas the
personallawyerofFPres.Estradaandthatinfurtheranceoftheconspiracyhesetupvarious

juridical entities to mask and/or hide various illegal proprietary and business interests of
FPres.Estrada. Gov.Singsonwouldalsoidentifycertaindocuments,checks,picturesand
otherfactsrelevanttotheforegoing,whichtendtoprovethecombinationand/orseriesof
overtandcriminalacts,constitutiveofthecrimeofplunder(andtoopposethepetitionforbail
ofJinggoyEstrada. Gov.Singsonstestimonywasalsoofferedtoprovetheillegaluseof
alias).[TSNdatedJuly17,2002,pp.168174]

Gov.SingsontestifiedthathewascalledbyFPres.Estradaathishousein,Greenhills,
onAugustof1998.Gov.SingsonwasthentheProvincialGovernorofIlocosGov.Singson
wenttointheevening. Hewasassistedbyasecurityguardtowardsthekitchenwherehe
foundAtongAngandFPres.Estradatalkinghowtoexpandtheoperationsofjueteng,an
illegalnumbersgame,intheprovinceswheretherewasyetnojuetengprotectionmoney.
Shortly, Bong Pineda arrived. Gov. Singson heard FPres. Estrada told Bong Pineda that
starting on thatdaynotto bring moneyat hishouse because it wasvery obvious. Gov.
SingsondidnotknowBongPinedaverymuchbuthesawBongPinedainCongresswhenhe
wasinvestigatedregardingjueteng.Thejuetengmoneywouldprotectjuetengoperatorfrom
beingarrested.FPres.EstradatheninstructedBongPinedatogivethemoneytoAtongAng
ortoGov.SingsonbecausethelatterwasaGovernorsoitwouldnotbeobviousifhebrought
moneytoFPres.Estrada.[TSNdatedJuly17,2002,pp.178187]

According to Gov. Singson, the day after the aforementioned meeting, Atong Ang
startedmeetingwiththejuetengoperatorsinhisofficenearthemunicipalhallofSanJuan.
[Ibid,p.188]AtongAngandtheoperatorswerebargaininghowmuchprotectionmoneyfrom
eachprovincewillbegiventoFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,p.193]Afterthefinaltalk,theystarted
collectingjuetengprotectionmoney,specificallyfromAugustof1998.[Ibid,p.203]
Gov.SingsonknewFPres.Estradaforalmostthirty(30)yearsbeforeAugustof1998.
FPres. Estrada was not yet a mayor but a movie actor as Gov. Singsons mother was a

producer.[Ibid,p.191]Gov.SingsonfirstmetAtongAngatthecockpitandgamblingplaces.
He had known Atong Ang for a long time even when FPres. Estrada was still the Vice
President. According to Gov. Singson, Bong Pineda was a close compadre of FPres.
Estradawhilehisson,JinggoyEstrada,wasBongPinedasgodsonbymarriage.[Ibid,p.
197]
Gov.SingsonclaimedthathewaspresentinnotallbutseveralmeetingsofAtongAng
with the jueteng collectors. He was present when there was an agreement on the three
percent(3%)oftotalcollectionsineveryprovince,asfixedbyAtongAng.[TSNdatedJuly22,
2002,pp.1213] JuetengmoneywasdeliveredtoFPres.Estradainitiallyeveryendofthe
month,startingSeptemberof1998andlaterevery15th andattheendofthemonth.[Ibid,
p.14]

On October of 1998, Gov. Singson and Atong Ang brought the jueteng protection
moneyofaboutNineMillionPesos(P9,000,000.00)forthesaidmonthtoFPres.Estradaat
hishouse,ininGreenhills,butFPres.EstradaandAtongAnghadanastyquarrelaboutthe
sugarallocationrequestofAtongAngwhichwasdeniedbyFPres.Estrada. Gov.Singson
broughthomethesaidP9,000,000.00but,thefollowingday,FPres.Estradacalledhimup
asking him to pay F.P. Estradas obligations which went on until the said amount was
consumedandGov.SingsonwasinstructedbyFPres.Estradatocontinuethecollectionof
thejuetengmoney.[Ibid,pp.26,2223]

Gov.SingsoncontinuedthecollectionasinstructedbyFPres.Estrada,stillwiththe
helpofAtongAng,fromNovemberof1998untilAugustof2000. Theamountsofmoney
collectedfromjuetengduringthesaidperiodwerelistedintheledgerpermonthandper
province. Theledgeralsolistedtheexpensespaidforusingthejuetengprotectionmoney.
[Ibid,pp.2427]

Every fifteen (15) days, Gov. Singson himself delivered protection money to
FPres.EstradaintheamountofFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)oratotalofTenMillion
Pesos(P10,000,000.00)everymonth. EmmaB.Limdeliveredoncethejuetengmoneyto
FPres. Estrada in Malacaang. The protection money was delivered usually in cash but
sometimesincheck.ChavitSingonpresentedtothiscourttwo(2)setsofledger.Thefirstset
consistedofnine(9)pagescoveringthemonthofNovemberof1998uptoJulyof1999(Exh.
W7toExh.E8).TheSeptember1998andOctober1998collectionswerenotreflectedinthe
saidledgersincetheledgerwasdoneonlyafterFPres.EstradaandAtongAngquarreledin
October1998.ThesecondsetofledgercoveredthemonthsofAugustof1999toAugustof
2000(Exh.A4toExh.A4d).[TSNdatedJuly22,2002,p.2731]

Gov.Singsonpreparedthepagesofthefirstsetofledger(Exh.W7 toE8)withthe
helpofEmmaB.LimandMa.CarmencitaItchonandonthefollowingyear,Ricafortejoined
them.[Ibid,pp.3536]
ThepagesofthesecondsetofledgersstartingAugustof1999toAugustof2000
[Exhibit A4 and submarkings] were prepared by Ricaforte under the supervision of Gov.
Singsonwhoalsocheckedthesaidledger.[Ibid,pp.3637]
RicafortewasintroducedtoGov.SingsonbyFPres.Estradabeforehisbirthdayon
April19,1999.ShewasdesignatedbyFPres.EstradaasauditorbecauseFPres.Estrada
wasstrictwithmoney.Gov.SingsonwasthankfulforRicafortesdesignationbecausehedid
notwantFPres.Estradatodistrusthim.[Ibid,p.40] Gov.SingsonconsideredRicaforteas
theemployeeofFPres.Estradawithrespecttothejuetengcollectionsbecausenotonlywas
sheintroducedtoSingsonbyFPres.Estrada,thelatteralsotoldSingsontogiveherEighty
ThousandPesos(P80,000.00)monthlysalary.
RicaforteheldofficeatownedbyGov.Singson.[Ibid,pp.4243]Gov.Singsondidnot
knowYolandaRicaforteorherhusbandOrestesRicafortebeforeAprilof1999.Gov.Singson
identified Ricaforte from a picture (Exh. A6b1) where she was seated beside Menchu

Itchon,theassistantofGov.Singson.ThepicturewastakenduringtheweddingofRaquel,
thedaughterofGov.SingsonwhereFPres.EstradaandhiswifeSenatorLoiEjercitostoodas
weddingsponsors.[Ibid,p.4548]

AccordingtoGov.Singson,thejuetengcollectionswereplacedinascratchpaperas
theycameeveryfifteen(15)days,atthemiddleandtheendofthemonthorfive(5)daysafter
theendofthemonth. Whenallthecollectionshadarrived,thelistwasfinalizedandthen
transferredtothecomputer.TheledgerswereprepareduponinstructionsofFPres.Estrada
becausethelatterwasstrictwithmoney.[Ibid,pp.3740,4142]

Gov.Singsonexplainedindetailtheentriesonthelefthandportionoftheledgerfor
Novemberof1998uptoJulyof1999. IntheprovinceofIlocosSur,thetotalcollectionfor
fifteen(15)dayswasSevenHundredFiftyThousandPesos(P750,000.00),intheprovinceof
LaUnionfor15days,FiveHundredThousandPesos(P500,000.00)totalcollection,whilein
Bulacan for 15 days, One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) total collection (Exh. W 7) of
protectionmoneyforFPres.Estrada.Theentriesfortheotherprovincesweresimilar.Onthe
leftsidecolumnwerethenamesoftheprovinces,themiddlecolumnpertainedtothenumber
ofdays,i.e.,whetherfor15or30daysandtherightcolumn,thetotalamountofcollectionsof
jueteng protection money, in order that jueteng operators will not be arrested or
apprehended.Therewasone(1)collectorforthree(3)provinces.[Ibid,pp.5354]

Inthesecondsetofledger(Exh.A4toA4d)Ricafortegaveacodenameforevery
provincebelowthetitleTheme.Thenumberofdays,either15or30,underthetitledays
andthetotalamountofprotectionmoneyforFPres.Estradabelowthetitlepointswere
indicatedintheledger.[Ibid,pp.5556]

Gov.SingsonnarratedthatwhenFPres.EstradawasstilltheVicePresident,theywere
alreadycollectingjuetengmoneybutnotinallprovinces.WhenFPres.Estradaassumedthe
presidency,hecalledGov.SingsonandAtongAngtostartjuetengcollectionsinprovinces
withoutprotectionmoney.AtongAngtalkedtocertainpersonsinthesaidprovincessothat
thecollectionofprotectionmoneycouldstart.Everyprovincehadacollectorbutsometimes
there was one collector for three (3) provinces. The collections were submitted to Gov.
Singson butsometimesthey wouldget themoneyfrom the house ofthe collectors. The
juetengcollectionswhichFPres.EstradaaskedGov.SingsontooperateforFPres.Estradas
ownbenefitwasatthenationallevel,meaningnationwide.Theydidnotinterferewithjueteng
operationsatthelowerlevel. BeforetherewereKangarootypeofjuetengoperationsor
GuerillaType. Theydiditontheirownandtheydidnotpayprotectionmoney. Whenthe
jueteng operators gave protection money to FPres. Estrada, they were not apprehended
anymorealthoughtherewereinstructionstothecontrarywhichwereforshoworforrecord
purposesonly.[Ibid,pp.5964]

TherewerelocalofficialswhodidnotallowjuetenglikeGovernorLinainLaguna.He
changedtheProvincialCommanderseveraltimesbutjuetengstillcontinued. Intheother
placestheprotectionmoneyforjuetenggiventothelocalofficialswasdifferentfromthat
giventothehigherlevels.[Ibid,pp.6566]

InExhibitA4,ULACstandsforBulacanandthefigure1.00meansOneMillionPesos
(P1,000,000.00)forfifteen(15)days,asprotectionmoneyforFPres.Estrada.Ifthenumber
ofdayswasblankitmeant15days,otherwisethenumber30wasindicated.

Intheledger(ExhA4CuptoA4I)coveringtheperiodsofJanuaryof2000upto
August of 2000, the same figures appeared but the code names of the provinces were
replacedbytheiroriginalnamesasinstructedbyFPres.Estradawhowasconfusedwiththe

codenames. Underthesubtitleamount,thetotalamountofprotectionmoneygivento
FPres.Estradawasreflected. Forinstance,inIlocosSur,theamountof500meantFive
HundredThousandPesos(P500,000.00).[Ibid,pp.6768]

Theotherentriesweresimilar,exceptforthesubstitutionofthecodenameswithactual
names of the provinces. For instance, the amount of protection money given to FPres.
Estrada corresponding to IlocosSur entered as500, was Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P500,000.00).Forthethenumberofdayswasblankandthefigure1,000wasentered.This
meansthatforBulacanfor15daysthetotalprotectionmoneygiventoFPres.Estradawas
One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00). According to Gov. Singson, the collections were
deliveredinexactamountsotheyremovedthezeroesintheledgersoasnottolengthenthe
entries.[Ibid,pp.6970]
ThetwoboxesofentriesattherightbottomoftheledgermarkedasExhibitsA4toA
4l,reflectedtheexpensestoshowwheresomeofthemoneycollectedwent.[Ibid,p.70]The
firstentry(Exh.W71)showedthatTwoMillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)wenttoJimpol,which
referredtothenSecretaryJimmyPolicarpio.ThelatterconfirmedtoGov.Singsonthisreceipt
of the said amount from Bong Pineda which Secretary Policarpio, then a political liaison
officerforCongress,woulduseforthemedia.[Ibid,pp.7475]IntheledgerforNovemberof
1998,theentry300Goma(ExhW72)meansthatThreeMillionPesos(P3,000,000.00)was
giventotheOfficeoftheChiefofthePhilippineNationalPolice(PNP).[Ibid,pp.7476]Gov.
SingsonhimselfbroughtthemoneyatfirsttoGeneralLastimoso,theChiefofthePNPbuthe
refusedtoreceivethemoney.LaterAtongAngidentifiedthepersonsfromPNPwhowillpick
upthemoneyandhelpthemintheoperation. Gov.SingsoncalledupFPres.Estradato
informhimthatLastimosorefusedtoreceivethemoney.Gov.SingsonwasworriedLastimoso
maynotcoordinatewiththem.Onetime,Gov.SingsonwascalledtoMalacanangandhemet
GeneralLastimosothereandFPres.EstradatoldthelattertocoordinatewithGov.Singson
abouttheoperationofjueteng.GeneralLastimosoexpressedtheneedtocoordinatewiththe
RegionalCommanderstoapprehendjuetengoperationsforshowonly(kunwari).[Ibid,pp.

7780]
TheentryNovember1998,5.00,ASSunday(ExhW73)meansthattheamountfor
FiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)protectionmoneywasgiventoFPres.Estrada,whose
codenamewasAsiongSalongaonaSunday. Gov.Singsonhimselfgavethemoneyto
FPres.Estrada.Thenextentry1.000Jing(ExhW74),wouldshowthatOneMillionPesos
(P1,000,000.00)wasgiventoJinggoyEstrada,whosecodenamewasJing. Accordingto
Gov. Singson, Jinggoy Estrada was the collector of protection money for the Province of
BulacanwhichshouldbeThreeMillionPesos(P3,000,000.00)foreverymonthbutJinggoy
Estrada kept the One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) and remit to Gov. Singson only Two
MillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)orOneMillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)forevery15days.[Ibid,
pp.8082]
Atong Ang told Gov. Singson that Jinggoy Estrada got One Million Pesos
(P1,000,000.00)andJinggoyEstradaconfirmeditbutwhentheytoldFPres.Estradaaboutit,
heinstructedthemnottogiveJinggoyEstradamoneyandhewillbetheonetogivemoneyto
JinggoyEstrada.Gov.SingsonremovedthenameofJinggoyEstradafromthelistandthey
keptitasecretfromFPres.EstradathatJinggoyEstradawastakingjuetengmoneybecause
JinggoyEstradawillgetangrytooifhewasnotgivenashare.JinggoyEstradawasthenthe
Mayorofthe.JinggoyEstradacollectedmoneyfromtheatthelaterpartofJanuaryof1999.
[Ibid,p.8285]
The entry 500 JD (Exh W75) means that Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P500,000.00) went to Jude Estrada, a son of FPres. Estrada. Jude confirmed to Gov.
SingsonthathereceivedthesaidamountofjuetengprotectionmoneyfromAtongAngwho
reportedthattoGov.Singson.Theentry1.800adcheck(ExhW76)referstoOneMillion
EightHundredThousandPesos(P1,800,000.00)coveredbyabadcheck,partofjueteng
money,which bounced. Thiswas PCI BankCheck No. 0019063(Exh.F 8) given to Gov.
Singson by one Celso De Los Angeles. The entry 17.300 total expenses (Exh. W77)
representstheSeventeenMillionThreeHundredPesos(P17,300,000.00)theamountoftotal

expensesforthemonthofNovemberof1998.Thetotalexpenseseverymonthwereentered
intheledger(Exh.X7toE8,andExh.A4toA4d.[Ibid,pp.8592])
Inthe entryfor December of1998 (Exh.X7),the firstentry 5.00,AS(Exh.X71)
shows the Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) that was given by Gov. Singson to FPres.
Estradafromthecollectionofjuetengprotectionmoney.TheledgerforJanuary1999bearing
as first entry 6.00 cash January 2, AS (Exh Y71), reflected the Six Million Pesos
(P6,000,000.00) cash from the same source given personally by Gov. Singson to FPres.
Estrada.Theentry3.00check,February1,1999,AS(Exh.W72)showsthatThreeMillion
Pesos(P3,000,000.00)incheckwasgiventoFPres.EstradaonFebruary1,1999aspartof
protectionmoney.[Ibid,pp.9395]Anotherentry5.00check,February1,1999AS(ExhY7
3),referstotheFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)CheckgivenbyGov.SingsontoFPres.
Estradafromjuetengprotectionmoney.Thischeck(MetrobankCheckNo.0000917,ExhG8
1) was deposited in the account of Paul Boghart, who was mentioned during the
impeachmenttrialattheSenateasaforeignerassistinginthePRofFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,
pp.9397]
The entry 3.500 cash, January 19, AS (Exh. Y74) pertains to Three Million Five
HundredPesos(P3,500,000.00)cashfromtheprotectionmoneygivenbyGov.Singsonto
FPres.EstradaonJanuary19(1999).Theentry5.00,February18,AS(Exh.Z71)refersto
theFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)givenbyGov.SingsontoFPres.onFebruary18,1999
fromthesameprotectionmoney.Gov.Singsonexplainedthattheentry400tax(ExhZ 72)
at the right hand portion of Exhibit Z7, refers to the Four Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P400,000.00)whichhegotforreimbursementoftheexpensesthathepaidorwouldpaybut
werenotrecordedintheledger.IntheledgerforMarch1999(Exh.A8),April1999(Exh.B8),
May1999(Exh.C8),June1999(Exh.D8),July1999(Exh.E8),andAugust1999(ExhA4)
there were similar entries of tax which were also intended for the same purpose. Gov.
Singson called them butal. Gov. Singson had the permission of FPres. Estrada that all
amountslessthanOneMillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)wereconsideredbutalwhichGov.

SingsonkeptforreimbursementofexpenseswhichFPres.EstradawouldaskGov.Singson
topay.IfthetotalamountcollectionwasFourMillionTwoHundredPesos(P4,200,000.00),
Gov. Singson got Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) of the said collection as
butalandincludedthesameintheledgerastax.[Ibid,pp.98101]
IntheledgerforFebruary1999collectionappearsahandwrittenentry+4.00capitol
February3,1999.ThisentrypertainstotheFourMillionPesos(P4,000,000.00)kickback
whichFPres.EstradaaskedGov.SingsontogivehimonFebruary3,1999outoftheTwenty
MillionPesos(P20,000,000.00)allottedfortherepairofthecapitolofIlocosSur. ThisP4
Millionwasaddedtothetotaltodateofthecollectionwhichconsequentlyamountedto
ThirtyEightMillionPesos(P38,000,000.00).[Ibid,pp.102103]
IntheledgerforMarch1999(Exh.A8),thefirstentry5.00,4/6/99,AS(Exh.A81)
showsthatFiveMllionPesos(P5,000,000.00)thatGov.SingsongaveFPres.EstradaonApril
6, 1999. Gov. Singson wrote on the ledger AS,i.e. Asiong Salonga, the code name of
FPres.Estrada[Ibid,p.103]
Regardingtheentry5003/23c/0(ExhA82),Gov.SingsonexplainedthatMalou
Florendo,theSecretaryofFPres.Estrada,coordinatedwithGov.Singsonbytelephonefor
thedeliveryoftheamountofFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)toFPres.Estrada.EmmaB.
LimdeliveredthemoneyasGov.SingsonwasintheprovincewhenFPres.Estradacalledup
Gov.Singsontotellhimheneededmoneyverybadly.[Ibid,pp.104106]
OnApril1,1999,FiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)weregivenbyGov.Singsonto
FPres.Estradafromjuetengprotectionmoneyasshownbytheentry5.004/1/99AS(Exh
B81).Thenextentry,1.00,WilliamGatchalian(ExhB82),referstotheOneMillionPesos
(P1,000,000.00) given by Gov. Singson to William Gatchalian upon instruction of FPres.
Estrada.GatchalianhadaTwentyMillionPesos(P20,000,000.00)checkbutFPres.Estrada
wononlyNineteenMillionPesos(P19,000,000.00)intheirmahjonggame,soFPres.Estrada
askedGov.SingsontogivetoGatchalianthechangeofOneMillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)
chargedtothejuetengprotectionmoney. Gov.SingsongaveGatchalianthesaidamount

throughaMetrobankCheckNo.0001066(ExhH8andH81).[Ibid,pp.106109]
TheentryinExhibitB8 whichreads200JerryandLen(ExhB83)reflectstheOne
HundredThousandPesos(P100,000.00)eachgiventothenSecretaryLennyDeJesusand
SecretaryJerryBarican,oratotalamountofTwoHundredThousandPesos(P200,000.00),
asbalatoasinstructedbyFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.109110]
Senator Tessie Oreta and Sonny Osmena were also given One Million Pesos
(P1,000,000.00)eachoratotalofTwoMillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)inCebuaboardthe
PresidentialYatchAngPanguloasshownbytheentry2.00TessieandSonny(Exh.B 8).
Gov.SingsongavethesaidsumsofmoneytotheSenators,whichhefundedthroughthe
juetengprotectionmoney,intheformofMetrobankCheckNo.0001081(Exhs.I8 andI8 1
andMetrobankCheckNo.0001082(Exhs.J8andJ81)uponinstructionofFPres.Estrada,as
theirbalatoforthewinningofthelatterinMahjong.[Ibid,pp.112114]
The amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) was given by Gov. Singson to
FPres.Estradafromthejuetengprotectionmoneyoneachofthefollowingdatesasshownby
theentriesintheledger:(1)May1,1999(5.005/1/99ASExh.C 81);(2)May18,1999
(5.005/18/99ASExh.C82);(3)June1,1999(5.006/1/99ASExh.D81);(4)June18,
1999(5.006/18/99ASExh.D82);(5)July31,1999(5.007/1/99ASExh.E 81);and(6)
July19,1999(5.007/19/99ASExh.E82).FromMay1,1999toJuly19,1999,thetotal
amountofmoneygivenbyGov.SingsontoFPres.EstradawouldamounttoThirtyMillion
Pesos(P30,000,000.00)basedontheledger.[Ibid,pp.115118]
Theentryreading123,000totaltodate(ExhE 83)representsthetotalamountofOne
HundredTwentyThreeMillionPesos(P123,000,000.00)thatremainedasofJuly1999.[Ibid,
pp.118119]
After July 1999, particularly on August 1999, FPres. Estrada called Gov. Singson,
RicaforteandSerapiotoameetingatMandaluyong.Gov.SingsonwasinstructedbyFPres.
EstradainthepresenceofRicaforteandSerapiototurnoverallthebalanceofthemoney

from jueteng to the account of Ricaforte. Gov. Singson was keeping most of the above
mentionedP123,000,000.00inthebankandtheothersincashinhisofficebecauseFPres.
Estradawouldaskformoneyfromtimetotime.Gov.Singsonturnedovertheaforementioned
balance of the jueteng money partly in check and partly in cash in the office of FPres.
Estrada.RicaforteandSerapioweretherewiththeFormerPresident.[Ibid,pp.119123]
PartoftheaforesaidP123,000,000.00wascoveredbyMetrobankCheckNo.0001360
(ExhK8 andK81)ofGov.SingsonintheamountofSeventeenMillionTwoHundredTen
ThousandPesos(P17,210,000.00)[Ibid,p.123]. Thesecondandthirdchecks(ExhsA2b
andA7c)werePCIBankchecksintheaccountnameofWilliamGatchalianeachinthe
amount of ThirtyFive Million Pesos (P35,000,000.00) or a total of Seventy Million Pesos
(P70,000,000.00). Gov. Singson narrated that the amount of SixtyTwo Million Pesos
(P62,000,000.00)fromthejuetengprotectionmoneywaslenttoWilliamGatchalian. Outof
thistransaction,FPres.EstradaearnedEightMillionPesos(P8,000,000.00)suchthatWilliam
GatchalianpaidatotalofSeventyMillionPesos(P70,000,000.00).[Ibid,pp.124125]
Gov.SingsonpresentedMetrobankCheckNo.0001332withaccountnameGovernor
LuisChavitSingson,intheamountofFortySixMillionThreeHundredFiftyThousandPesos
(P46,350,000,00)payabletoWilliamGatchalian(ExhL8andL81).Thischeck,accordingto
Gov.SingsonwaspartofthejuetengprotectionmoneylenttoWilliamGatchalian.Therestof
theP62,000,000.00wereincashandcoveredbyotherchecks.[Ibid,pp.126127]
TheEightMillionPesos(P8,000,000.00)earnedfromtheloanbyFPres.Estradawas
takenasadvancebythelatterbeforeduedateoftheP70,000,000.00ofGatchalian.Forthis
reason,theP8,000,000.00wasnotanymoreaddedtothebalanceofP123,000,000.00of
juetengmoney.[Ibid,pp.127130]TheadvanceofP8,000,000.00wascoveredbyMetrobank
CheckNo.0001388withtheaccountnameGovernorLuisChavitSingson(Exhs.M8 and
M81).DuringtheimpeachmenttrialattheSenate,itturnedoutthattheP8,000,000.00was
depositedintheaccountofSenatorLoiEstrada[Ibid,pp.130131,139]
ThefourthcheckwhichcoveredpartofthetotalbalanceofP123,000,000.00jueteng

protection money was a Far East bank Check in the amount of ThirtyFour Million Six
HundredFortyTwoThousandFourHundredFortyTwoPesos(P34,642,442.00)payableto
theorderofFontainBleau,Inc.(ExhB6).[Ibid,p.124]AccordingtoGov.Singson,theFar
EastBankcheckpayabletotheorderofFontaineBleau,Inc.waspaidbyFontanatoFontaine
Bleau,Inc.whichwasacasinoownedbyFPres.Estradaandbuiltwiththeuseofjueteng
protectionmoney.ThebulkoftheP123,000,000.00wereturnedoverbyGov.Singsoninthe
formofchecks.ThecashamountedonlytoEightHundredThousandPesos(P800,000.00)
only.[TSNdatedJuly24,2002,pp.89]
InthesecondsetofledgercoveringthemonthsofAugust1999toAugust2000(ExhA
4)arefoundthefollowingentries:(1)3.00AS9/68oclocka.m.(ExhA4.1)and(2)5.00
AS 8/16/99 (Exh A4.2). The entries represent the two (2) Five Million Pesos
(P5,000,000.00)givenbyGov.SingsontoFPres.EstradaonSeptember6at8oclockinthe
morningandonAugust16,1999oratotalofTenMillionPesos(P10,000,000.00)aspartof
juetengcollection.[Ibid,pp.1013]
Theotherentriesinthesaidledgerare:(1)16.310August115(A43);(2)13.150
August1631(Exh.A44);(3)29.460totalforAugust(Exh.A45);(4)15.200expenses
(Exh.A46);(5)14.260subtotal(Exh.A47);(6).260tax(Exh.A48);(7)14.000totalto
date(Exh.A49).Gov.Singsonexplainedthattheentriesmean(1)thatthetotalcollection
for August 115, 1999 amounted to Sixteen Million Three Hundred Ten Thousand Pesos
(P16,310,000.00);(2)thatfromAugust1631,1999thetotalcollectionwasThirteenMillion
One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P13,150,000.00); (3) that the total collection for the
wholemonthofAugust1999wasTwentyNineMillionFourHundredSixtyThousandPesos
(P29,460,000.00)whichallwenttoFPres.Estrada.Theexpensesforthesaidmonthreached
Fifteen Million Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P15,200,000.00). The said amount of
expenses was deducted from the total collection for the same month. The remainder,
describedassubtotal,amountedtoFourteenMillionTwoHundredSixtyThousandPesos
(P14,260,000.00). Of the latter sum of money, Two Hundred Sixty Thousand Pesos
(P260,000.00) was treated as butal and taken by Gov. Singson to be used as
reimbursementforexpenseswhichGov.SingsonwasrequestedbyFPres.Estradatopay.

The balance of Fourteen Million Pesos (P14,000,000.00) was deposited in the bank for
PresidentEstrada.[Ibid,pp.1418]
Thetaxentriesintheledger,startingExhibitZtoZ7,coveredtheamountslessthan
One MillionPesos(P1,000,000.00) whichwere treatedasbutal thatremainedwithGov.
Singsontoreimbursehimforexpenseswhichwerenotrecordedintheledgerbutshouldbe
deductedfromthemoneyofFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.1921]
Gov.SingsonmentionedthathepersonallygaveorhandedtoFPres.Estradaevenif
MalouFlorendo,FPres.Estradassecretary,wasaround.Gov.Singsoneitherleftthemoney
besideFPres.Estradaorbehindthelatterschair.FPres.Estradawouldcountthemoneyby
thebundle[Ibid,pp.2223]. TheFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)deliveredbyEmmaB.
LimtoMalouFlorendonottoFPres.Estradapersonallywasconfirmedbythelattertohave
beenreceivedbyhim.EmmaB.Limdeliveredthemoneytothebecauseofthechangesin
theinstructionsgivenbyFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.2324]
The net balance of Fourteen Million Pesos (P14,000,000.00) for August 1999 was
deposited by Ricaforte at Equitable PCI Bank. The same was done to the net monthly
balances for September 1999, October 1999, November 1999, December 1999, January
2000,February2000,March2000,April2000andMay2000.[Ibid,pp.2527]
TheotherentriesinthesecondsetofledgerforSeptember1999andOctober1999as
follows:(1)AS11:30am/2585.000(ExhA4a1);(2)10/29AS/2585.000(ExhA4b1);
(3)10/14AS/2585.000(ExhA4b2),meanthatGov.Singsonwhosecodenamewas258
gaveFPres.Estrada,referredtoasAS,whichstandsforAsiongSalongaFiveMillionPesos
(P5,000,000.00) on each of the following dates: (a) in September 1999 at 11:30 in the
morning;(b)onOctober29,1999;and(c)onOctober14,1999.
IntheNovember1999ledger(ExhA4c),thefollowingentriesappear(1)11/30laptop
comp./print.105,850(Exh.A4c1)(2)11/302Starex800each/2581.600(Exh.A4C2);
(3)11:30AS/25812p.mPG5.000(Exh.A4C3);(4)11/15AS/258at4p.m5.000(Exh.A
4C4),and(5)11/08Jimpol2.400.

Gov.SingsonexplainedtheforegoingentriesintheNovember1999ledgerasfollows:
OnNovember30,1999,theamountofP105,850.00wasusedtobuythelaptopcomputerwith
printerofRicaforte.OnNovember30,1999,Gov.SingsonpurchasedTwo(2)unitsofStarex
at Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos each or a total amount of One Million Six Hundred
ThousandPesos(P1,600,000.00).OneunitofStarexwenttoRicaforteandwasregisteredin
hername.Theotherwasleftintheiroffice. At12:00noononNovember30,1999,Gov.
Singson brought Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) to FPres. Estrada in his house at at
Greenhillsaspartofjuetengprotectionmoney. Atthattime,GuiaGomez,oneofthemost
loved of FPres. Estrada, resided at the said house. Gov. Singson also gave Five Million
Pesos(P5,000,000.00)toformerFPres.EstradaonNovember15,1999at4:00oclockinthe
afternoon.OnNovember8,1999,theamountofTwoMillionFourHundredThousandPesos
(P2,400,000.00)wasgivenbyBongPinedatoSecretaryJimmyPolicarpio,asconfirmedby
bothofthemtoSingson. Duringthepriormonths,onlyTwoMillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)
permonthweregiventoPolicarpio,asshownbytheledger,butthiswasincreasedbyFour
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,000.00) because Policarpio told Gov. Singson that the
Mediawascostly(Magastos).[Ibid,pp.3039]
TheledgerforDecember1999(Exh.A4d),containsthefollowingentries:(1)12/30
AS/2585.000(ExhA4d1)and(2)12/04AS/2585.00(ExhA4d2). AccordingtoGov.
Singson the aforesaid entries show that he gave to FPres. Estrada, as part of Jueteng
protection, the amount of Five Million Pesos(P5,000,000.00) on December 30, 1999 and
anotherFiveMillionPesos(P5Million)onDecember4,1999.[Ibid,pp.3941]
TheledgerforJanuary2000(ExhA4E)containsthefollowingentries:(1)1/31/00AS
atPR5.000(ExhA4E1);and(2)1/15/00ASatPr5.000. AccordingtoGov.Singson
PRstandsforPresidentialResidenceandASforAsiongSalonga,thathegavetoFPres.
EstradatheamountofFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)twice,oneonJanuary31,2000
andtheotherJanuary14,2000,atthePresidentialResidence.[Ibid,pp.4143]
According to Gov. Singson, he was ordered byFPres.Estrada to give to him Five
MillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)ofthejuetengcollectioneveryfifteen(15)daysofthemonth.

AllthejuetengcollectionswereforFPres.Estrada. ThetotalamountofTenMillionPesos
(P10,000,000.00) were given to him every month plus the expenses (gastos) and the
remainderortherestofthecollectionweredepositedinthebankforFPres.Estradainthe
nameofRicaforte.AtotalamountofTwoHundredSixteenMillionPesos(P216,000,000.00)
weredepositedinthebankforFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.4344]
Gov.Singsonagreedatfirstthathewouldnotearnanythingfromjueteng,provided
thattheshareofIlocosSurfromtheexcisetaxunderR.A.No.7171amountingtobillionsof
pesoswouldbereleasedtothemfortheirprojects.Gov.Singsontestifiedthat,aftertheOne
Hundred Thirty Million Pesos (P130,000,000.00) were taken from him, the release of the
fundsdidnotcontinue.TheFormerPresidentdidnotcomplywiththeagreement.[Ibid,pp.
4446]
IntheledgerforFebruary2000(ExhA4F),thefollowingentriesappear:(1)AS/258
5.000(ExhA4F1);and(2)2/17/00AS2585.000(ExhA4F2). Gov.Singsontestified
thattheseentriesmeanthathegavetoFPres.Estrada,FiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)
aspartofjuetengprotectionmoneyinanunspecifieddayinFebruaryof2000andanother
FiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)ofthesamemoneyonFebruary17,2000.[Ibid,pp.4849]
The ledger for March 2000 (Exh A4G), bears the following entries: (1) 3/16/00
AS/2585.000(ExhA4g1);and(2)4/3/00AS/2585.000(ExhA4G2). Accordingto
Gov.SingsontheentriesmeanthathegaveFiveMillionPesos(P5Million)onMarch16,2000
and another Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) on April 3,2000, both as part of jueteng
protectionmoney.[Ibid,pp.4950] Gov.Singsonexplainedthat258washiscodename
whichhehadbeenusingevenintheirradiocommunicationandthatlater,FPres.Estrada
wouldkidhimwithhiscodenamewhentheyplayedmahjong.[Ibid,p.52]
IntheApril2000ledger(ExhA4H),theentry4/14/00AS/2585.000appearedtwice,
(Exh A4H1) because according to Gov. Singson he gave Five Million Pesos
(P5,000,000.00)twice,oneinthemorningandanotherintheafternoononthesameday,April
14,2000,or atotal ofTenMillionPesos(P10,000,000.00) from juetengprotectionmoney
collection,becauseFPres.calledhimuptwiceonthesaiddateashisbirthdayonApril19,

2000wasnearing.[Ibid,pp.5354]
AttheledgerforMay2000(ExhA4i),thefirstentryalsoattherighthandportionwas
5/31AS/2585.000(ExhA4i1)andnextentrywas5/13AS/2585.000(ExhA4i2).Gov.
SingsonexplainedthattheentriesmeantthathegaveFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)on
May31,2000andanotherFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)toFPres.EstradaonMay13,
2000, both part of the jueteng protection money. Gov. Singson also mentioned that the
entriessometimeswerenotinchronologicalorder,buttheywereforthesamemonth.[Ibid,
pp.5556]
TheJune2000ledger(ExhA4j),theentryattherighthandportionreads:6/30
AS/2583.300,andthenextentryis6/15AS/2585.000(ExhA4j2).AccordingtoGov.
Singson,thesemeansthathegavetoFPres.EstradaThreeMillionThreeHundredThousand
(P3,300,000.00)fromjuetengprotectionmoneycollectiononJune30,2000,andFiveMillion
Pesos(P5,000,000.00)fromthesamecollection,onJune15,2000.[Ibid,pp.5657]
The succeeding ledgersfor July 2000(Exh A4k) the followingentries appear:(1)
7/14AS/2582.650(Exh.A4k1)and(2)8/12AS/2583.600(Exh.A4k2).Gov.Singson
explained that the entries mean respectively that he gave the amount of Two Million Six
Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P2,650,000.00) on July 14,2000 and Three Million Six
HundredThousandPesos(P3,600,000.00)toFPres.Estradaaspartofjuetengprotection
money collection. [Ibid, pp.5758] To the question of why the amounts were less than
P5,000,000.00onthesaidoccasions,Gov.Singsonrepliedthatitsohappenedthatthose
weretheonlycashinhispossessionwhentherequestsformoneyweremadeandthatthey
stoppedjuetengcollectionbecauseAtongAngstartedwithPick2andlaterBingo2Balls
whichaccordingtoFPres.Estradawouldhaveasemblanceoflegality.[Ibid,pp.5960]
TheledgerforthemonthofAugust2000(Exh.A4L)containstheentry8/16AS/258
3.050(Exh.A4L1).Gov.SingsontestifiedthathegaveFPres.EstradaonAugust16,2000
the amount of Three Million Fifty Thousand Pesos (P3,050,000.00) as part of protection
moneycollectedfromjueteng.[Ibid,pp.6263]AccordingtoGov.SingsonthePresidentwas
verystrictwithmoneyandsotheyhadanauditorandhecheckedtheledgermonthlysothat

theycouldnotmakeanykickback(Kupit)fromthejuetengcollection.[Ibid,pp.6364]
Gov. Singson testified that the jueteng collector for Bulacan on November and
December1998wasJessieViceo. InJanuary1999thejuetengcollectorforBulacanwas
Jinggoy Estrada asshown by the ledger where he was identified as Jing who got One
MillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)(Exh.W7). ViseoandJinggoyEstradawerefriendssothe
lattersupervisedthejuetengcollectioninBulacan,althoughhewasresidingin.WhenFPres.
EstradainstructedGov.SingsonnottogivemoneytoJinggoyEstradaandsothatthelatter
willnotgetmadathim,Gov.SingsonandJinggoyEstradaagreedtokeepitasecretfromthe
FPres.thatJinggoyEstradamanagedthejuetengcollectioninBulacanandthatoutofthe
totalmonthlycollectionofThreeMillionPesos(P3,000,000.00)fromBulacan,JinggoyEstrada
gaveonlyTwoMillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)toGov.SingsonandheretainedOneMillion
Pesos(P1,000,000.00).ThemoneywaseitherpickedupfromtheofficeorhouseofJinggoy
orthelattersentthemoneytoSingson.ThesecretarrangementstartedinNovember1999
andlasteduntiltheendofAugust2000.[Ibid,pp.6970]However,thearrangementdidnot
appearintheledgerbecausetheywillbescoldedbyFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,p.71] When
askedwhetherJinggoyEstradapersonallycollectedthejuetengmoney,Gov.Singsonreplied
thatitwasJinggoyEstradaandJessieViceowhotalkedwitheachother,sometimestheygot
thejuetengmoneyfromtheofficeofJinggoyEstradaorsometimesthelattersentittothe
office of Singson, but Gov. Singson knew that Jinggoy was in charge of the jueteng
collection.ThesecretarrangementcameaboutbecausejuetengcollectioninBulacanwasa
problemfromthestartasthereweredelaysorsometimesthecheckspaidbyJessieViceo
bounced. Viceo agreed to the arrangement because he was a close friend of Jinggoy
Estrada.[Ibid,pp.7172]Gov.SingsonknewViceopersonallybecausehewouldseeViceo
inthecockpitswhichthelatterfrequented.[Ibid,p.74]
Gov.SingsonconsideredthebiggestamongtheexpenseschargedtotheTaxthe
OneMillionTwoHundredThousandPesos(P1,200,000.00)giventoLaarniEnriquezwhom
Gov. Singson described as the most beloved or favorite of FPres. Estrada [Ibid, p. 75].
AccordingtoGov.Singson,hewasassessed,likeotherpersonswhoattendedthebirthday
partyofLaarni,theaforesaidP1,200,000.00ashisshareinthepriceofthenecklacebirthday

gift amounting to Thirteen Million Pesos (P13,000,000.00) for Laarni. Jaime Dichaves
collectedthesaidamountfromGov.Singsonaftertheparty. Gov.Singsonpaidbycheck
which was deposited in the account of Laarni at PSBank. [Ibid, pp. 7681] It was
CongressmanMarkJimenezwhopinpointedtheguestswhowouldshare(P1,200,000.00)
eachforthegiftforLaarniaftertheyhadjustfinishedplayingmahjongwithFPres.Estrada
duringtheparty.[Ibid,p.84]Gov.SingsonchargedtheP1,200,000.00astaxinthejueteng
collectionbecauseitwasabigamountofmoney.[Ibid,pp.8788]
Intheearlypartoftheyear2000,FPres.EstradainstructedGov.Singsontotransfer
TwoHundredMillionPesos(P200,000,000.00)ofjuetengmoneytoSerapio.Theinstruction
wasgivenbyFPres.EstradatoGov.SingsonininthepresenceofRicaforteandSerapio.
AccordingtoGov.Singson,SerapiosaidAkonaangbahalangmagpaikotikotwhichGov.
SingsontookittomeanthatSerapiowouldseetoitthattheTwoHuundredMillionPesos
(P200,000,000.00)juetengmoneywouldnotbetracedbeforeitreachedhim.FPres.Estrada
checked Gov. Singson in April 2000 when FPres. Estradas birthday was approaching,
whetherthemoneywassotransferred.ThetransferoffundswasconfirmedtoGov.Singson
bybothRicaforteandSerapio.ThejuetengmoneydeliveredtoSerapioinitiallyamountedto
OneHundredTwentyThreeMillionPesos(P123,000,000.00)butitwasincreasedlatertoTwo
HundredSixteenMillionPesos(P216,000,000.00).[Ibid,pp.8894]
Gov. Singson testified that Serapio was the trusted lawyer of FPres. Estrada who
formedfakecorporationsforFPres.EstradawhichSerapiowouldnarratetoGov.Singson
whentheyoftenseeeachotherin.SerapiowasintroducedtoGov.Singsonin1999afterthe
birthdayofFPres.Estrada.
Gov.SingsondeliveredjuetengmoneytoFPresidentEstradainablackbag,likean
attachcase. HedeliveredmoneyatthehousesofFPres.Estrada,particularlyonceat,
twiceorthriceorfourtimesorfivetimesat.[Ibid,pp.9598]
Atty.KennethS.TampaloftheofficeoftheSenateLegalCounselbroughttheblack
bag referred to by Gov. Singson which was marked as Exhibit MMM at the Senate
ImpeachmentProceedingsandthesetofledgersfortheperiodbeginningAugust1999to

August2000(ExhibitsA4toA4l). Thebagwasaleatheretteattachcasewithtwo(2)
combinationlocksnumbered000.[Ibid,pp.103105]AccordingtoAtty.Tampal,theexhibits
areinthecustodyoftheOfficeoftheSenateLegalCounsel.[Ibid,p.110]
Gov.Singsontestifiedthattheabovementionedblackbag(Exh.O8)wasoneofthe
blackbagswhichtheyusedtodelivermoneytoFPres.Estradain.[Ibid,p.113] Thesaid
blackbagcancontainfiveorevensixmillionpesos.[Ibid,pp.115,118]Hewouldleavethe
bagwithmoneyandbroughtwithhimthebagwithoutmoney. Thebagcontainedtwo(2)
combination locks. The combination of both was 000 although he change it to 419,
representingthebirthdateofFPres.Estrada,April19,atthetimehedeliveredmoneyinto
FPres. Estrada, but the latter asked him to revert to 000 combination because FPres.
Estradacouldnotopenthelock.[Ibid,pp.118119]Therewerefour(4)piecesofthistypeof
bag.[Ibid,pp.115116]
ThebillsplacedinthebagwereinOneThousandPesos(P1,000.00)denomination.
ManytimesSingsonhimselfdeliveredthejuetengmoneytoFPres.Estradain.Togotothe
PresidentialResidence(PR),hepassedthroughthemaingatewheretherewereguards.At
first,theSecretarywouldcalltogivetheguardsinstructionnottoinspectthebag.Lateron,
theguardscametoknowGov.Singsonandallowedhimtoenterwithoutinspectingthebag.
JuetengmoneywaseitherdeliveredtoGov.SingsonsofficeorpickedupbyGov.Singson,or
hisdriverorhissecurityorthepeopleinhisoffice.[Ibid,pp.121124]
The total amount of money Gov. Singson collected from jueteng operations for
FPresidentEstradastartingNovember1998toAugust2000wasFiveHundredFortyMillion
Pesos(P540,000,000.00)moreorless,accordingtoGov.Singson.

Gov. Singson personally delivered about Two Hundred Million Pesos


(P200,000,000.00)toFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,p.124125]

IntheledgerforMarch1999(ExhAAAAAAAA),theentryBicol151.100meansinthe
forfifteen(15)daystheprotectionmoneycollectionforFPres.EsradawasOneMillionOne
HundredThousandPesos(P1,100,000.00). IntheledgerforthemonthofNovember1998
(Exh.W7),therewasanentry1.500Antonand2.500Anton.AccordingtoGov.Singson,the
entry was made because Atong Ang told him the amounts of One Million Five Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P1,500,000.00) and Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P2,500,000.00),oratotalofFourMillionPesos(P4,000,000.00),collectedfromBicolwere
recorded/listedinthenameofPresidentialAssistantAntonPrieto.AtongAnginformedGov.
SingsonthatFPres.EstradaknewaboutitandthelattersoconfirmedtoGov.Singson.[Ibid,
pp.125127]

While jueteng protection money collection started in September 1998, the ledger
startedonlyinNovember1998whenGov.Singsonalonewasaskedtocontinuethejueteng
collection.[Ibid,pp.128129]

IntheJuly2000ledger(Exh.A4k),thetotalamountofjuetengcollectionandthetotal
amountofexpenseswerethesamesothebalanceattheendofthemonthwaszerobecause
Pick 2 replaced jueteng, as Gov. Singson, Dante Tan and FPres. Estrada discussed in
MalacaangandinhisnewhomeatNewManilacalledBoracay.Pick2wasthebrainchild
of Dante Tan and Bingo 2 Ball wasthe brainchild of Atong Ang. [Ibid,pp.129132] In
Boracay,BongPinedatoldDanteTan,Gov.SingsonandFPres.EstradathatPick2may
behardtobeunderstoodbythepeoplebecausetherewillbe75numbers.[Ibid,p.134]

InAugust2000,Pick2startedand,inSeptember2000,beforehisdepartureforthe,
FPres.EstradaaskedGov.SingsontohastenthestartofBingo2Balls.AtongAngcalled
Gov.SingsonwhenhewasininSeptember6,2000andtoldhimthatFPres.Estradawould

liketorushthestartofBingo2Balls. Gov.Singsonrepliedthatwasniceandaskedthat
AtongAngreserveIlocosSurforhim. However,thefollowingdaythesonofGov.Singson
informed him thattheother halfof thefranchise wasgivento hispoliticalopponent,Eric
Singson,whomhedefeatedintheelection. EricSingsonwashisdistantrelative.[Ibid,pp.
138141]

AccordingtothesonofGov.Singson,AtongAngtoldhimthathehadtheprovincial
commandertransferredandtheChiefofPolicereplaced.Hisfathercouldnotdoanythingto
stopBingo2BallsasitwasdecidedbyFPres.Estradaandhispoliticalcareerwasfinish.
Gov.SingsontalkedwithAtongAngwhenhewasinandtoldhimthattheyshouldwaitfor
FPres.Estradatoreturn. FPres.EstradareturnedfromtheonSeptember13,2000. Gov.
Singsonalsoarrivedfromthefollowingday. Thefollowingday,Gov.SingsonaskedFPres.
Estradaoverthephonewhythefranchisewasgiventohispoliticalenemy.Gov.Singsontold
himthatallthemayorswillbeembarrassed.FPres.Estradarepliedthathehadnothingtodo
withit. Gov.SingsonthoughtthatFPres.Estradawasfoolinghim. HetoldFPres.Estrada
thatitwasamatterofpride,thatallhismayorsweregettingembarrassed. FPres.Estrada
repliedthathedidnotcare,soGov.SingsontoldhimKungdahillangdyanpagkataposng
lahatbibitawanmoako,bibitawnarinakosaiyo.[Ibid,pp.142146]

Gov.Singsonthenaskedhislawyerstopreparehisaffidavitbecauseheknewthathis
lifewouldbeindangerifhewouldpartwayswithFPres.Estrada,whowasverypowerfuland
Gov.Singsonhadnoevidence.Gov.SingsonthencalledRicaforteandaskedhertofaxto
himtheledger.RicaforteaskediftheyweregoingtoMalacaang.Gov.Singsonknewthat
Ricafortedidnotknowyetwhatwashappening.Aftershefaxedtheledgerfromherhouseto
Gov.Singson,thelatteraskedhislawyertocontinuewiththepreparationofhisaffidavit.Gov.
Singsonsaidhepreparedtheaffidavitsothatifanythinghappenedtohimitwouldbeknown
whowasresponsible.Whenaskedifhewasthreatened,Gov.Singsonrepliedthatheknew
FPres.Estradaandthemenaroundhimsoheknewthathislifewasindanger.[Ibid,pp.146

150]

ThefirstsetofledgerswasfaxedtoSingson,whilethesecondset(Exhs.A4toA41)
was in the possession of Ricaforte which she produced during the impeachment
proceedings.TheprosecutionwouldhavethelattersubpoenaedfomtheSenate.Everyone
that Gov. Singson consulted gave the same comment. Nobody will believe Gov. Singson
becauseFPres.EstradawasthemostpopularPresidentelected. Gov.Singsontalkedwith
JinggoyEstrada.Gov.SingsontoldJinggoyEstradathathisfamilygotOneHundredThirty
Million Pesos (P130,000,000.00) from him and that Jinggoy Estrada got part of the said
money.Gov.SingsonalsotoldJinggoyEstradathatjuetengmoneyallwenttohisfatherand
thatJinggoyEstradaalsohadapartofit.JinggoyEstradatoldGov.Singson,theywouldfix
it.[Ibid,pp.147155]

Nothing happened so Gov. Singson talked with JV Ejercito, another son of FPres.
Estrada.JVEjercitoaskedGov.Singsonnottocomeoutandthathewilltalkwithhisfather.
AgainnothinghappenedsoGov.SingsonapproachedSecretaryRonnieZamoraandshowed
himtheledger.Thelatterreactedthattheledgerwasaseriousmatter,Delikadoito.asked
Gov.SingsonnottocomeoutandhetoldGov.SingsonthathewouldseeFPres.Estrada.
Gov.SingsonthenwenttoseeFormerSecretaryEdgardoAngaraatthelattersGMAFarmin
Batangasandshowedtohimtheledger.SecretaryAngaraaskedGov.Singsonnottocome
outpubliclybecausetheledgerwasaseriousmatterandeventhey,thecabinetmembers
maybeaffected.AfterthatfirstmeetinginBatangas,ChavitSingonsawSecretaryAngaraat
thePhilippinePlazaandhelattertoldGov.Singsonthatitwasalrightashewasabletotalkto
FPres.Estrada.SecretaryAngara,accordingtoGov.Singson,toldFPres.EstradathatGov.
Singsonwasabighelptotheminpoliticsandthathewasjustaskingforasmallfavor.
SecretaryAngaraalsoaskedFPres.EstradanottoembarrassGov.Singsonsmayors.This
mattermightbeknownbythemedia. SecretaryAngarainformedGov.SingsonthatFPres.
Estrada got mad and replied Sinong tinakot nya? Before SecretaryAngara left,he told

FPres. Estrada that he saw Gov. Singsons jueteng ledger and he found it a ground for
impeachment. FPres. Estrada appeared surprised (Nagulat) but did not say anything.
SecretaryAngaraassuredFPres.Estrada,hewillfirsttalkwithGov.Singsonandfixit.For
the third time, Gov. Singson saw Secretary Angara at New World Hotel. He asked Gov.
SingsontogivehimuntiltheendofSeptember2000becausetheFPres.wasamachoand
wouldnoteasilygivein.However,Gov.Singsonrepliedthathewasalreadydecidedbecause
his mayors kept on calling him. Incidentally according to Gov. Singson, these political
enemieswereoperatingtheBingo2Balls.[Ibid,pp.156164]

AfterSecretaryAngara,Gov.SingsonalsoapproachedCongressmanMarkJimenez,
whosaidafterhemetwithFPres.Estrada,GeneralLacsonandSecretaryRonnieZamora
thatBingo2BallswillnotstopinIlocosSurbutthatGov.Singsonshouldlielowfirst.Gov.
Singsonrepliedthathehaddecidedalreadytocomeoutandheinformedhismayorsthathe
willexposetheanomaliesinvolvingFPres.Estrada.Gov.SingsontalkedwithJimenezover
thephonewhenhewasthenatHolidayInnonOctober3,2000.Therewasaconferenceof
theMayorsLeagueinthe.Gov.SingsonleftHolidayInntogetherwithtwentytwomayors.
AccordingtoGov.Singson,armedmenfollowedhimatabout11:30thateveningatandthat
hisvehiclewasblockedbythreecarsandonemotorcycle,allpassengersbywhichwerefully
armedbyarmalite. TwoofthecarswereTMGcarsandtheother,acivilianredcar. Gov.
Singsontoldthemayorwithwhomhewastalkingoverthephonethattheyshouldallgoto
SanMarcelino,behindJaiAlaibecauseofanemergency.HisdriverwasinstructedbyGov.
Singsonnottoopenthedoorofhisvehicle.[TSNdatedJuly29,2002,pp.1119]

PAOCmensignaledGov.Singsontogetoutofhisvehicle,abulletproofFordSuper
Vanbutherefused.Hewentoutofthevanafterthemayorsarrivedoneafteranother.The
PAOC team told Gov. Singson that they received information that he had a blinker that,
althoughhedidnotuseit,merepossessionwasalreadyaviolationandthattheywantedto
bringthistoCrameandafterhesuggestedthathebegivenaticketofthevolationbuthe

insteadaskedthattheygotothepoliceprecinctsattheUnitedNationsAvenue.Onlythetwo
TMGOfficerswenttothepoliceprecinctwithGov.Singsonwhorodeinhisownvan.There
weremediapeopleatthepoliceprecinct.Whenaskedwhyhewasbeingharassedalthough
he was influencial to the FPres. Estrada, Gov. Singson replied to the media that he will
exposetheanomaliesofFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.2026]

The following day the incident was published in the newspapers and shown on
television.ThegroupofFPres.EsradatriedtosettlewithSingson.JVEjercitowasthefirstto
callrepeatedly(everytwominutes)toaskGov.SingsontoreturnthecallofFPres.Estrada,
Gov.Singsoncalledthelatterwhoaskedthattheytalkbecausehewasconfusedwiththe
problemsoftheAbuSayyafandtheFirstLady. Gov.Singsonrepliedhehadalreadygiven
hisword.Theytalkedforthesecondtimeandthenthirdtime,itwasFPres.Estradahimself
whocalled.ThenextpersontocallwasAtongAngwhowaspleadingtoGov.Singsontofix
thematter.Gov.SingsonbroughtuptheP130MillionfromtheexcisetaxwhichGov.Singson
saidwastakenbyAtongAngandFPres.Estrada.AtongAngpromisedthatthesaidamount
willbereturnedtoGov.SingsonandthattheBingo2BallswillbegiventoGov.Singson.
Gov.Singsoninformedhimthatitwastoolate.AtongAngcalledGov.Singsonabouttwenty
(20)times[Ibid,pp.2737]

After AtongAng, Former SecretaryAlfredo Lim called toconvinceGov.Singson to


settleandtoseeFPres.Estrada.AlfredoLimaskedGov.Singsontoproceedwiththepress
conferencebutheshouldputtheblameonAtongAngandthattheywilltakecareofAtong
Ang. AlfredoLimgesturedwithhisrightfistthumbdown. Gov.Singsonunderstoodthisto
mean that Atong Ang will be killed. Gov. Singson did not agree because he might be
implicated.Heaskedthemtolookforagoodreason.[Ibid,pp.3842)

ThenexttocallGov.SingsonwasJinggoyEstrada.ThelatterandGov.Singsontalked

onOctober8,2000.JinggoyEstradaalsosentmanyemissariestotalkwithGov.Singson.
ThateveningGov.SingsonwenttoCardinalSinathisSanMiguelResidence.Gov.Singson
explainedtoCardinalSinthesituationandlefttohimtheevidencessothatincaseanything
happenstoGov.Singson,hewouldknowwhowillberesponsible. Gov.Singsonsawthe
Cardinalwithhissisters.CardinalSintoldGov.SingsontogoaheadthathewillprayforGov.
SingsonandthatGodwillbewiththem.[Ibid,pp.4226]

Gov. Singson returned to his house at 10:00 oclock in the evening where Jinggoy
EstradacalledhimandsentemissariesagaintoGov.Singson. At12:00midnightJinggoy
EstradaandsomefriendsofhisarrivedatGov.SingsonshouseinBlueRidge,. Jinggoy
EstradapleadedtoGov.Singsonuntil3:00oclockthefollowingmorning.Gov.Singsontold
JinggoyEstradathatitwastoolatebecausehispressconferencewillhappeninawhileand
all that the Estradas could do was to deny what Gov. Singson will reveal at the press
conference. HefurthersaidtoJinggoyEstradathathewillnotmentionthelattersname.
[Ibid,pp.4651]

Gov. Singson proceeded with his press conference on October 9, 2000 at Club
Filipino.Hegavethetworeasons:first,FPres.Estradainsultedhimandwantedhimkilledso
hewasnotatruefriendanymore;andsecond,healreadyhadtheevidenceandtheywillkill
himevenifhedidnotpursuehisplannedpressconference.Itwasbetterforhimtobekilled
withhonorandtoshowhowcorruptthegovernmentwasundertheEstradaAdministration.
AccordingtoGov.Singson,FPres.EstradawantedtoreplacejuetengwithBingo2Balls
becausehewillearnmore,aboutFiftyMillionPesos(P50,000,000.00)aday.Gov.Singson
explainedhowmuchFPres.EstradawouldreceivefromBingo2Balls.[Ibid,pp.5159]

Gov.SingsonalsomentionedthatFPres.EstradaownedtheinNewManila. He

identifiedthispropertythroughacomputergeneratedpicture(Exh.P8).[Ibid,pp.6067]Gov.
Singson also describedthe houseofFPres.Estrada at,Greenhillswhich he hadvisited
frequentlyaswellasthehouseoftheFPres.inwhichwasjust2to3kilometersawayfrom.
[Ibid,pp.6872]

Gov.SingsontestifiedastotheotherpropertiesofFPres.EstradalikeFontainbleau,
Inc.,acasino. Acheck(Exh.V6)payabletheorderofFonteinbleau,Inc.wasamongthe
checks turned over to Ricaforte. Gov. Singson helped put up the said casino for FPres.
Estrada.However,hisnamedoesnotappearasanincorporatorofthesaidcompanyinits
ArticlesofIncorporation(Exh.22). AccordingtoGov.Singson,thesharesinthecompany
weredistributedasfollows:fivepercent(5%)toButchTenorio,thePresidentofthecasino;
twentyfivepercent(25%)forGov.Singson;seventypercent(70%)forFPres.Estradawhich
wereplacedinthenamesofJaimeDichavesandhisclassmateSusiePineda.[Ibid,pp.72
76]

To prove his close relationship with FPres. Estrada, Gov. Singson mentioned that
Jacob, a son of the FPres. Estrada by Laarni Enriquez, was his baptismal godson while
FPres.Estradastoodassponsor(intheweddingwithhistwochildren,RacquelandRandy).
[Ibid,pp.7678]

On cross examination, Gov. Singson was confronted with his testimony during the
Senate impeachment trial, contained in the transcript of the stenographic notes of the
proceedings held on December 13, 2000 at pages 234 and 235 (Exh. 28Serapio and
submarkings).Inthesaidtestimony,Gov.SingsondidnotmentionthatSerapiowaspresent
whenheturnedovertoRicafortethejuetengprotectionmoney,partlyincashandpartlyin
check.[TSNdatedJuly29,2002,pp.147150]Gov.SingsoninsistedthatSerapiowaspresent

but he was being confused by the Senators sympathetic to FPres. Estrada. It appears,
however,thatSingsonwasnotaskedduringimpeachmentproceedingswhowerepresent
during the aforementioned turnover of jueteng protection money. [Ibid, pp. 150151] Gov.
SingsonalsotestifiedthathedidnotknowifRicafortewithdrewtheamountincash.Gov.
Singson was only told by Ricaforte that she gave the Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00) to Serapio. [Ibid, pp. 153156 Gov. Singson also admitted that the
P200,000,000.00weretransferredtotheMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.[Ibid,p.156]andthat
helikewisetestifiedbeforetheSenateBlueRibbonCommitteeonOctober17,2000,asshown
by the transcript of Stenographic Notes of the hearing of that Committee (Exh. 29 and
submarkings).Ibid,pp.158159].Gov.Singsonacknowledgedthathehadcameacrossthe
CertificateofIncorporationandByLawsoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.(Exh1
Serapio and submarkings). The said foundations Certificate of Incorporation was dated
November17,2000,andthattheArticlesofIncorporationwasdatedFebruary15,2000.[Ibid,
pp.167168]Gov.Singsonsawforthefirsttimeduringhiscrossexaminationthecertification
oftheBranchManagerofEquitablePCIBankthattheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.
maintainedanaccountinthetotalamountofTwoHundredThreeMillionOneHundredThirty
Six Thousand Nine Hundred ThirtyOne Pesos and Twenty Seven Centavos
(P203,136,931.27)(Exh17;17aSerapio).[Ibid,p.169]
EMMABARBONLIM(EmmaLim)workedforGov.SingsonsinceJuly1987asLiaison
Officeratthelattersprivateofficein,SanAndrescorner,SanAndresBukid,MetroManila.
LCSstoodforLuisChavitSingson. EmmaLimdidpersonalerrandsforGov.Singson,like
collecting jueteng money from different persons for FPres. Estrada pursuant to the
instructionsofGov.Singson.
As early as January 1999, Emma Lim was already receiving deliveries of jueteng
money. Gov.Singsontoldhertotakecareofthemoneythatshewasreceivingbecauseit
wasnotthemoneyofGov.SingsonbutofFPres.Estrada. Shestartedcollectingjueteng
moneysometimeinApril1999.Shepersonallywenttothepersonfromwhomshecollected
themoney.SheknewthatitwasjuetengmoneybecauseGov.Singsontoldhersoandthatit
wasalsoconfirmedbyRicaforte.

ShealsoknewthatitwasjuetengmoneybecausetherewasaninstancethatRicaforte
scoldedherforopeninganenvelope.Ricafortetoldherthatitwasstrictlyconfidentialandit
was intended for FPres. Estrada. Emma Lim also personally delivered jueteng money to
Malacaang.
AccordingtoEmmaLim,RicafortewastheaccountantauditorofFPres.Estrada.This
washowshewasintroducedbyGov.Singsontoherandhowsheintroducedherselfwhen
shereportedattheLCSOffice.Ricafortealsoheldofficeinthesameaddress.EmmaLims
othercoemployeewasMenchuItchon.[TSNdatedJuly1,2002,pp.1217]
WitnesstestifiedthatshecollectedjuetengmoneyfromUndersecretary(USec)Anton
Prieto,JinggoyEstradaandBongPineda.
USecAntonPrietowasthePresidentialAssistantforBicolAffairs.Hewastheonein
charge of jueteng collection in the Bicol Area. Witness met Prieto personally and he
introducedhimselftothewitnessassuch.Everytimehecalledtheoffice,healwayssaidthat
hewasanUndersecretaryinMalacaang.
SometimeonApril1999,EmmaLimmetPrietoatthelobbyofDusitHotelNikkoin.
UsecPrietohandedtoherasealedmailingenvelopewhichshebroughttotheirofficeat.
EmmaLimcalledGov.Singsonwhoaskedhertoopentheenvelopetoknowhowmuchshe
received.Theenvelopecontainedapostdatedcheck(ExhF7,F71toF75)intheamountof
P1,190,000.00.EmmaLimdepositedthecheck(ExhG7,G71toG74)intheaccountofGov.
SingsonattheMetrobank,AyalaCenterBranchonApril7,1999.
Three days after the check was deposited, the New Accounts Department of the
MetrobankAyalabranchinformedEmmaLimthatthecheckwasdishonoredbecausethe
signaturewasdifferent.ThecheckwasreturnedthroughUsecPrietosmessenger.
EmmaLimusuallydepositedthePNBNagaBranchchecksfromPrietointheAccount
No.0963011682260ofGov.Singson.Thedepositslips(ExhibitsI7 toQ7andsubmarkings)
listedthedeposits.

Atonetime,Ricafortescoldedherforopeningtheenvelopebecauseitwasstrictly
confidentialandthatitwasforFPres.Estrada.RicafortetookthecheckfromtheEmmaLim.
[Ibid,pp.1756]
RicafortefirstreportedattheLCSbuildingonApril16,1999.Sheintroducedherselfas
theaccountantauditorofFPres.Estrada.Gov.Singsonalsointroducedherassuch.

EmmaLimcollectedjuetengmoneytwicefromBongPineda,whowasinchargeofthe
juetengcollectionsinPampangabecauseGov.Singsontoldherso.
SometimeonJanuary2000,uponinstructionofGov.Singson,EmmaLimandGov.
SingsonsdriverFaustinoPrudenciowenttothehouseofBongPinedaatGreenhills,,Metro
Manilatopickupmoney.AtPinedashouse,Pinedassecretary,Marty,askedhertoenteran
officeroomtowaitforBongsbrotherRomyPineda.WhenRomyPinedaarrived,heplaceda
shoppingbagontopofthetableandaskedEmmaLimtocountthecontents. Themoney
wasP5,000,000.00inP1,000denominations. Aftercountingthemoney,theyreturnedthe
moneyinsidetheshoppingbagandMr.Pinedamadehersignahalfsheetofbondpaper
evidencingthatshereceivedthemoney.EmmaLimthenkeptthemoneyinsidethevaultat
theLCSofficeandinformedGov.Singsonthatshehadpickedupthemoney.
ThesecondtimeEmmaLimcollectedmoneyfromBongPinedawassometimeon
February2000.TheywereontheirwayhomeaftercollectingmoneyfromJinggoyEstrada.
MenchuItchoncalledherandtoldherthatGov.Singsonwantedhertodropbythehouseof
Mr.BongPinedatopickupmoney. EmmaLimproceededandMartyagainusheredherto
theofficeroom. RomyPinedaarrived. Heopenedwhatappearedtobeabookshelfand
came out with a red Salvatore Ferragamo shopping bag (Exhibit R7) containing
P5,000,000.00. ThemoneywasinP1,000billsandin5bundlescontainingP1,000,000.00
each.RomyPinedaaskedhertosignapaperthatshereceivedtheamount.Shekeptthe
moneyinthevaultassignedtoherattheLCSoffice. SheinformedGov.Singsonthatshe
receivedthemoneyfromBongPineda,andGov.Singsontoldherthathewillpassbyforit.

[Ibid,pp.5880]
ShecollectedjuetengmoneyfromJinggoyEstradathreetimes.Theseweresometime
inJanuary,February2000andMarch17,2000.
Forthefirstcollection,Gov.SingsoncalledherupattheLCSofficeandtoldhertocall
theofficeofMayorJinggoyEstradatoinquireifshecanpickupwhatwastobepickedup.
The staff of Jinggoy Estrada who answered the phone told her to go there after lunch.
Witnesslefttheofficeat1:00oclockwiththedriverofGov.Singsonandproceededtothe
officeofMayorJinggoyEstradaatthesecondflooroftheMunicipalHallofSanJuan,Metro
Manila.
Whenshearrivedattheoffice,thestaffatthereceivingsectiongaveherasheetof
paperwhereshewrotehernameandoffice.ThebodyguardofJinggoyEstradaarrivedand
handedtohersomethingwhichwaswrappedinamagazineandsealedwithscotchtape.
Thebodyguardtoldhernottocountthemoneybecausethereweremanypeoplearound.
ShethenbroughtthepackagebacktotheLCSofficeandkeptitinthevault.ShecalledGov.
SingsonandtoldhimthatshealreadypickedupthemoneyfromJinggoyEstrada. When
Gov.Singsonarrived,witnesscountedthemoneyinhispresenceanditwasP1,000,000.00
whichsheturnedovertoGov.Singson.
SometimeinFebruary2000,sheagaincollectedjuetengmoneyfromJinggoyEstrada.
Gov.SingsoncalledherupandinstructedhertocalluptheofficeofJinggoyEstrada.She
wasabletotalktoJinggoyEstradassecretaryJosieandwastoldtogototheirofficeafter
lunch.
JosieusheredherinsidetheofficeofJinggoyEstrada.JinggoyEstradawasthere.
Witnessgreetedhimagoodafternoonandhesmiled.Josieaskedhertositinfrontofher
tablewhichwasabout4to5metersawayfromJinggoyEstrada.Josietookupapaperbag
fromunderhertableandplaceditontopofthetable. Sheaskedthewitnesstocountthe
contents. The witness counted that there were ten (10) bundles of P1,000.00 bills. Each
bundlehad100piecesandthetotalamountwasP1,000,000.00.Shethenaskedpermission

toleave. AftercomingfromtheofficeofJinggoyEstrada,theyproceededtothehouseof
BongPineda.
She collected jueteng moneyfor the third time from JinggoyEstrada on March 17,
2000. SheagainwenttotheofficeofJinggoyEstradaafterlunchaftercontactingJosie.
Whenshearrivedthere,shewasusheredinsidetheofficeofJinggoyEstrada.Shecanno
longerrememberthenumberofstaffinsidetheoffice.ItwasJosiewhotoldhertositdownin
frontofthetableofJinggoyEstrada. JinggoyEstradatookoutacheckfromhiswalletand
gaveittohersaying,SabihinmokayGobtsekenalang. EmmaLimthenkeptthecheck
inside her bag. The amount was P1,000,000.00 with United Overseas Bank , San Juan
Branchasthedraweebank.ThewitnessdepositedthechecktotheaccountofGov.Singson
atMetrobank,.Thedepositslip(ExhibitS7)waspresented.
Accordingtothewitness,thecheckwaspersonalizedbecauseitborethepictureof
JinggoyEstradaatthebackground.EmmaLimhadseenthiskindofcheckofGov.Singson.
[Ibid,pp.82111]EmmaLimmaintainedhertestimonynotwithstandingthatshewasshowna
certificationdatedDecember11,2000issuedbyIsabelitaM.Papa,ExecutiveVicePresident
ofUnitedOverseasBankofthe,statingthatMr.JoseP.Estrada,alsoknownasJinggoy
EjercitoEstrada,neverhadacurrentorcheckingaccountwiththesaidbank. [TSNdated
July10,2002]
Sheknewthatthemoneyshekeptinthevaultassignedtoherwerejueteng
collectionsbecauseGovernorSingsonandRicafortetoldherso.[TSNdatedJuly1,2002,p.
81]
OnJuly3,2002,EmmaB.Limcontinuedherdirectexaminationandtestifiedthatshe
personally met FPres. Estrada when she delivered jueteng money to Malacanang. As
instructedbyGov.Singson,shewasfetchedbySingsonsdriver,personalaideandsecurity
guardatSingsonsofficeatLCS.SheboardedtheFordExpeditionwhentheypassedbythe
LCSoffice.SingsoncalledtoaskEmmaLimtodoublecheckthemoneyinsidethecarifitwas
FiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00).Gov.SingsonsdriverFaustinoPrudencio,personalaide
JemisSingsonandsecurityguardFredericoArtateswereinsidethecartoowhenshebundle

count the money. They proceeded to the residence of FPres. Estrada at , Greenhills.
However, Artates and Jamis Singson were informed by the security guards that Malou
FlorendoandFPres.Estradawerenotathome.Theywaitedoutsideanddecidedtotaketheir
lunchinarestaurantinGreenhills.Theybroughttheblackbagcontainingthemoneywith
themattherestaurant.Gov.Singsonspersonalaidewasholdingthebag.DriverFaustino
Prudencio received instruction from Singson for them to proceed to Malacanang. It was
already1:00oclock,afterlunchtimein1999duringtheMaslogbookscaminMalacanang.
SherecalleditbecausehercompanionwarnedhernottoopenthebagbecauseBakama
maslogka.Inthatincident,MaslogwascaughtbringingmoneyinsideMalacanang.Emma
LimwasdroppedoffatthecircleinsideMalacanang.Shecarriedtheblackbagcontaining
P5,000,000.00.EmmaLimintroducedherselftothesecurityguardasEmmafromtheoffice
ofGovernorGov.SingsonandtoldhimMalouFlorendowasexpectingher.Theamountof
P5,000,000.00wasinOnethousand(P1,000.00)pesobills.[TSNdatedJuly3,2002,pp.
190207]Thesecurityguardallowedhertoenter,withoutpassingthebagthroughthexray.
TheguardwasnotstrictandpointedtoherthePresidentialResidence.Therewasanother
securityguardinfrontofthehouseandEmmaLimgavethesameintroductionandthatMalou
Florendowasexpectingher.Emmawasallowedtoenter.ShewasmetbyMalouinsidethe
residence,EmmaLimsawFPres.Estrada,wearingacreampolo.EmmaLimhandedthe
blackbagtoMalouFlorendo.EmmaLimandFPres.Estradawerewithineachothersview.
Malouplacedtheblackbagbesideanofficetable.EmmaLimheardMaloutoldGov.Singson
overthephonethatshewasalreadythere.EmmaLimleftfortheLCSoffice.[Ibid,pp.242
261] EmmaLimdescribedtheblackbagasrectangularwithnumberedcombinationlock.
Thewidthwasabout8inches,thelength,18inchesandtheheightwas12inches. Itwas
madeofcanvassorsyntheticmaterial.Emmademonstratedincourtthatshecouldcarrya
bagofsimilarsizewithP5,000,000.00inside.Fivebundlesofbillsweighedfour(4)kilosand
eight(8)grams.[Ibid,pp.263279,280]Thebagweighed2kilosand6grams.Thebagand
itscontentsweighed7kilosand4grams.[Ibid,p.288]

On crossexamination, Emma Lim testified that she worked for Gov. Singson since

1987.ShestartedlivingatLCSOfficesince1989untilshegotmarriedin1996.Shedidnot
payrentjustliketheotheremployeesofSingson.ShewasnotrelatedtoSingson.Herbrother
RoyBarbonworkedasdriverforSingsonbetween1990and1992.Shedidnotfeelbeholden
toGov.Singsonbecausesheworkedforhersalary.Shedidnotowehimadebtofgratitude
butitshouldbetheotherwayaroundbecauseshegotembroiledinthistroublebecauseof
juetengcollections.[Ibid,pp.296308]
EmmaLimattendedadinneratonFebruary16,2001.[TSNdatedJuly17,2002,pp.7577]
ShewasappointedatJohnHayDevelopmentCorporationduringthetermofPresidentArroyo.She
receivedEightThousandPesos(P8,000.00)perboardmeeting.EmmaLimalsoworkedasliaison
officerofGov.Singsonforoverseasworkers.[Ibid,pp.8788]Sheknewthatshewascollectingjueteng
moneybecauseGov.SingsonsaidsoandRicafortecomfirmed.Furtherthemoneydeliveredwas
bundledbymillionsandnomoneyofthatamountarrivedtheirofficewhenGov.Singsonwasnotyeta
collector.[Ibid,p.99]
MARIA CARMENCITA ANCHETA ITCHON (Itchon), a Certified Public Accountant,
testified that she was hired by Gov. Singson to be an accountant of Fountain Bleau
Incorporated(laterrenamedFontainBleauIncorporated)onFebruary19,1999.Accordingto
Itchon,thesaidcorporation,whichwassetuptobuildacasinoinClarkAirBase,Pampanga,
was owned by former President Estrada. Witness knew that this was owned by Estrada
becauseGov.SingsonsaidsoanditwasconfirmedbyMrs.Ricaforte.[TSN,June17,2002,
pp.115118]
SheallegedlyknewthatFontainBleauIncorporatedgotitsfundingfromthe jueteng
collections of FPres. Estrada because Gov. Singson would always tell her to wait for the
juetengcollectionofFPres.Estradaeverytimesheaskedforfunds.[Ibid,pp.119122]
As Accountant, she was the one who made the listings of the preoperation and
expensesofFontainBleauandduringthattimeshewastheAccountant,shealreadyreceived
juetengcollectionsforFPres.Estrada.
Itchonfurthertestifiedthatshereceived jueteng collections,amountingtoatotalof
around Six Million Pesos (P6,000,000.00) in cash and check, about six (6) times. She
receivedthesejuetengcollectionsfromthemessengersofMr.AntonPrietoandformerSan

JuanMayorJinggoyEstradaorJingleBells.Afterreceivingthecollections,shewouldinform
Gov.SingsonandtheneitherGov.Singsontookthecollectionfromherortheyturneditover
toMrs.YolandaRicaforte.
ItchonidentifiedFontainBleusoriginalCertificateofIncorporation(Exh.P 6)andthe
ArticlesofIncorporationandByLawsattached(Exh.P61),whichwereinherpossession.
These incorporation documents showed the date of Fontain Bleaus registration with the
SecuritiesandExchangeCommission(April5,1999),thenamesofitsincorporators,andits
officeaddressatthe2ndFloor,,SanAndresBukid,.Itchonssketchoftheofficewasmarked
asExh.Q6.[Ibid.,pp.123124,132137]
ItchonaverredthatbeforeshepersonallymetYolandaRicaforteattheofficeinLCS,
Ricaforte used to call their office and introduced herself as the Accountant Auditor for
FPres.Estrada.AsearlyasMarch19,1999,SingsontoldItchonthatshewouldbeworking
withYolandaRicaforte,theAccountantofFPres.Estrada.Ricafortebegantoreportforwork
inthesameofficeasItchononApril16,1999.[Ibid,pp.129132,138141]
Singson and Ricaforte told Itchon that Ricaforte will be her [Itchons] immediate
supervisor.RicafortecheckedItchonsentriesinherjournal.Ricafortesignedthecheckthat
ItchonpreparedforpaymentforthesupplierofFontainBleauandRicafortebroughtItchon
everytimeshewenttothePampangaoffice.
ItchonproceededtonarratehowinthecourseoftheirworksheandRicafortebecame
close and had many conversations including among others how FPres. Estrada came to
appointRicaforteshusbandOrestesRicaforteasundersecretaryofTourismandhowFPres.
EstradagiftedOresteswiththeBlackLexusthatYolandaandItchonusuallyusedintraveling
tothePampangaoffice.ItchonhadphotographsofgatheringssheattendedwithRicaforte
(Exh.A6vvvvv).[Ibid,pp.143152]
ItchonknewRicafortetobetheAccountantAuditorofFPres.EstradainFontainBleau
Incorporated and for jueteng collections because Ricaforte reported directly to FPres.

Estrada.ItchonthennarratedhowonJune15,1999,sheandMrs.ReginaLim(oneofthe
incorporatorsofFontainBleau)broughtRicafortetoMalacaangataround3:30p.m.They
broughthertherebecauseRicafortesaidshewouldreporttoFPres.Estrada.Beforegoingto
Malacaang,RicafortetooktheirrecordsofFontainBleau,gotItchonsjournalandthelistof
expensesandthenItchonbriefedherregardingtheirexpenses.[Ibid,pp.155162]
Itchon also testified that Ricaforte also reported to FPres. Estrada by phone,
sometimesusingthelandlineintheofficeandsometimesusingher[Ricafortes]cellphone.
Itchon knew that the calls were made to FPres. Estrada because she was around when
Ricaforte was making calls, and Ricaforte would askher to keep quietbecause she was
callingthePresident.ThecallsweremadeinsidetheLCSoffice.
Itchonexplained thatshe knew thatthe cell phonenumber ofRicaforte was0918
9021847becausethenumberwasoriginallyissuedinItchonsname.Thecellphonewas
supposedtobehers. WhentheywereinFontainBleau,theyboughtcellphonesandthe
applicationformforthenumberwasunderItchonsname.Itchonwastheonewhoassignedit
toherself.Butwhenthecellphonescame,ItchontestifiedthatRicafortetookthecellphone
no. 09189021847 and the number 09189021849 originally assigned to Ricaforte went to
Itchon.ItchonalsotestifiedthatRicafortecalledupEstradainherpresenceaboutfivetimes.
Itchonpreparedasummaryofthecalls(Exh.R6withsubmarkings)madebyRicaforte.
ItchonexplainedthatthesewerethesummaryofphonecallsofRicafortetoFPres.Estradaat
thepresidentialresidence;toMayorJinggoyEstradaorJingleBells,toMr.EdwardSerapio,to
Governor Singson and to Mr. Romy Pineda, the brother of Bong Pineda. She took the
informationfromthefifteen(15)StatementsofAccountofRicaforteforhercellnumber0918
9021847. ThephonebillingsofRicaforteparticularlywithreferencetocellphoneno.0918
9021847werewithItchon.[Ibid,pp.163175]
ItchonaverredthatshepreparedorcameupwithasummaryofcallsmadebyMrs.
RicaforteupontheadviceofherlawyerAtty.PablitoSanidadbecausewhensheandMrs.
RicafortetestifiedintheSenateBlueRibbonHearingCommittee,Mrs.Ricafortetestifiedthat
sheseldomornevercalledupPresidentJosephEstrada,Mr.JinggoyEstrada,Atty.Edward

Serapio, Governor Singson and Mr. Romy Pineda. Itchon also testified that when she
preparedthesummarybasedontheentriesontheparticularphonebillings,shefoundout
severalphonecallstothosepersonsmentioned.[TSN,June19,2002,pp.812]
Fifteen (15) Statements of Account (Exhs. S6, S61 up to S614) issued by Smart
communicationswerealsoidentifiedbyItchonpurportingtobestatementsofaccountofCell
phoneNo.09189021847.TheStatementsofAccountcoveredthebillingperiodendingJuly
1999 and billing period ending August 31, 2000. The billing statements of account were
receivedbyItchonfromthecompanyforhertopay.Thecellphonebillswerebeingpaidby
FontainBleau,butwhenFontainBleauceasedtoexist,thephonebillswerepaidbyRicaforte
withmoneyfromjuetengcollections.[Ibid,pp.1518]
Itchon affirmed that she was present during Mrs. Ricafortes phone call to the
presidentialresidenceinfiveinstances.Duringthesetimes,Mrs.RicafortewasattheLCS
officeand ItchonwaseitherbesideherorinfrontofMrs.Ricafortesoffice table. Itchon
pointedoutinthesketch(Exh.Q6)shepreparedwhereshewasduringthefivetimeswhen
thecallsweremadeinherpresence.
The number or numbers Ricaforte called up were 7368855 and 7368858. Itchon
testifiedthatsheknewthatthenumberspertaintothenumbersinthePresidentialResidence
becausetheyhadofficerecordsandshealsotriedcallingthenumber.Whenshedialedthe
numberssheaskedifitwasthePMS.TheanswerwasitwasthePresidentialResidence.
WhenaskedwhyItchoncheckedandcalledthenumbersinthefirstplace,sheansweredthat
whenshecheckedMrs.Ricafortescellphonebills,shefoundoutthatthenumberswere
theresoshetriedcallingtocheckwhetheritwasthePresidentialResidence.
Whenaskedwhatwasthenature or gistoftheconversationfromtheend ofMrs.
RicafortewhenshecalledupthePresidentialresidence,ItchonansweredthatMrs.Ricaforte
said:Malou,thisisYolly.IsthePresidentalreadycallingforme?Ifheneededme,justcall
meonthecellphone.AccordingtoItchon,MalouwasthesecretaryofFPres.Estradaand
ItchonknewthisbecauseitwasMrs.Ricafortewhotoldher.[Ibid.,pp.1823]

AccordingtoItchon,therewerealsocallsmadetoformerSanJuanMayorJinggoy
Estradaand,inhersummary,RicafortecalledupMayorJinggoyEstradatwentyfour(24)
times.Onatleastfiveoccasions,ItchontestifiedthatshewaspresentwhenRicafortecalled
up Jinggoy Estrada while they [Itchon and Ricaforte] were both in the LCS office. Itchon
distinctlyrememberedtwodatesofRicafortesphonecallstoMayorJinggoyEstrada(a)
August16,1999whenRicafortecalledupJinggoyinhisresidencebecausethatwasthefirst
callofRicafortewhenshestartedconcentratingastheaccountantauditorofformerPresident
Estradainhisjuetengcollections;and(b)November15,1999becauseRicafortecalledup
MayorJinggoyseveraltimesastheywerewaitingforMayorJinggoysjuetengcollectionfrom
whichtheywouldgettheirsalaries.
ThecellphonenumberofJinggoyEstradawas09175260217andhislandlinenumber
was7244736.ItchonknewthatthesenumberspertaintoJinggoyEstradabecauseshegot
thenumbersfromGov.Singson.Shegotthenumberbecauseshewantedtocheckthecell
phonebillsofRicafortebecausethereweretimesthatsherememberedthatRicafortehad
beencallingthenumberofJinggoyEstradawhichItchonwasnotawareof.[Ibid,pp.2328]
Based on Itchons as well as the phone billings, Ricaforte called up Atty. Edward
Serapiosix(6)timesatcellphoneNo.09189012071. ItchonalsogotthenumberofAtty.
SerapiofromGov.Singson. BasedontheSmartCommunicationsphonebillings,Ricaforte
calledupAtty.SerapioonMarch23and24,2000,andApril3,12,13,and14,2000.(Exh.S 6
withsubmarkings)[Ibid.,pp.2935]
AccordingtoItchonssummary,Mrs.RicafortecalledupGov.Singson209timesatcell
phone nos. 09178387171 and 09189002443. Itchon was present several times when
RicafortecalledupGov.Singson.ItchonknewthatthesenumberspertainedtoGov.Singson
becauseshewasfamiliarwiththesecellphonenumbers.[Ibid,pp.3738]
ItchonalsotestifiedtocallsmadebyRicafortetoacertainRomyPineda,thebrother
BongPineda,whomsheknewwasajuetenglord.ItchontestifiedthatRicafortecalledup
RomyPinedainhislandlinenumber,7227366.BasedontheSummarythatItchonprepared,
RicafortecalledupRomyPinedatwice.[Ibid,pp.3839]

ItchonfurthertestifiedthatFontainBleau,Inc.wasnotabletooperatebecauseFontain
BleaucouldnotcomplywithPAGCORsrequirementfora200roomhotelaccommodationso
itwasnotissuedalicensetooperate.
After the nonissuance of the license to operate, Fontain Bleau entered into a
MemorandumofAgreementwithRNDevelopmentCorporationonJuly19,1999(Exhs.T 6,
T61 to T62). The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) stipulated that RN Development
CorporationwillreimburseallthepreoperationsexpensesofFontainBleauandthatFontain
Bleauwillhavea10%sharefromthecasinothatwillbeestablishedbyRNDevelopment
Corporation.ItchonwaspresentduringthesigningoftheMOA.Sheidentifiedthesignatures
ofthewitnessestotheMOA;namely,acertainPaxwhowasintroducedtoItchonasAtong
Angssister(Exh.T62c)andYolandaRicaforte(Exh.T62d).Itchontestifiedthatshecame
toknowAtongAngduringthenegotiationoftheMOAandthatAtongAngwaspresentduring
thesigning.
AsfarasItchonknew,thepreoperationalexpensesofFontainBleauwasaroundSixty
FiveMillionPesos(P65,000,000.00).ThiswasreimbursedbyRNDevelopmentCorporation
toFontainBleaupursuanttotheirMemorandumofAgreement. Itchonbroughtwithhera
copy of RN's deposit slip and their first payment in the amount of Thirty Million Pesos
(P30,000,000.00) (Exh. U6) and testifiedthatthedepositorssignaturetherein wasEmma
Lims,oneofthesecretariesintheLCSoffice.Itchonalsohadaphotocopiesofthesecond
checkthatRNpaidtoFontainBleauintheamountofThirtyFourMillionSixHundredForty
Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Two Pesos (P34,640,442.00) (Exh. V6) and of the
acknowledgement receipt (Exh. V61) signed by Ricaforte and Atty. Manuel Singson, as
DirectorandCorporateSecretary,respectivelyofFontainBleau.Itchonfurthertestifiedthat
RicafortegottheoriginalsofthesedocumentsbutItchonhadthemphotocopiedforherrecord
beforeRicafortetooktheoriginals.

SinceFontainBleauwasunabletooperate,alltheemployeesofFontainBleauinthe

Pampangaofficewereterminated.ItwasonlyItchonandMrs.Ricafortewhowereretained.
[Ibid,pp.3958]
In August 1999, Ricaforte already concentrated on being the accountantauditor of
FPres.EstradainhisjuetengoperationandthenItchonwastoldbyGov.Singsontohelp
Ricaforte.NothinghappenedtoFontainBleauanymore.ItchonallegedlyknewthatinAugust
1999,RicaforteconcentratedinthejuetengcollectionbecauseItchonwastherewhenGov.
SingsonbriefedRicaforteregardingthecollectionofthejuetengoperationandshe[Ricaforte]
wasgiventhecodenameMadamAuringbyGov.Singson.[Ibid,pp.5860]
Itchonstestimonythendetailedhowsheparticipatedinthejuetengcollections.She
wastaskedtoreceivethejuetengcollectionsthatwerebroughttotheoffice.Therewerealso
timeswhenItchonorEmmaLimwerecalledbyRicafortetohelpcomputeandcountthe
moneyturnedovertoRicafortesuchasdoublecheckingthroughacalculator.Collectionsthat
Itchon received were brought by messengers of Mr. Anton Prieto and sometimes by the
messengers of Gov. Singson who picked up the jueteng collections from Mayor Jinggoy
Estrada. ItchonknewPrietosmessengerbecausewhenthemessengercame,thechecks
were inside the white envelope with markings Menchu/Emma and then the messenger
introducedhimselfasmessengerofAntonPrieto.ItchonwasalsopresentwhenGov.Singson
was giving instructions to his messengers to get jueteng collections from Mayor Jinggoy
Estrada. Gov. Singsons messengers were Mr. Jamis Singson and Edward Iverra. Each
collection was One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) per collection in cash. She remembers
thesecollectionsfromMayorJinggoyEstradaontwo(2)occasionsbecauseitwasfromthere
thatthey(Ricaforte,Lim,ItchonandIverra)tooktheirsalary.
AccordingtoItchon,thesejuetengcollectionscameinaround15th and30th ofthe
month.Fromthetimethattheystartedconcentratingonthejuetengcollectionfortheformer
PresidentonAugust1999,Itchonreceivedthesecollectionsaboutsix(6)times,coveringthe
periodAugust1999toAugust2000.ThetotalcollectionsshereceivedafterAugust1999was
around Seven Million Pesos (P7,000,000.00). With respect to the Seven Million Peso
collectionsthatshereceived,thereweretimeswhenGov.Singsontookthecollectiondirectly

fromherandthereweretimeswhenGov.Singsoninstructedhertoturnoverthecollectionto
Ricaforte.AsAccountantofFontainBleau,shealsoreceivedsix(6)collections,fortheperiod
February1999toJuly1999. AllinallItchonaverredshereceivedtwelve(12)collections.
[Ibid,pp.6166]

ItchonalsotestifiedthatEmmaLimwasthesecretaryofGovernorSingsonandalsoa
coemployeeattheLCSOffice.SinceEmmaLimwasalsohelpinginthejuetengcollections,
shealsoreceivedsalaryfromRicaforte.[Ibid,pp.7172]
Oncrossexamination,ItchonexplainedthatthenameoftheformerPresidentallegedly
didnotappearintheArticlesofIncorporationofFontainBleaubecauseofhispublicposition
andbecausethesourceofitsfundswasillegal[TSN,June24,2002,pp.1920].EmmaLim,
Jamis Singson, Edward Iverra and sometimes Ricaforte collected jueteng money from
JinggoyEstrada.JamisSingsonturnedovertoItchonthejuetengcollectionaboutonceor
twicein2000betweenJanuarytoAugust2000.ItchontestifiedthattheyhelpedGov.Singson
count Five Million pesos (P5,000,000.00) from the jueteng collections sent through the
messengers and some from the collections of Gov. Singson himself and placed the said
amountofmoneyinablackbagtobebroughttoFPres.Estradabutsheadmittedshedidnot
seethedeliverytoPresidentEstrada.[Ibid,pp.2330,101]
Itchon and theothers at the officewould allegedly waitfor thecallofRicaforte to
JinggoyeverypaydaybecausetheirsalarieswouldcomefromJinggoysjuetengcollection.
Itchonwasonlypresentaroundfive(5)timesthatRicafortecalledJinggoy,althoughRicaforte
calledJinggoy24times.(Ibid,pp.3946)Itchonalsomentionedduringhercrossexamination
thatGov.SingsonwasreimbursedforthejuetengmoneyadvancedtoFontainBleauwhenthe
latterwasacquiredbyRNDevelopmentCorporation.RNDevelopmentCorporationspartial
paymentintheamountofThirtyMillionPesos(P30,000,000.00)wasdepositedintheaccount
ofFontainBleaubyRicaforteandRicafortethereafterreturnedtoSingsonthesaidamount
throughaMetrobankcheckpayabletoSingson.(Exhs.X6,X61,X62) [Ibid,pp.125127;
TSN,June26,2002,pp.2526]

AccordingtoItchon,theusebyRicaforteofthecellphoneno.09189021847inthe
nameofItchonwasprovenbythecellphonenumberdeclaredbyRicaforteinthebankwhere
shedepositedmoney(Ibid,p.19).SheadmittedthatsheandEmmaLimwereappointedby
PresidentArroyoasDirectorofJohnHayPoroPointDevelopmentCorporationonSeptember
2001.(Exh.26,26ato26c1)[TSN,June26,2002,pp.5156]
On redirect, Itchonreferredto theacknowledgementreceipt datedMarch12, 1999
(Exh. Y6) for the advance rental of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000) as well as the
landscapeplanofsaidcompany(Exhs.E7,E71toE76)asproofthatthatoriginalnameof
FontainBleauwasspelledFountainBleauHolding,Inc.[Ibid,p.100]
SmartCommunicationsbillingsidentifiedbyItchonweremarkedasExhs.X6,X61to
X62[Ibid, pp.101105].Itchonalsobroughttocourtthejournal(Exhs.A71toA75)and
computerizedlist(Exh.B7,B71toB73)ofthepreoperationexpensesofFountainBleau
amountingtoSixtyFiveMillion(P65,000,000.00)whichwerereimbursedbyRNDevelopment
Corporation.Shealsopresentedthecomputerizedlistofsaidexpenseswithspecifics(Exh.
C7, C71 to C74) and some of the checks of Gov. Singson which were used to pay the
expensesofFountainBleaufromMarch3,1999toJune20,1999(Exh.D7,D71toD795)
ThefundsofFountainBleauweretakenbyGov.Singsonfromjuetengcollections.Thecheck
coveringpartofthereimbursementtoFountainBleauintheamountofThirtyFourMillionSix
HundredFortyThousandFourHundredandFortyTwoPesos(P34,640,442.00)wasmarked
asExh.V6(withsubmarkings).[Ibid,pp.106117]
VICENTERAGILAMISTAD (Amistad)wasaPhilippineNationalPolice(PNP)officer
stationedatViganCityPoliceStation,assignedtoformerGov.Singsonsince1989untilthe
timeofhistestimony.Onthree(3)occasionsin1999and2000,Amistadwasinstructedby
Gov.SingsontogotothehouseofBongPinedaatAlbanyStreet,NortheastGreenhillsand
receivedfromRomyPineda,BongPinedasbrother,thefollowingssumsofmoney:Seven
Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P7,750,000.00); Five Million Pesos
(P5,000,000.00)andThreeMillionTwoHundredFiftyPesos(P3,250,000.00).Amistadwould

bundlecount,placethemoneyinaplasticbagandbringittoGov.SingsonatLCSbuilding,
aftersigningareceiptpreparedbyRomyPineda.[TSN,September16,2002,pp.1556]
AmistadalsotestifiedthatuponsinstructionofSingson,hewenttotheofficeofthen
MayorJinggoyEstradaatthesecondflooroftheMunicipalHallofSanJuanin1999.After
MayorJinggoyEstradacalledupsomeone,he[Jinggoy]askedAmistadtogodownandget
whatJinggoywouldgivehiminfrontoftheMunicipalHall.Atthegroundfloor,thesecurity
guardofMayorJinggoyEstradagavehimapackagewrappedinanewspaperwithscotch
tape,whichhebroughttoGov.Singsonat. Amistadtestifiedthathewaswasscoldedby
Gov. Singson because the money inside the package was short. Gov. Singson called up
Jinggoyandinformedthelatterabouttheshortage.ThefollowingdayAmistadwasinformed
byGov.SingsonthattheshortageofJinggoywasalreadygiventohim.
JAMISBATULANSINGSON(Jamis)wasthepersonalaideofGov.Singson,whowas
notrelatedtohim.JamisSingsonknewFPresEstradaandGov.Singsontobeclosefriends
whoplayedmahjonganddranktogether.JamisSingsonwasconstantlywithGov.Singson
whenhedeliveredjuetengmoneytoFPresEstrada.[TSN,September18,2002,pp.2531]
JamisSingsonsawGov.Singsoncountingthejuetengmoneybeforeheplacedthemina
blackbagwhichhewouldcarry.
JamisalsotestifiedthatinMarch1999,he,ArtatesanddriverPrudenciowenttothe
houseofBongPineda.Artateswentinsidethehouseandwhenhewentout,hewascarrying
ashoppingbagfullofmoney.JamisthentransferredthemoneytoablackbagwhichGov.
Singson used to deliver money to FPres. Estrada. Jamis described the black bags
measurementsandhowitwasopenedfromthetopwithacombination(lock)(Exh.0 8).The
moneytotalledFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)infive(5)bundlesofOneMillionPesos
(P1,000,000.00)each.TheyproceedtoinSanAndrestopickupEmmaLimasinstructedby
Gov.Singson.Insidethevehicle,EmmaLimcountedthemoney.[Ibid,pp.6881]Theywent
to the house of FPres. Estrada but the latter was not home. While having lunch at a
restaurant, Emma Lim received a call from Gov. Singson instructing them to go to
Malacaang.EmmaLimalightedfromthevehiclewiththeblackbagandenteredpassing

throughtheguardhouseingoingtothePresidentialresidence.Theywaitedoutside.Emma
Limaskedtobefetchedlaterandshewasnolongerholdingtheblackbag.[TSN,ibid,pp.83
90]

Jamis also testified to one occasion in the middle of 1999 when he himself was
instructedbyGov.SingsontocollectmoneyfromthehouseofBongPineda.ThattimeJamis
receivedSevenMillionPesos(P7,000,000.00)inashoppingbagfromRomeoRomyPineda.
RomymadeJamissignabluebookandthenJamisbroughtthemoneytoGov.Singsoninthe
lattersoffice.[Ibid,pp.91101]
JamisalsotestifiedhecollectedjuetengmoneyfromMayorJinggoyEstradatwiceon
Gov.Singsonsinstructions.Forthefirstoccasion,onoraboutOctober1999Jamiswentto
theofficeofthenMayorJinggoyEstradaatthesecondfloorMunicipalHallofSanJuanat
around4pmto5pm.Insidethesaidoffice,JinggoyEstradasbodyguardNestorshoweda
sando plastic bag to Jinggoy Estrada and after that Jamis saw Jinggoy pointing to him
[Jamis]. Jamis brought the plastic bag, which Jamis subsequently saw contained an
indeterminableamountofmoney,toSingsonatthelattersoffice.[Ibid,pp.105121]

The second time Jamis collected jueteng money from Jinggoy Estrada was
immediately after the first time, in the evening.Thus, Gov. Singson instructed Jamis to
proceeedtothehouseofMayorJinggoyEstradainGreenhills.AtMayorJinggoyshouse,
Jamis again received a plastic sando bag from Nestor. Jamis brought the bag to Gov.
Singsons office and handed it to Menchu (Ma. Carmencita) Itchon as Gov. Singson
instructed.JamisidentifiedMenchuinCourt.HesaidshewasthecompanionofRicafortein
theoffice.[Ibid.,pp.121132]

ATTY. DAVID JONATHAN (Atty. Yap), the Senate Legal Counsel, testified that he

actedastheDeputyClerkofthe.Amongothers,hisofficewasinchargeofreceivingall
documentsandpleadingsrelatingtotheimpeachmenttrial.Hewasinchargeofmarkingthe
Exhs.requestedbythe partiesandkeeping themincustody.HebroughttothisCourtin
compliance with a subpoena a fifteen (15)paged document marked in this case as
prosecutions Exhs. A4 to A4L [TSN, September 25, 2002, p. 63] He identified his
signaturesthatheaffixedontheExhibitsonDecember7,2002.Hetestifiedthathesaw
YolandaRicafortewhenshebroughtthosedocumentstotheincompliancewithasubpoena
datedDecember5,2000(Exh.E)issuedbyChiefJusticeDavide.Atty.Yapwaspresentwhen
RicafortetookheroathonthewitnessstandonDecember7,2000HeidentifiedRicaforte
fromaphotograph(Exh.A6V51).TheOriginaldocumentswereplacedinavaultinsidehis
office,wheretheyhadbeenkeptanddepositedsincetheywereturnedtohimduringthe
impeachmenttrial,exceptonlywhentheyweresentovertotheSandiganbayanasrequested.
[Ibid.,p.77]
Atty.YapwasatthebackofYolandaRicaforteattheSenateImpeachmentTrialwhen
shegavehertestimonythattheledgershebroughtisanordinarylistahan.[TSN,Senate
ImpeachmentTrial,p.144;seealsoTSNofthesecases,September25,2002,pp.7879]
GUZMAN () was the Branch Manager of EquitablePCI Bank, Scout TobiasTimog
BranchonSeptember1,1999.knewYolandaRicafortebecausethelatterwasaclientofthe
bank.Ricafortetoldthatshe[Ricaforte]wasintherealestateandfishpondbusiness.
personallyattendedtoRicafortewhenthelatteropenedcheckingandsavingsaccount
with the branch on September 1, 1999. She asked Ricaforte to fill up all the required
documentsforopeningcurrentandsavingsaccountssuchasthesignaturecardsforCurrent
AccountNo.0107006389andSavingsAccountNo.0157042270.(Exhs.A6,A6aandA
6b)[TSN,May22,2002,pp.6772]
Ricaforteopenedonecheckingaccount,onesavingsaccount,sevenspecialsavings
accountsandaPCIEmeraldFund.Theinitialamountofdepositinthesavingsaccountwas
Seventeen Million Two hundred Five Thousand Pesos (P17,205,000.00) as shown by the
depositslipforSavingsAccountNo.0517042227(Exh.A6aa).TheSeventeenMillionTwo

Hundred Ten Thousand Pesos(P17,210,000.00) wasin check payable to cash. The Five
Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) was deposited in the checking account No. 01070016389
(Exh. A6bb) and the balance of Seventeen Million Two Hundred Five Thousand Pesos
(P17,205,000)wasdepositedinthesavingsaccount.[Ibid,pp.8085]
ThereweredepositsmadeonthesavingsaccountofRicaforteaftertheinitialdeposit.
presentedandidentifiedthedepositslipsandthestatementofaccountsofRicaforte(Exh.A
6andsubmarkings)whichwere:DepositSlipdatedSeptember1,1999(Exh.A6aa)withthe
amountofSeventeenMillionTwoHundredFiveThousandPesos(P17,205,000.00);Deposit
SlipdatedSeptember7,1999(Exh.A6cc)withtheamountofThreeMillionSevenHundred
ThousandPesos(P3,700,000.00);DepositSlipdatedSeptember29,1999(Exh.A6dd)with
the amount of One Million Six Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Pesos (P1,697,000.00);
Deposit Slip dated September 7, 1999 (Exh. A6ee) with the amount of Ten Million Four
HundredThousandPesos(P10,400,000.00);DepositSlipdatedSeptember15,1999(Exh.A
6ff) with the amount of Five Million Seven Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Pesos
(P5,775,000.00);DepositSlipdatedSeptember17,1999(Exh.A6gg)withtheamountof
SevenHundredFiftyThousandPesos(P750,000.00);DepositSlipdatedOctober4,1999
(Exh.A6hh)withtheamountofNineMillionFiftyThousandPesos(P9,050,000.00);Deposit
SlipdatedOctober19,1999(Exh.A6ii)withtheamountofSixMillionSixHundredFifty
ThousandPesos(P6,650,000.00);DepositSlipdatedNovember4,1999(Exh.A6jj)withthe
amountofSixMillionNineHundredThirtyThousandPesos(P6,930,000.00);DepositSlip
dated November 16, 1999 (Exh. A6kk) with the amount of Four Million Six Hundred
ThousandPesos(P4,600,000.00);DepositSlipdatedNovember19,1999(Exh.A6ll)with
theamountofOneMillionSevenHundredElevenThousandPesos(P1,711,000.00);Deposit
SlipdatedDecember7,1999(Exh.A6mm)withtheamountofNineHundredEightyNine
Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos (P989,150.00); Deposit Slip dated January 10, 2000
(Exh.A62)withtheamountofThreeMillionPesos(P3,000,000.00);andadepositslip(Exh.
A63)withtheamountofTwoMillionFourHundredSixtyThousandPesos(P2,460,000.00).
Bank statements reflected withdrawals (Exhs. A6nn to A6zz) from the savings
accountfortheperiodSeptember30,1999toOctober31,2000.[Ibid,pp.8797]

WithrespecttotheCurrentAccountNo.0107006389,witnessidentifiedthespecimen
signaturecard(Exh.A6aandA6)toshowthattheinitialdepositslipwasFiveThousand
Pesos

(P5,000.00)

(Exh.

A6bb).

[Ibid,

p.

98]
RicafortesignedinthepresenceoftheAuthoritytoDebitandTransferFunds(Exh.A
6G)whichallowedfundstobeautomaticallytransferredfromsavingstocurrentaccountto
coverchecksissued.[TSNdatedMay27,2002,pp.1116]
TheinitialdepositfortheFirstSpecialSavingsAccountNo.0157903926wasSeventy
MillionPesos(P70,000,000.00)asshownbytheSpecialSavingsPassbook(Exh.A6S3)of
RicafortedatedDecember2,1999. TheaccountwasclosedonApril13,2000. Ithada
balanceofSeventyOneMillionThreeHundredNinetyThousandEightHundredSeventyFive
andEightCentavos(P71,390,875.08)whichwastransferredtoRicafortesregularSavings
Account.[Ibid,pp.2224,43]
IntheSecondSpecialSavingsAccountcoveredbySpecialSavingsPassbook
No.392093datedFebruary7,2000(Exh.A6X3)showedtheinitialdepositofTenMillion
Pesos(P10,000,000.00)wastakenfromtheregularsavingsaccount. Awithdrawalofthe
wholeamountofTenMillionOneHundredThirteenThousandEightHundredThirtySixPesos
andFiftySevenCentavos(P10,113,836.57)wasmadeonApril13,2000reflectedintheCredit
AdvicedatedApril13,2000(Exh.A6ZZZ).[Ibid,pp.4960]
TheThirdSpecialSavingsAccountwasopenedonMarch29,2000forTwoMillion
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P2,500,000.00). The money was taken from her regular
SavingsAccountNo.0157044270.TheamountofTwoMillionFiveHundredOneThousand
SixHundredSixtySixPesosandSixtySixCentavos(P2,501,666.66)waswithdrawnfromthe
specialsavingsaccountasshownbythecertifiedtruecopyoftheCreditAdvicedatedApril
13,2000(Exh.A6C4).[Ibid,pp.84,9395]
TheFourthSpecialSavingsAccountNo.3157000739coveredbytheSpecialSavings

Passbook No. 392178 (Exh A6E4) had an initial deposit of Nine Million Seven Hundred
ThousandPesos(P9,700,000.00)asfoundinthedepositreceiptdatedApril5,2000(ExhA
6D4).OnApril13,2000,theSpecialSavingswascancelledandpreterminated.Theamount
of Nine Million Seven Hundred Three Thousand (P9,703,000) was credited to Savings
AccountNo.0157042270.[Ibid,pp.115124]
TheFifthSpecialSavingsAccount(Exh.A6G4)whichwasopenedonMay29,2000
underthenameofYolandaT.RicafortehadaninitialdepositofTwoMillionFiveHundred
ThousandPesos(P2,500,000.00).TheinitialdepositwaswithdrawnfromherregularSavings
Account.TheSpecialSavingswasclosedonSeptember4,2000andtheamountofTwo
MillionFiveHundredFiftyNineThousandFourHundredElevenPesosandTwentyCentavos
(P2,559,411.20)wascreditedtoherRegularSavingsAccount0157042270.[Ibid,pp.128
129,135,138]
The Sixth Special Savings Account (Exh. A6L4), under the name of Yolanda T.
Ricaforte, was opened on May 4, 2000 for One Million Nine Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P1,900,000.00).TheaccountwasclosedonSeptember4,2000asperDebitAdvicedated
September4,2000(Exh.A6P4)forthematuredSpecialSavingsAccountworthTwoMillion
Twenty Two Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Nine Pesos and Eighteen Centavos
(P2,022,429.18).[Ibid,pp.147153]
TheSeventhSpecialSavingsAccountNo.3157000887datedJune1,2000(Exh.A
6Q4)wasworthTwoMillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)incash. Theaccountwasclosedon
September4,2000andtheproceedswerecreditedtotheRegularSavingsAccountNo.0157
042270.Thebalance(Exh.A6T4)thenwasTwoMillionThirtyFiveThousandThirtyFive
PesosandNinetyOneCentavos(P2,035,035.91).[Ibid,pp.156,166]
The PCI Emerald Fund was in the amount of Six Million Six Hundred Sixteen
ThousandSixHundredSeventySixPesosandNineteenCentavos(P6,616,676.19)(Exh.A6
U4 and Exh. A6V4). The fund was then rolledover monthly as evidenced by the

Confirmationletter(Exh.A6Z4)datedDecember6,2000. Itwasagainrolledoverseveral
timesuntilitwasredeemedonJune5,2002.[Ibid,p.168,176193]
The first four Special Savings Accounts were all debited on April 13, 2000 and
Ricaforte purchased a Cashiers Check payable to Cash for Ninety One Million Pesos
(P91,000,000).TheApplicationforCashierscheck(Exh.A6R5)wassignedbyRicaforte
aspurchaser.TheCashierscheck(Exh.A6S5andExh.A6U5)wasclearedandaccepted
byEquitablePCIBank,MakatiPacificStarBranch,basedonthedorsalportionofthecheck.
ThelastthreeSpecialSavingsAccounts(SpecialSavingsAccountNos.3157000771,
3157000801,and3157000887)wereclosedonSeptember4,2000andalltheproceeds
werecreditedtotheregularsavingsaccount,andtheninvestedinthePCIEmeraldFundfor
SixMillionSixHundredThousandPesos(P6,600,000.00).[Ibid,pp.168,206207]
metRicafortemorethantwentytimesandidentifiedthelatterthroughapictureshown
bytheprosecution.(Exh.A6V5)[TSN,May29,2002,pp.1620]
ThecurrentaccountbalanceisatFiveThousandPesos(P5,000.00)(Exh.A6W5)
andthatoftheSavingsAccountisOneHundredNinetySevenThousandSevenHundred
ThirtySixandSixtyNineCentavos(P197,736.69)(Exh.A6X 5).Thelastwithdrawalfromthe
savingsaccountwasmadeonOctober5,2000forautomatictransfertothecurrentaccountin
the amount of Seventy Nine Thousand Six Hundred Sixty Four and Eighty Centavos
(P79,664.80). ThelastdepositwasonOctober4,2000,throughacreditmemorandumof
Thirty Seven Thousand Twenty Nine Pesos and Seventeen Centavos (P37,029.17) which
representedtheinterestofthePCIEmeraldFund.AfterOctober5,2000therewerenomore
countertransactions,onlytheentryofinterestearnedandwithholdingtax.[Ibid,pp.2327]
ROSARIO SALUDO BAUTISTA (Bautista) is the Senior Branch Manager of the
Equitable, PCI Bank, Diliman, Matalino Branch. Bautista personally attended to Yolanda
RicafortewhowasawalkinclientofthebranchonNovember19,1999.Ricaforteopeneda
savingsaccountandusedherdriverslicenseandpassportforidentification.

Thedulyaccomplishedspecimensignaturecard(Exh.A7z)waspresentedtoshow
theexistenceofthesavingsaccount.ItwaspersonallyaccomplishedbyMrs.Ricaforteinthe
presenceofBautista.TheinitialdepositofMrs.RicafortewasFiveHundredThousandPesos
(P500,000.00)incash.[TSN,May29,2000,pp.9396]
Ricaforte returned to the branch on November 22, 1999. She opened a combo
accountandclosedthesavingsaccountsheopenedonNovember19,1999. Thecombo
accountwasSavingsAccountNumber0288020370andCurrentAccountNumber0238
008530.Asanewaccount,BautistarequiredMrs.Ricafortetoaccomplishsignaturecards
(Exh.A7andA7a).Whenthecomboaccountwasalreadyopened,Ricafortepresentedfor
deposittwo(2)checkstotalingSeventyMillionPesos(P70,000,000.00).Eachcheck(Exh.A
7BandA7C)waspayabletocashforThirtyFiveMillionPesos(P35,000,000.00). The
drawerwasWilliamT.GatchalianandthedraweebankwasPCIBank,mainofficein.

RicafortetoldBautistathatthemoneycamefromtheproceedsofthesaleofaprime
propertysoldtoMr.Gatchalian.Asprecautionarymeasure,thebranchofBautistachecked
withthedraweebankPCIMakatiandtheylearnedthatGatchaliansaccountwasagood
account.
Therewereadditionaldepositsmadetotheaccount.OnedepositmadeonNovember
23,1999wasacheck(Exh.A7h)issuedbyGovernorLuisGov.SingsondatedNovember
22, 1999 for One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) payable to cash. The drawee bank was
MetroBank,Ayala.ThesecondcheckdepositmadewasonDecember16,1999payableto
cashwithPNB,NagaBranchasdraweebank.Thecheck(Exh.A7i)wasdatedDecember
9,1999.Thecheckwasdepositedandsubsequentlycleared.
On December 2, 1999, Ricaforte deposited Three Million Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P3,050,000.00) in cash (Exh. A7d). The cash was in big bills, P1,000 and P500
denominations.RicaforteexplainedtoBautistathattheamountcamefromotheraccountsin
otherbanksbecausesheplannedtotransferallherotheraccountstoEquitable,Diliman,

MatalinoBranch.Anothercashdeposit(Exh.A7fandExh.A7aa)wasmadeonJanuary
28,2000forOneMillionPesos.[Ibid,pp.100130]
Ricafortealsoopenedaspecialsavingaccountnumber3288000793intheamountof
Seventy Million Pesos (P70,000,000.00). The initial deposit was taken from Ricafortes
savingsaccount(Exh.A7j).Theaccountwasopenedwithpassbooknumber394979(Exh.
A7bb) and the specimen signature card (Exh. A7cc). The account has already been
closed.[Ibid,pp.132135]
On February 24, 2000, Mrs. Ricaforte again transferred Seven Million Pesos
(P7,000,000)fromherordinarysavingsaccounttoaspecialsavingsaccountdeposit(Exh.A
7w)withAccountNumber3288000874.Ricafortealsoaccomplishedaspecimensignature
card(Exh.A7dd)fortheSpecialSavingsAccount.
OnApril13,2000Mrs.RicaforteappliedforaSevetySevenMillionPeso(P77,000,000)
cashiers check against her special savings deposit account. She accomplished an
application form (Exh. A7l) for the transaction. Ricaforte had to accomplish a deed of
undertaking(Exh.A7n)becausethecashierscheckwaspayabletocash. Thecashiers
check(Exh.A7ee)wasdepositedonApril25,2000atthePacificStarBranchofEquitable
PCIBankin.Thenameandaccountnumberwerenotindicatedonthecheck.[Ibid,pp.148
159]
Mrs.RicafortealwaysdealtwithBautistaastheBankManagerforhertransactions.
BautistaidentifiedRicaforteastheonewearingred(Exh.A6vvvvv1)whenshownagroup
picture. Bautista also identified the girl beside Mrs. Ricaforte as Mrs. Itchon, one of the
witnessesintheimpeachmentproceedings.AsidefromthepersonalvisitsofMrs.Ricaforte,
Bautistaalsocalledheroncellphoneno.09189021847orhomelandline9518854whenever
therewasamaturityoranupdatingofinterest.[Ibid,pp.162168]
AtthetimeofBautistastestimony,thebalanceintheaccountofRicafortewasaround
TwoMillionTwoHundredThousandPesos(P2,200,000.00).Itisstillearninginterest.

SHAKIRACASTRILLOYU (Yu)wastheManagerofEquitablePCIBank,PedroGil
RobinsonsBranchsinceitopenedonAugust1999. YuknewYolandaT.Ricaforteasshe
wasoneoftheirdepositors.RicafortetoldYuthatshewasconnectedwithFilEastTraveland
whichislocatedatthesecondflooroftheManilaMidtownHotel. Ricafortefirstopeneda
Regular Savings Account, participated in the Reverse Repurchase Agreement and
subsequentlyopenedaSpecialSavingsAccount.
RicaforteopenedtheRegularSavingsAccountonJanuary6,2000.ItwasMs.Evelyn
Ponce,theCashOperationsOfficerwhoattendedtoherasYuwasnotaround.Yubrought
withherthespecimensignaturecard(Exh.A8P)forSavingsAccountNo.0276020293and
theNewAccountsRecord(Exh.A8Q)whichwerefilledoutbyRicaforte.[TSN,June3,
2002,pp.8592]
The initial deposit (Exh. A8Q3) of the Regular Savings Account was Six Million
Pesos(P6,000,000.00)incash(Exh.A8R).WhenwitnessaskedRicafortewheretheinitial
depositcamefrom,Ricafortesaiditwasproceedsofasaleofaproperty.[Ibid,pp.97100]
Other deposits made to the Regular Savings Account were the following: a check
deposit amounting to Two Million Nine Hundred SixtyFive Thousand (P2,965,000) with
GovernorLuisChavitSingsonasdrawer;acashdepositofOneMillionFiveHundredForty
Thousand Pesos (P1,540,000) deposited on January 25, 2000 and a One Million Three
Hundred Forty Thousand Pesos (P1,340,000) check deposit (Exh. A8D) with Governor
Singsonasdrawer(Exh.A8D1).[Ibid,pp.101112]
On January31,2000, Ricaforte told Yu that she wanted to earn higher interest so
witnessadvisedhertoparticipateintheReverseRepurchase.RicaforteaskedYutodebither
Regular Savings Account for about Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P8,900,000.00)(Exh.A8P).OnFebruary29,2000RicaforteinformedYuthatshedidnot
wanttheReverseRepurchaseandshewantedabankproductthatearnedahigherinterest
withpassbookasdocumentation.TheCertificateofParticipationwithoutRecourse(Exh.A8
F)wasthenpaidonFebruary29,2000intheamountofEightMillionNineHundredForty
ThousandSevenHundredFiftyTwoPesosandEightyTwoCentavos(P8,940,752.82).

Yu then advised Ricaforte to open a Special Savings Account. They took out her
participationintheReverseRepurchaseforP8,900,000.00plusinterestandRicaforteasked
themtodebitmoreorlessOneMillionFiftyOneThousandPesos(P1,051,000.00)fromher
Regular Savings Account because she wanted her Special Savings Account to be in the
amountofTenMillionPesos(P10,000,000.00).ThespecimensignaturecardoftheSpecial
Savings Account and the Credit Memo (Exh. A8G) under the account name Yolanda
RicafortefortheAccountNo.276902385dated2/29/2000wereshownasevidenceofthe
existence of the account. The three signatures appearing in the card belonged to Mrs.
YolandaRicafortesignedinfrontofYu.
Subsequently,RicafortewithdrewherTenMillionPesos(P10,000,000.00)plusinterest
from the Special Savings Account and transferred the amount to her Regular Savings
Account. TheSpecialSavingspassbookofMrs.Ricaforte(Exh.A8H)containedtheentry
OutofReturnP10,019,555,55.[Ibid,113120]
OnApril13,2000,RicaforteappliedforacashierscheckintheamountofEleven
Million Pesos (P11,000,000) debited to her Regular Savings Account. The application for
Cashiers check (Exh. A8I), the receiving copy of the Cashiers check, the Letter of
Undertaking and Cashiers check (Exh. A8T) were all presented. The Application for
CashiersCheckstatedthattheCashiersCheckisallowedtobepayabletocashexceptthat
the bank will not be held responsible for the loss thereof or a demand for a refund or
replacement.ItisnolongerallowedstartingaroundJulyorAugust2000.
RicaforteinstructedYutotransferEightHundredThousandPesos(P800,000.00)from
herRegularSavingsAccountonMay23,2000toherSpecialSavingsAccounttoearnhigher
interest. ASpecial SavingsAccount Passbook(Exh.A8L) wasissued to Mrs.Ricaforte
which credited the Eight Hundred Thousand Pesos (P800,000.00) to the Special Savings
Account.[Ibid,pp.120127]
Atpresent,theoutstandingbalanceoftheSpecialSavingsAccountismoreorlessSix
HundredThirtyFourThousandPesos(P634,000.00). TheregularSavingsAccounthasan
outstandingbalanceofmoreorlessSixtyNineThousandEightHundredPesos(P69,800.00).

Afterbeingshownaphotograph,YuidentifiedYolandaRicaforteasthepersonwearing
maroonorredinthepicture(Exh.A6Z5).YuwasabletotalktoMrs.Ricaforteoverthe
phonearoundsix(6)times.Sheusedthecellphonenumberindicatedintherecords.[Ibid,
pp.128132]
VERGEL LEJARDE PABILLON (Pabillon) knew a person by the name of Yolanda
RicafortebecauseRicaforteopenedregularSavingsAccountNo.0193614968andSpecial
SavingsAccountNo.02193150503withEquitablePCIBankT.M.KalawBranchonFebruary
8,2000whilePabillonwasstillmanagerofthebranch.
RicafortementionedtoPabillonthatshewasconnectedwithacertaincompanyunder
the name of Phil. East Travel and located at Ramada Hotel, Mabini. She handed her
California Drivers license as identification card and signed the specimen signature cards
aboutonefootawayfromthewitness.
PabillonbroughttheIndividualAccountRecord(Exh.A9C)andthesignaturecards
signedbyMrs.RicaforteasevidenceoftheAccount. Theinitialdepositmadewereinthe
formofaPNBManagersCheck(Exh.A9A)intheamountofTenMillionSevenThousand
SevenHundredSeventySevenPesosandSeventyEightCentavos(P10,007,777.78)andOne
MillionFourHundredThousandPesos(P1,400,000.00)incoldcash. ElevenMillionPesos
(P11,000,000.00) of that amount was placed in the Special Savings Account and Four
Hundred Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Seven Pesos and Seventy Eight
Centavos(P407,777.78)wasplacedundertheRegularSavingsAccount.[TSN,June5,2002,
pp.98109]
OnApril13,2000,Mrs.Ricafortewenttothebankandinformedthewitnessthatshe
neededElevenMillionPesos(P11,000,000.00)intheformofmanagerscheck,payableto
cash,tobetakenoutfromtheexistingSpecialSavingsAccountNo.021936150503.The
managerscheckdatedApril13,2000payabletocashwaspresented(Exh.A9B).Ricaforte
hadtosignaPurchasersUndertakingbearinghernameaspurchaser.(Exh.A9F)[Ibid,pp.
113127]

Mrs.Ricaforteopenedathirdaccount,SpecialSavingsAccountsNo.02193151771,
intheamountofFiveHundredThousandPesos(P500,000.00).Adebitmemo(Exh.A9G)
showedthetransferoftheP500,000fromtheregularSavingsAccount0193641968tothe
specialsavingsaccount.
OnAugust31,2000,Mrs.RicafortewenttothebankandrequestedforanotherTwo
HundredFiftyThousandPeso(P250,000.00)managerscheckpayabletohertobededucted
from Special Savings Account No. 02193151771. A bank document which served as a
registeredcopyoftheissuanceofthemanagerscheckwaspresented.(Exh.A9H)[Ibid,pp.
128129]
PabillonidentifiedRicafortefromagroupphotograph(Exh.A6B5)[Ibid,pp.133134]
ThewitnessavailedoftheearlyretirementofferedbyEquitablePCI.Hetestifiedinthe
impeachmenttrialevenifhewasalreadysupposedtogoonearlyretirementbecausehejust
wanted to tell the truth regarding what transpired to the opening of the account of Mrs.
Ricaforte.[TSN,June10,2002,pp.5456]
EDGARDOLIMALCARAZ(Alcaraz)wasthebranchmanagerofEquitablePCIBank,
ScoutAlbanobranchforalmostthreeyears.HemetYolandaRicafortebecauseshewasone
oftheirclients.SheopenedthreeaccountswiththebankonMarch2,2000andhewasthe
onewhopersonallyattendedtoher.Theseweresavingsaccountandcurrentaccountunder
theautomatictransferfacilityandaspecialsavingsaccount.
AlcaraztestifiedondocumentstoshowthatYolandaRicaforteopenedthesethree
accounts,suchastheindividualaccountrecordwhichshowedinformationaboutRicaforte,
her special instructions and the summary of the accounts that she opened. The other
documents pertained to the specimen signature cards signed by Ricaforte for Checking
AccountNo.5732019757,SavingsAccountNo.5733151543andSpecialSavingsAccount
No.5733007210. Ricafortesubmittedherlocaldriverslicenseandherdriverslicensefor
identification. Shetoldwitnessthatshewasengagedintheprawnbusinessin. Alcaraz
contactedRicafortetwoorthreetimesusingthenumbersshewroteintheaccountrecord.

HealsohadacallingcardfromRicaforte(Exh.A10F).[TSN,June10,2002,pp.7984]
TheinitialdepositincashforthesavingsaccountopenedbyRicafortewasOneMillion
Nine Hundred Ninety Five Thousand (P1,995,000.00). The initial deposit for Checking
Account5732019757wasFiveThousandPesos(P5,000.00).TheinitialdepositforSpecial
Savings Account No. 573307210 was Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000). Copies of the
depositslips(Exhs.A10G,A10H,A10I)[Ibid.pp.9799]
OnApril12,2000,Ricafortepreterminatedthespecialsavingsaccount.Thisisshown
byitspassbook(Exh.A10J).Acreditmemo(Exh.A10L)showedthatRicaforterequested
thattheproceedsofthespecialsavingsaccountbecreditedundertheSavingsAccountNo.
5733151543.
Onthesameday,Mrs.RicaforteappliedforamanagerscheckintheamountofThree
MillionPesos(P3,000,000.00)payabletobearer. Theapplicationformformanagerscheck
(Exh.A10C),theproofsheetcopyofthemanagerscheck(Exh.A10K)andthecopyofthe
checkwerepresented(Exh.A10M).[Ibid,pp.102108]
AsofthetimeofAlcaraztestimony,theregularsavingsaccountstillexistedwithan
outstandingbalanceofOneHundredThreeThousandPesos(P103,000.00). Thechecking
accountwasstillactivewithanoutstandingbalanceofFiveThousandPesos(P5,000.00).
Withrespecttothecheckingaccount,RicaforteissuedacheckintheamountofP500,000.00
onMarch12,2000.Sincetheaccountsareautomatictransferaccounts,thefundsfromthe
savingsaccountwereautomaticallytransferredtothecheckingaccount.[Ibid,pp.100101]
EMMAGONZALES (Gonzales)hadbeentheBranchManagerofEquitableSavings
Bank,IsidoraHillsBranchformorethanthreeyearsuptotimeshetestifiedinthisCourt.
GonzalesknewapersonbythenameofYolandaRicafortewhowasoneoftheclientsofthe
bank.
ShefirstmetRicaforteonMarch15,2000whensheopenedaspecialsavingsaccount
withthebranch. Shewalkedintothebank,approachedthewitnessandtoldherthatshe

wantedtoopenanaccountandthatshewasavaluedclientofotherbranchesofEquitable
SavingsBank.Thespecimensignaturecard(Exh.A11)anddepositslip(Exh.A11A)were
shown to prove the opening of the special savings account. The initial deposit was Five
HundredThousandPesos(P500,000.00)cash,intenbundlesoffivehundred(500)peso
bills.Ricafortesaidshewasabusinesswomanbutdidnotspecifythekindofbusinessshe
was engaged in. With respect to the initial deposit of Ricaforte, the account is still
outstanding.TheoriginalcopyoftheEquitableSpecialSavingsPassbookNo.123727(Exh.
A11I) shows the outstanding balance to be Five Hundred Ninety Three Thousand Four
HundredNinetySixPesosandThirtyTwoCentavos(P593,496.32)asofJune10,2002.The
differenceintheamountwastheinterestearnedfromthetimeitwasopened.Therewasno
movementofthefundexceptfortheinterest.[TSN,June10,2002,pp.162169,June17,
2002,p.10]
RicafortealsoopenedSpecialSavingsAccountNo.0770904986(Exh.A11Hand
Exh.A11D)amountingtoSevenMillionPesos(P7,000,000.00).Theinitialdepositwasan
MBTC(MetropolitanBankandTrustCo.)AyalaBranchCheckNo.1070. Itwaspayablein
cashandthedrawerwasGovernorLuisChavitSingson. Itwasclearedafterthreedays.
TheaccountwaspreterminatedonApril14,2000.Thewithdrawalslip(Exh.A11E)showed
thattheamountwithdrawnwasSevenMillionNineteenThousandSevenHundredThirtySix
PesosandElevenCentavos(P7,019,736.11).Ricafortereceivedthepaymentintheformofa
Cashiers check (Exh. A11F) payable to cash in the amount of Seven Million Pesos
(P7,000,000.00)andcashintheamountofNineteenThousandSevenHundredThirtySix
PesosandElevenCentavos(P19,736.11).ThedorsalportionoftheCashierscheckshowed
that it was deposited in Equitable Banking Corporation, Makati Pacific Star. On the other
hand, the amount of Nineteen Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Six Pesos and Eleven
Centavos (P19,736.11) cash was used to open regular Savings Account No. 0770009375
(Exh.A11I).Thelatestbankstatement(Exh.A11J)showedthattheaccountstillexistedbut
thebalancewasnolongerNineteenThousandSevenHundredThirtySixPesosandEleven
Centavos(P19,736.11).[TSN,June10,2002,pp.172189]
WitnesswasabletoverifythephonenumbergivenbyMrs.Ricafortebecausewhen

shecalledthenumber,Mrs.Ricaforteansweredthephone.[TSN,June17,2002,pp.1113]
ANTONIO MARTIN SAGRITALO FORTUNO (Fortuno) was the Bank Operations
Officer of Equitable PCI Bank, Pacific Star Branch since January 28, 2002. The witness
averred that he handled the opening of accounts; supervised the investment section; the
foreigntelegraphictransferaswellasthedomestictelegraphictransferandthesafekeeping
oftherecordsofdeposits;andothertransactionswhichtranspiredintheirbranch.
Fortuno brought with him documents relating to the deposit of six (6)
cashiers/managers checks in the total amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00)tothePacificStarBranchandthetransferofthesefundsfromcashiers
checks to the account of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation in the 100 Strata Branch of
EquitablePCIBank.[TSNdatedSeptember27,2002,p.127]

He identified an Acknowledgement Letter [Exh. I9, with sub markings; Exh. 16a
(Serapio)]datedApril25,2000addressedtoAtty.EdwardSerapiofromBeatrizL.Bagsit,who
wasthenDivisionHeadoftheMakatiArea.Theletteracknowledgedreceiptofsix(6)checks
fordepositonastaggeredbasisandonvariousdifferentdatestotheaccountofErapMuslim
YouthFoundationmaintainedattheOrtigasStrataBranch.Thecheckswereasfollows:
(1) PCIBankManagersCheckNO.573000035822datedApril
12,2000forP3Million(Exh.A10m);
(2) PCIBankManagersCheckNo.019L000061146datedApril
13,2000forP11Million(Exh.A9b);
(3)EquitableBankCashiersCheckNo.022600949datedApril
13,2000forP11Million(Exh.A8t);
(4) Equitable Bank Cashiers Check No. 0238000941 dated
April13,2000forP77Million(Exh.A7ee);
(5) EquitableBankCashiersCheckNo.107013064datedApril
13,2000forP91Million;(Exh.A6r5)

(6)EquitableBankCashiersCheckNo.672000042datedApril
14,2000forP7Million;(Exh.A11g)
FortunoalsoidentifiedthepassbookforBearerAccountNo.0279042255(Exh.J 9,
withsubmarkings)whichwasopenedonApril25,2000.Abeareraccountisanaccount
wherein there is no name mentioned in the account. According to Fortuno, the six (6)
managerscheckswerethemanagerschecksthatweredepositedonApril25,2000inthe
beareraccountforthetotalamountofTwoHundredMillion(P200,000,000.00).
According the witness, the instruction in the letter was to deposit the funds on a
staggeredbasisandtheycandosoiftheyfirstdepositallthecheckssimultaneouslyforthe
threedayclearing.
Onthebasisofdebitmemos,managerscheckapplications,detailedreporttransaction
and deposit slips or receipts, the Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000.00) was
gradually withdrawn from the bearer account and transferred to the Erap Muslim Youth
FoundationfromApril27,2000toMay11,2000.
The six (6) checks were deposited in Bearer Account No. 0279042255 of which
fourteen(14)withdrawalsinManagersChecks(Exh.K9toX9,withsubmarkings)weremade
invariousamountsandthesewithdrawalswerefurtherdividedintotwentyeight(28)deposits
intotheErapMuslimYouthFoundation. Eachwithdrawalwasdividedintotwodeposits,as
shownbytheAccountInformationSlips,DepositReceiptsandDetailedReportforTransfers
andDebit/CreditMemos(DRTM)(SeeExhs.K9 toX9,withsubmarkings)broughtbythe
witness.[Ibid,pp.3296]
The bearer account was closed on November 14, 2000 as evidenced by the Fund
Transfer Memo (Exh. Z9), and contained the interest for Ninety Seven Thousand Three
HundredNinetyTwoPesos(P97,392)whichwastransferredtotheaccountoftheFoundation.
[Ibid,pp.9798]
AIDA TUAZON BASALISO (Basaliso) was the operations officer of Equitable

PCIBank,OrtigasStrata100BranchsinceJuly1997.Shebroughtwithherbankdocuments
ontheaccountsoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundationmaintainedattheEquitablePCIBank,
StrataOrtigasBranchincludingtheinterbranchdepositsfromtheEquitablePCIBank,Pacific
StarBranchforthetotalamountofP200milliontotheAccountNo.0192858356inthename
ofErapMuslimYouthFoundation.
ThesignaturecardforSavingsAccountNo.0192857023(Exh.A 10)oftheTreasurer
intrusthasthesignatureofMr.GeorgeGo,theformerChairmanoftheBoardofthebank.
ThelistofContribution(Exh.B10)alsohadthesignatureofthetreasurer,Mr.GeorgeGo.The
two documents were given to Basaliso by Catherine Mercado, someone who usually
transactedbusinessatthebranch.
WitnessalsoidentifiedtheSignatureCardsoftheSavingsandCheckingAccountsof
the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation. On the signature cards (Exh. C10) pertaining to the
SavingsAccountNo.0192858356,thesignaturesofMr.RaulDeGuzman,Mr.GeorgeGo,
Mr.EdwardSerapioandMr.DaniloReyes,Ms.MilaReformaappear.Twosignaturecards
wereneededforthesameaccountbecausethecorporationconsistedoffive(5)signatories.
Thesignaturecards(Exh.D10andExh.D101)forcurrentAccountNo.0142628902
showedthesignaturesofthesamefivepersons.
She identified the Secretarys Certificate (Exh. E10) showing that the Corporate
SecretarywasEdwardS.Serapio,theCertificateofIncorporationwithSECRegistrationNo.
2000002526(Exh.F10)andtheArticlesofIncorporation(Exh.G10)andthebylaws(Exh.
H10).
Witness also testified on a debit memo (Exh. I10) dated April 20,2000 in Savings
AccountNo.0192857023amountingtoOneHundredThousandTwoHundredOnePesos
andTenCentavos(P100,201.10)andcredited(Exh.I102)to0142628902theamountofTen
ThousandPesos(P10,000.00)fortheopeningofthecheckingaccountoftheErapMuslim
Youth Foundation and a Credit Advice (Exh. I101) to Savings Account No. 0192858356

amountingtoNinetyThousandTwoHundredOnePesosandTenCentavos(P90,201.10)to
openthesavingsaccountoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation.
Basalisoalsotestifiedonnobookcashdepositsmadetothesavingsaccountofthe
ErapMuslimYouthFoundation.Nobookmeantthatthedepositwasmadebythedepositor
withoutbringinghissavingspassbook.DRTM(DetailedReportofTransferDebitandCredit
memos)(Exhs.J10toR10)werepresentedtoshowthetransactions.Thefollowingdeposits
weremade:TenThousandPesos(P10,000.00)totaldepositonApril27,2000,SixMillion
SevenHundredTwentyFiveThousandPesos(P6,725,000.00)andEightMillionTwoHundred
SeventyFiveThousandPesos(P8,275,000.00)onApril28,2000,FiveMillionOneHundred
EightThousandPesos(P5,108,000.00)andNineMillionEightHundredNinetyTwoThousand
Pesos(P9,892,000.00)totalingFifteenMillionPesos(P15,000,000.00)onMay2,2000,Three
MillionNinetyOneThousandFourHundredFiftyPesos(P3,091,450.00)andSixMillionNine
HundredEightThousandFiveHundredFiftyPesos(P6,908,550.00)totalingTenMillionPesos
(P10,000,000.00)onMay3,2000,SixMillionOneHundredEighteenThousandTwoHundred
TwentyFivePesos(P6,118,225.00)andEightMillionEightHundredEightyOneThousand
Seven Hundred Seventy Five Pesos (P8,881,775.00) totaling Fifteen Million Pesos
(P15,000,000.00) on May 4, 2000, Five Million Nine Hundred Thirty Six Thousand Pesos
(P5,936,000.00)andNineMillionSixtyFourThousandPesos(P9,064,000.00)totalingFifteen
MillionPesos(P15,000,000.00)onMay8,2000,SevenMillionPesos(P7,000,000.00)and
EightMillionPesos(P8,000,000.00)totalingFifteenMillionPesosonMay9,2000,Seven
MillionTwoHundredFiftyThousandPesos(P7,250,000.00),SevenMillionThreeHundred
Ninety NineThousandEightHundred Pesos(P7,399,800.00),NineMillion ThreeHundred
Seventy Five Thousand Pesos (P9,375,000.00), Nine Million Four Hundred Forty Nine
ThousandFourHundredPesos(P9,449,400.00),NineMillionSixHundredThousandPesos
(P9,600,000.00) and Eleven Million Nine Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Eight Hundred
Pesos(P11,925,800.00)totalingtoFiftyFiveMillion(P55,000,000.00)onMay10,2000,Six
HundredThirtyFourThousandPesos(P634,000.00),TwoMillionFiveHundredThousand
Pesos(P2,500,000.00),ThreeMillionEightHundredThousandPesos(P3,800,000.00),Five
MillionTwoHundredThousandPesos(P5,200,000.00),NineMillionOneHundredThirtyNine
ThousandTwoHundredEightyPesos(P9,139,280.00),NineMillionFiveHundredThousand

Pesos(P9,500,000.00),NineMillionEightHundredThirtySixThousandFiveHundredPesos
(P9,836,500.00) and Nine Million Eight Hundred Eighty Nine Thousand Seven Hundred
TwentyPesos(P9,889,720.00)totalingaboutFiftyMillionPesos(P50,000,000.00)onMay11,
2000. There was also a credit memo made on November 14, 2000 amounting to Ninety
SevenThousandThreeHundredNinetyTwoPesosandFiftyCentavos(P97,392.50)(Exh.
S10). Bank statements pertaining to the periods April 128, 2000 up to December 2000,
exceptstatementsforJuly,AugustandOctoberwerepresented.
At the time of Basalisos testimony, the current account of the Erap Muslim Youth
FoundationwithabalanceofEightThousandSixHundredPesos(P8,600.00)(Exh.T10)was
dormant.TheSavingsAccountNo.0192858356wasinactivewithabalanceofTwoHundred
SevenMillionOneThousandEightHundredEightyThreePesosandFiftyThreeCentavos
(P207,001,883.53)(Exh.U10).
WitnessalsotestifiedthatanytwopersonsoutofthefivesignatoriesoftheFoundationwere
authorizedtotransactregardingtheaccounts.Basedonrecord,theamountofTwoHundredMillion
Pesos(P200,000,000.00)wasdepositedintotheaccountwithoutasinglecentavobeinglost.The
passbook[SeeExh.U10,36(Serapio)]hadabalanceofTwoHundredSevenMillionOneThousand
EightHundredEightyThreePesosandFiftyThreeCentavos(P207,001,888.53)becauseitalready
earnedinterest.TherewerenowithdrawalsfromtheSavingsandCurrentAccountfromthetimethey
wereopened.[TSNdatedOctober2,2002andOctober7,2002]
ATTY.CECILIOALEJANDROVILLANUEVA (Villanueva)istheassistantCorporate
SecretaryofPAGCOR.WitnessbroughtwithhimtheMinutesNo.36ofPAGCORsRegular
BoardMeetingdatedSeptember5,2000,underAgendaItemNo.002646oftheBestWorld
Gaming and Entertainment Corporation Cancellation of Quick Pick bingo and conduct of
PAGCORs TwoBallsBingo Games(Exh.S15). Witnessbroughtwith himpp.2830with
referred to Item Agenda No. 002646. Villanuevas testimony was offered corroborate the
testimonyofGov.SingsonthattheconsultancyfirmofAtongAngwillreceive6%ofthegross
incomefromBingoTwoBalls.
Oncrossexamination,witnesstestifiedthathehasnopersonalknowledgewhetherthe
Bingo 2 Balls was actually implemented. [TSN dated December 2, 2002 and TSN dated

December4,2002]
MARIANITOMANIGBASDIMAANDAL(Dimaandal)wastheAssistantDirectorofthe
MalacaangRecordsDepartmentsince1993.DimaandalidentifiedtheappointmentpapersofAtty.
SerapioasPresidentialAssistantforPoliticalaffairs,OfficeofthePresidentialAdviserforPolitical
Affairs(Exh.V10)andMr.OrestesRicaforteasUndersecretary,DepartmentofTourism(Exh.W10)
andtheassumptionintoofficebyMs.YolandaRicafortetothePCGGrepresentingtheSanMiguel
CampoCreoGroup(Exh.X10).
WitnessalsobroughtaCertification(Exh.Y10)issuedbytheOfficeofthePresident
thatthephonenumbers7368856and7368858wereinfactthetelephonesassignedtoand
connectedtothepresidentialresidenceduringtheincumbencyofFPres.Estrada.
On December 16, 2002, Dimaandal was recalled to the witness stand. He further
presentedandidentifiedtheAppointmentofEdwardS.SerapioasMemberAdInterimofthe
JudicialandBarCouncilrepresentingthePrivateSectordatedJuly1,2000(Exh.I 17)issued
by FPres. Estrada; a Memorandum to All Heads of Office and Units signed by Former
ExecutiveSecretaryRonaldoZamora(Exh.J17);andaMemorandumtoAllHeadsofOffice
andUnitsfromtheOfficeofthePresidentdatedApril29,1999(Exh.K17withsubmarkings)
withthesubjecttitleSpecialInstructionstothePresidentialAssistantforPoliticalAffairsand
withthecontentsreadasfollows:BeinformedthatIhavegivenspecialinstructionstoAtty.
EdwardS.Serapio,PresidentialAssistantIforPoliticalAffairs,toundertake,inadditiontohis
regulardutiesandresponsibilities,thefollowingfunctions:1)providepromptobjectiveand
independentadviceonanylegalquestion,matter,orissuewhichmaybeofspecialconcern
tothePresident;2)updatethePresidentonrecentdevelopmentsinlaworjurisprudenceon
such subjects, areas, or issues which the President may so specify; 3) study and review
documents,deeds,contracts,memorandaorotherpaperswhichthePresidentmayoptto
refer to him for study and review; 4) coordinate with various units of the Office of the
President,Departments,andotheragenciesandinstrumentalitiesofthegovernmentonany
legal matter which the President may refer to him; and 5) perform other duties and
responsibilitiesasmaybedirectedbythePresident.Atty.Serapiowillbedirectlyreportingto
thePresidentonanyoftheforegoingmatters.Foryourinformationandguidance.

OnMarch31,2003,witnessDimaandalwasagainrecalledtothewitnessstand.He
presented and identified copies of Proclamation No. 145 dated July 17, 1999 (Exh. X19),
ProclamationNo.194datedOctober11,1999(Exh.Y19),ProclamationNo.202datedOctober
21,1999(Exh.Z19),ProclamationNo.205datedOctober25,1999(Exh.A20),Proclamation
No.225datedJanuary30,2000(Exh.B20),ProclamationNo.234datedJanuary28,2000
(Exh.C20),ProclamationNo.273datedApril23,2000(Exh.D20),ProclamationNo.355(Exh.
E20), Administrative Order Nos. 28, 29, 32, 50, 59, 69, 73, 87, 89 (Exhs. F 20 N20),
MemorandumOrderNos.82,88,89(Exhs.O20Q20)andmemorandumCircularNo.45(R20)
. These documents were signed by FPres. Estrada and his signatures were marked
accordingly.[TSNdatedOctober7,2002;December16,2002;andMarch31,2003]
ROSALSERRANO (Serrano)wastheVicePresidentofSecurityBankCorporation
andtheheadofitsCentralizedOperationandControlDivision.[TSNdatedNovember25,
2002] He was responsible for the day to day operations of one hundred nineteen (119)
branchesoftheSecurityBankCorporation;supervisedtherecordkeepingandaccountingof
the branch transactions; ensured the compliance of their branches to bank policies and
procedures; supervised the safekeeping of all documents of all branch transactions; and
issuedcertifiedtruecopiesofdocumentsinrelationtotheoriginaldocumentskeptbythe
bank.
Serrano was called by the prosecution to corroborate the testimony of prosecution
witnessGov.Singsonthatheissuedacheckpayabletocashfromfundsofjuetengprotection
moneytoaccusedFPres.Estradaandthatthesaidaccused,inturn,deliveredthecheckto
Mr.PaulBogradwhosubsequentlydepositedthechecktohisaccountattheSecurityBank
Corporation;andtoidentifyandauthenticatethedocumentshewassubpoenaedtobring.
SerranoidentifiedamicrofilmcopyofMetroBankCheckNo.0000917fortheamountofFive
MillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)thatwasdepositedthroughSecurityBankCorporationonFebruary2,
1999.ThemakerofthischeckwasGov.SingsonandwhichcheckwasdepositedtoAccountNo.0610
146367whoseaccountholderwasPaulGaryBogradasevidencedbyadepositslipofSecurityBank

Corporation(Exhs.N14;N141;N142;N143;O14;O141;O142;andO143).
AlsopresentedwasastatementofaccountshowingthatanamountofFiveMillionPesos
(P5,000,000)wascreditedonFebruary2,1999totheaccountofPaulGaryBograd(Exhs.P14andP14
1).SerranoalsoidentifiedthespecimensignaturecardofPaulGaryBogradshowingthatthelatter
wasadepositorintheirbankandthathe[Bograd]heldtheAccountNo.0610146367ofSecurity
BankCorporation(Exhs,Q14;Q141;andQ142).

PATRICKDEECHENG(Cheng),anemployeeofCITIBANKfor12years,becamethe
BranchBankingHeadofCITIBANKonNovember2001.[TSNdatedOctober7,2002andTSNdated
October9,2002]Asbankinghead,hehadoverallsupervisionandresponsibilityforallthebranch
bankingoperationsofCITIBANKinallofitssix(6)branches.
Chengpresentedandidentifiedthefollowing:

(1)depositslip(Exh.Z10,withsubmarkings)datedOctober4,1999for
the account of Luisa P. Ejercito (Mrs. Ejercito) under Account No. 166820
coveringthedepositofMetrobankCheckNo.00138(SeeExh.M8 asoriginal
andExh.A11asmicrofilmcopy)datedSeptember29,1999byGov.Singsonin
the amount of Eight Million Pesos (P8,000,000) and another check in the
amountofFourHundredThousandPesos(P400,000);
(2)AccountOpeningForm(Exh.B11)forAccountNo.166820ofMrs.
Ejercito;
(3)HoldallMailAgreement(Exh.C11,withsubmarkings)datedMarch9,
2000 of Mrs. Ejercito which designated Ms. Lucena Baby Ortaliza to be her
authorizedrepresentative;
(4)depositslip(Exh.D11,withsubmarkings)ofWilliamT.Gatchalian
datedAugust20,1999withAccountNo.8131201377forFortySixMillionThree
HundredFiftyThousandPesos(P46,350.000.00)whichcoveredthedepositof
MetrobankCheckNo.000132datedAugust21,1999ofGov.Singsoninthe
amountofP46,350,000.00;

(5)certifiedcopyofthemicrofilmoftheMetrobankAyalaCenterBranch
CheckNO.000132(SeeExh.E11,withsubmarkings)datedAugust21,1999
drawn by Gov. Singson, payable to William Gatchalian in the amount of
P46,350,000;
(6)RelationshipOpeningFormPersonal(Exh.F 11,withsubmarkings)
ofMr.WilliamT.Gatchalian;and
(7) Signature Card (Exh. G11, with sub markings) of Mr. William T.
GatchalianforaPesoCheckingAccountwithAccountNo.8131201377opened
onMarch13,1996.
MELCHORSUAREZ()isheadofRemedialManagement,GlobeTelecommunication
inchargeofterminatedaccounts.[TSNdatedOctober9,2002]
Hebroughtwithhimacertification(Exh.H11)October4,2002issuedbyAtty.Melchor
S.Latina,andsubscribedbeforeAtty.GilbertEscolothatGlobeCellularPhoneNo.0917
5260217wasregisteredinthenameofJinggoyEstrada.Thecertificationwassupportedwith
theServiceAgreementforCellularMobilePhoneService(SeeExh.H111,withsubmarkings)
executed by the applicant Jinggoy Estrada and the supporting documents required in
connectionwiththesubscriptionofcellphone;specifically,aphotocopyofJinggoyEstradas
driverslicense(Exh.H112)andstatementofhisPhilippineNationalBankVisa(Exh.H113)
asproofofbilling. ThecellularphoneissuedtoJinggoyEstradahasalreadybeencutoff
sinceDecember15,2000basedonGlobeTelecomrecords(Exh.H114).
ATTY.OSWALDOCHONG(Atty.Santos)wasapartneroftheDeBorjaSantosLawFirmduring
thetimeoftheimpeachmentproceedingsagainsttheaccusedFormerPresidentJosephEjercitoEstrada.
[TSNdatedJanuary6,2003andTSNdatedJanuary8,2003]
InaletterdatedDecember22,2000,theDeBorjaSantosLawFirmwasrequestedbytheProsecution
PaneloftheHouseofRepresentativestoconductaninvestigationregardingtheErapMuslimYouth
Foundation,Inc.(ExhibitA12a)
Atty.Santostestifiedthatthecommissionedlawfirmofwhichhewasamemberstarted
conductingresearchandinvestigationontheallegedfoundationonDecember28,2000.They
gathered available documents pertaining to the Muslim Youth Foundation, Inc. from the

RecordsDivisionoftheSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC). OnJanuary5,2001,
witnessthenwenttothecorporateaddressofthesubjectfoundationindicatedintheSEC
documents(Exh.V17)thattheinvestigatingteamgatheredwhichwasat15thFloor,Strata100
Building,,Cityof.Hefoundoutfromhisinquiriesthatthesaidofficeaddresswasoccupied
bythelawfirmofDeBorjaMedialdeaBelloGuevarraandJerodias.Atty.Santosclarifiedthat
hispartnernamedDeBorjawasnotthesamepersonindicatedintheaforementionedlaw
firmandthatthewitnesshadnoideaiftheywererelated.Thereafter,thewitnesscontacted
the phone number of the subject foundation indicated in the SEC documents that the
investigatingteamhadbutgottheresponsethatthephonenumberbelongedtotheaforesaid
lawfirmandnottothesubjectfoundation.

The witness then presented and identified a copy of the Report (Exh. A12) of the
investigatingteamontheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.Hesaidthattheoriginalcopy
wassubmittedtotheProsecutionPaneloftheHouseofRepresentativesandheattestedas
tothetruthofthecontentsofthereport.Atty.Santosmentionedthatthesaidreportstated
that the law firm occupying the supposed corporate office of the Erap Muslim Youth
Foundation,Inc.usedtobethelawfirmoftheActingCorporateSecretaryAtty.EdwardS.
Serapio.
Atty.SantosalsoidentifiedtheSECdocumentsthattheinvestigatingteamhadgatheredwhich
werepreviouslyproducedandidentifiedbyprosecutionwitnessAtty.DavidJonathanVillegasYap.
TheseSECdocumentswereasfollows:aCertificateofCorporateFiling/InformationdatedDecember
28,2000pertainingtotheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.;aCertificateofIncorporationofthe
ErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.datedFebruary17,2000withSECReg.No.A20002526;a
CoveringSheetoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.;theArticlesofIncorporationoftheErap
MuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.;aCertificateofFilingoftheAmendedByLawsoftheErapMuslim
YouthFoundation,Inc.datedApril3,2000;anotherCoveringSheetoftheErapMuslimYouth
Foundation,Inc.;andtheAmendedByLawsoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.(Exhs.T17,
U17V17,W17withsubmarkings,X17,Y17andZ17withsubmarkings)
ThewitnesstestifiedoncrossexaminationthattheErapMuslimFoundation,Inc.wasdulyorganized
andobtainedajuridicalpersonalityinaccordancetolaw.TheAmendedByLawsofthesubject
corporation,whichwasapprovedbytheSEC,allegedlyprovidedthatthemembersoftheBoardof
Trusteeswerenotentitledtoreceiveallowancesorhonorariaintheperformanceoftheirduties.Atty.

Santoswasnot,however,familiartotheMinutesoftheOrganizationalMeetingoftheBoardof
TrusteesheldonMarch22,2000(Exh.4Serapio);theCommunityTaxCertificate(Exh.5Serapio)of
thefoundation;andtheMayorsPermit(Exh.6Serapio)aswellastheBusinessPermit(Exh.9
Serapio)ofthefoundation.HequalifiedthatheverifiedfromtheOfficeoftheBureauofPermitof
PasigCitythatthefoundationhadregistereditsBusinessLicensethoughhedidnotseetheMayors
Permitofthefoundationandmentionedthesameinthereport.Atty.Santoslikewiseadmittedthathe
didnotcomeacrossdocumentsrelatingtotheoperationsofthefoundationbuttestifiedconsistentlyon
matterspertainedthereport.(Exhs.7Serapio,8Serapio,10Serapioto15Serapio,and21Serapioto
27Serapio,inclusiveofsubmarkings)
GUERRERO (Guerrero)istheBranchManagerofPSBankMurphyBranch,.
Shebroughtwithheradepositslip(Exh.A13)processedonDecember23,1999.Thedeposit
involved a Metrobank Ayala Center Check No. 001547 (Exh. N8) issued by Luis Chavit
Singson in the amount of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P1,200,000). The
checkwasdepositedtotheaccountofLaarniEnriquezwithAccountNo.01804090003.The
accountstatementforthemonthofDecember1999(Exh.C13,withsubmarkings)ofLaarni
EnriquezshowedthattheamountofOneMillionTwoHundredThousandPesos(P1,200,000)
wascreditedtoheraccountonDecember24,1999.
Thesignaturecard(Exh.B13)showedthattheaccountwasopenedonJuly18,1996.
The card contained Enriquezs address as 95 8th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City and her
descriptionasFilipino,55,34yearsold,brown,mediumbuiltandtinymoleontheright
cheek.
GuerrerofurthertestifiedthatthebiggestsinglecheckdepositofMs.Enriquezinthe
particularsavingsaccountwasmadeonAugust4,1998forP40Million. Thiswasshown
throughabankstatementofaccount(Exh.D13)broughtbythewitness.Thesubjectaccount
wasalreadyclosedasshownbytheDecember27,2000bankstatement.Theaddressgiven
inthestatementhadchangedto,WacwacSubdivision,Mandaluyong.(TSNdatedOctober
30,2002,pp.628)
DR.ROGELIOV.QUEVEDO(Dr.Quevedo)was,atthetimeofhistestimony,theHead
oftheLegalandCarrierBusinessofSmartCommunications,Incorporated.Theprosecution
offeredhistestimonytocorroboratetheItchonstestimonyregardingtheSmartcellularphone

numbersusedbyAtty.SerapioandRicaforte.
Dr.QuevedoidentifiedaCertificationsignedbyhimthatSmartCellularPhoneNos.
09189012071and09189021847wereregisteredinthenamesofAtty.EdwardSerapioand
FontainBleu,Inc.,respectively.(Exh.G12)[TSNdatedOctober28,2002,p.74]
With respect to Smart Cellular Phone No. 09189012071, witness identified the
applicationformaccomplishedbyanEdwardS.SerapiooftheDeBorjaMedialdeaBello
GuevarraSerapioLawOffice(Exh.H12),Certificationregardingmobilephonenumber,phone
model,INEIandICCID(Exh.I12),OfficialReceiptNo.82116771(Exh.J12),SalesInvoiceNo.
A0161625 (Exh. K12), Account Summary dated March 6, 1999 (Exh. L12), photocopy of
StatementforAtty.SerapiosPhilippineNationalBankVisaCard(Exh.M12),photocopyof
Atty. Serapios Citibank card (Exh. N12), Customer Inquiry Menu (Exh. O12), Customer
Address Inquiry (Exh. P12), On Line Aging Information (Exh. Q12), Service Disconnection
documentshowingterminationoftheaccountuponrequestofthecustomeronDecember20,
2000(Exh.R12)andCertificationAccountMemoInquiry(Exh.S12).[Ibid.,pp.7590]
WithrespecttoSmartCellularPhoneNo.09189021847,Dr.Quevedopresentedand
identifiedtheapplicationformofFontainBleau,Inc.fortwo(2)cellularphonesforYolanda
RicaforteandMariaCarmencitaItchonshowingthatthenumber09189021847wasissuedto
Itchonwhilethenumber09189021849wasissuedtoRicaforte(Exh.T12),CustomerInquiry
Menu(Exh.U12),CustomerAddressInquiry(Exh.V12),AccountMaintenanceInquiry(Exh.
W12),OnLineAgingInformation(Exh.X12)andaudiorecordingforthevoicemailof0918
9021847 by a certain Yolly (portion of TSN marked as Exh. Y12). [Ibid., pp. 91115] Dr.
Quevedofurthertestifiedthattheaccountfor09189021847hadalreadybeendisconnected.
II.EVIDENCEFORTHEDEFENSE
Thefollowingarethewitnessesforthedefenseunderparagraph(a):

FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA (FPres. Estrada) took the


witnessstandonMarch22,2006,March29,2006,April5,2006,April19,2006,April26,
2006,May24,2006,May31,2006,June7,2006,June14,2006,June21,2006andJune28,
2006.Attheoutset,FPres.EstradadeniedthatGov.Singsonwashisclosefriendbecausehe
hadonlyoneclosefriend,thelateactorFernandoPoe,Jr.Gov.Singsonwasjustanordinary
friendandapoliticalallytohim.HeseldomsawGov.SingsonwhenhewasaMayorofSan
Juan.Althoughheadmittedthattheysometimeswentout,astheyhadcommonfriends.

FPres. Estrada stated that all allegations in specification (a) of the Amended
Informationwerelies,ashedidnotreceiveasinglecentavofromanyformofillegalgamling,
evenwhenhewasstillamayorandheneverconspiredwithjuetenglords.AsmayorofSan
Juan,hispolicywstomakejuetengfreesohedirectedtheChiefofPoliceofSanJuantogo
alloutagainstallformsofgambling.Heevenpersonallyraidedallgamlingdensandhadall
indulginginjuetengandotherformsofgamlingarrestedandjailed.However,theirwivesand
children came to him and explained that their husbands could not find other jobs. He
promised to put up a livelihood program for them. (TSN, April 5, 2006, morning session,
pp.2026)

FPres. Estrada also cited national artist Nick Joaquins book Joseph Estrada and
otherSketches(Exh.457),particularlythearticleinthesaidbookErapInaNewRole(Exh.
457a),whichnarratedanincidentwhenhepadlockedagamblingdenwhenhewasstill
mayor.(Exhs.457a1;and457a2)[TSN,April5,2006,pp.3536]
FPres.Estradaassertedthathispolicyagainstgamblinghadnotchanged,evenwhen
hewasasenator,VicePresidentandPresident.However,herealizedwhenhewasamayor
thatjuetengwhichwasagamblingforthepoorwasillegalanditscollectorswereharassed
whilethecasinofortherichwaslegal.Hedeliveredhisfirstprivilegespeechatthesenateon
November25,1987(Exh.458)whereheadvocatedthelegalizationofjuetenginorderthat

the government through PAGCOR could earn Twelve Million Pesos (P 12, 000,000.00)
everydayorThreeHundredSixtyMillionPesos(P360,000,000.00)amonthwhichcouldbe
usedtoprovideessentialservicesforthepoorinsteadoftheenrichmentofthepoliceand
illegaloperators.AlthoughwhenhewasVicePresidentandappointedbyPresidentFidelV.
RamosasChairmanofthePresidentialAntiCrimeCommission,juetengwasnotpartofhis
mandatebuthewastogoagainstkidnapping,carnappingandillegaldrugs.AsPresident,he
appointed Justice Cecilia MunozPalma as Chairperson of the Philippine Charity
SweepstakesOffice(PCSO)andaskedhertostudyhowtolegalizejueteng.Sheretiredonly
afterlessthantwo(2)monthstotakecareofhersickhusband.Lateritwasassignedtoher
successorRosarioLopez,whobeggedoffasshewasnewonthejob.ChairpersonAlice
ReyesofPAGCORtookoverandfinishedthestudy.
ChairpersonReyesreportedtoformerFPres.Estradathattheanswertojuetengwas
Bingo2Ballsandthatifjuetengwastobelegalizedthegovernmentcouldearnnolessthan
FiveBillonPesos(P5,000,000,000.00).ThestudyofjuetengshowedthatfromRegionsItoV
only the collectors, cabos and runners numbering one hundred fifty thousand (150,000)
benefit from jueteng whereas if jueteng is legalized, the jueteng cobradors will became
membersoftheSSSorGSIS,theywouldhavedecentjobs,ceasedtobeharassedand
victimsofextortion.FirstLadyLoiEjercitowoudhavefundstoprovidedialysismachinesfor
thepoor.Thelegalizationofjuetengwillminimizeifnottotallyeradicatecorruptionamong
policeofficialsandlocalgovernmentofficials(Ibid,pp.4348)AccordingtoAliceReyes,the
Presidentialsocialfundscouldbeaugmentedifjuetengwastobelegalized.However,FPres.
Estrada told Reyes that instead the Mayors and governors social fund should be created
becausetheselocalofficialsarebesiegedwithrequestsformedicines,funerals,bills,billsfor
tuitionfeesetc.[Ibid,pp.4750]
FPres.EstradainstructedChairpersonReyestoimplementrightawaytheBingo2
Balls.TherewasadryruninBulacananditwasverysuccessful.ItearnedTwentyFour
Million Pesos (P24, 000,000.00) in less than three (3) weeks in a few towns in Bulacan.
Unfortunately,thejuetenglordswhowereagainstitcausedtroubleanditwasstopped.There
wereallegationsthatFPres.Estradawasreceivingjuetengmoney.[Ibid,pp.5354]

FPres.EstradadeniedthatinAugust1998hehadameetingwithAtongAngatthe
kitchenofhisresidenceat,Greenhills,whichwasallegedlywitnessedbyGov.Singsonwho
arrived later, followed by Bong Pineda. From the start, FPres. Estrada had told Ang to
distance himself from the former President, Ang never stepped into his house nor in
MalacaangexceptduringtheweddingofhisdaughterwherehedidnotevenseeAng.Bong
Pineda too had never stepped into his house. Gov. Singson only fabricated the alleged
meeting.HistestimonyintheimpeachmentthathesawBongPinedawhenhearrivedat
EstradashouseandthetestimonyinthistrialthatPinedaarrivedlaterwereconflicting.[Ibid,
pp.5562]FPres.EstradaalsobeliedthetestimonyofSingsonthathetoldBongPinedathat
he should notbe the one to bring the jueteng money because it would be veryobvious.
FPres. Estrada denied that he entered into any transaction regarding any illegal form of
gambling specially jueteng. [Ibid, pp.5770] He admitted that Bong Pineda was his
kumpadre.ThefatherofthewifeofhissonJinggoy,Precy,wasafriendofBongPineda.
TheywerefromPampanga.ThefamilyofPrecy,nottheEstradas,gotMrs.Pineda,thewifeof
Bong,asprincipalsponsorattheweddingofJinggoyandPrecy.HewonderedwhyBong
PinedawasnotpresentedbytheprosecutionaswitnesswhenSingsonkeptonreferringto
him.[Ibid,pp.7074]
Onthedeliverytohimofjuetengmoney,FPres.EstradadeniedSingsondelivered
juetengprotectionmoneytohimathishouseat,thePresidentialResidenceinMalacaang
andat.He also denied that EmmaLim delivered jueteng money tohisSecretaryMalou
Florendo at Malcaang and that contrary to the testimony of Emma Lim, it was hard for
anybody, including his dentist, to enter the Presidential Residence in Malacaang without
passingthroughthestrictsecuritycheck.HeneverheardofEmmaLimexceptduringthe
impeachmenttrial.HeneveraskedSingsontopayhisobligations,ashedidnothaveany
debt,nordidheaskSingsontobuyanyapplianceforhim.Herefusedgiftslikeappliances
whichhewouldjustraffleoffduringChristmas.HehadneverseenCarmencitaItchon,who
helearnedwasarelativeofSingson.EmmaLimandCarmencitaItchonwererewardedfor
testifyingagainsthimatthetrialwiththeirappointmentasmemberoftheBoardofDirectorsof
Camp John Hay [Poro Point Development Corporation, now Poro Point Management
Corporation](Exh.459A2,459A3)Heemphateticallystatedthathedidnotreceiveasingle

centavoofjuetengmoney.[TSN,April5,2006,afternoonsession,pp.319]
FPres.Estradadeniedanyknowledgeoftheledgersofjuetengmoneytestifiedtoby
Singson.Hestatedhehadnotseensaidledgers,hehadnothingtodowiththemandhe
couldnotunderstandthem.Hefirstsawtheledgersontelevisionduringtheimpeachment
trial.Acordingtohim,Singsononlyfabricatedtheledgers;likethedocumentspertainingto
theexcisetax.[Ibid.,pp.2435,46,49,5255]
FPres.EstradaalsocalledaliethetestimonyofSingsonthatheinstructedSingsonto
payMr.PaulBogradFiveMillionPesos(P5,000,000.00)fromthejuetengmoney.Hedidnot
askSingsontokeepmoneyfromhim,sohecouldnotorderSingsontopayPaulBogradand
hedidnotowethelatteranything.[TSN,April19,2006,p.14]Heexplainedthatthecheckfor
P1,200,000.00(Exh.N8)whichSingsonallegedlygaveasbirthdaygiftforLaarniEnriquez
wasactuallyintendedforhissonJacobandhistwosiblings,specifically,P1,000,000.00for
Jacob, the godson of Singson and P100, 000.00 each for Jacobs two (2) siblings, as
Christmasgift.ThecheckwasdatedDecember22,1999whereasthebirthdayofLaarniwas
September 22, 1999, Former President Estrada was surprised at the big amount and he
thoughtthatSingsonwastryingtoingratiatehimselftohim.[TSN,April19,2006,pp.1516]
FPres.EstradaalsobeliedtheclaimofSingsonthatheadvancedtheEightMillion
Pesos(P8,000,000.00)interestfromtheSixtyTwoMillionPesos(P62,000,000.00)ofjueteng
moneylenttoWlliamGatchalian.HedeniedtoothatheorderedSingsontolendthesaid
amountofmoneytoGatchalianbecausehedidnotaskSingsontokeepanymoneyforhim.
[Ibid.,pp.2325]
RegardingYolandaRicaforte,formerPresidentEstradaadmittedheknowsYolanda,
whoisthewifeoftheFormerTourismAttachein,OrestesRicaforte.Orestesmethimwhen
hearrivedattheairportforaspeakingengagementforOverseasFilipinoWorkersin.Hemet
Orestesagainafterfour(4)orfive(5)yearswhenhe,thenalreadytheVicePresident,hada
speaking engagement with the Filipino community in . There Orestes introduced his wife
Yolanda to FPres. Estrada. He met Yolanda again during the oathtaking of Orestes as
UndersecretaryofTourism.HeappointedhimUndersecretaryashepromisedifhewould

become President when they were in . He also appointed Yolanda as director of Campo
CarneasrequestedbyOrestesbecausetheirincomewasnotenoughastheyhadtwo(2)
childrenstudyingin.[Ibid.,pp.2730]
FPres.EstradahoweverdeniedthatYolandaatanytimewashisemployee.Heseldom
sawYolandaaftertheoathtakingofherhusband.Hedidnotapproveherauditorforjueteng
asclaimedbySingson.HehadnothingtodowiththemoneydepositedbyYolanda,ashedid
nothaveinhispossessionanybankdocuments.[Ibid.,pp.3033]
Regarding the testimony of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, Former President
Estradatestifiedthatevenbeforehebecamemayorandwhenhewasamayor,hewasgiving
scholarshipstopoordeservingstudents,sincehebelievedthateducationwouldgivethem
theopportunitytoriseabovepoverty.Hisnumberoneprogramasmayorwastoputupthe
firstmunicipalhighschool,whichascitedbynationalartistNickJoaquininhisbook(Exhs.
457and457A3),wastheprojectclosesttohisheartasitwillofferfreeeducationtothe
needyyoung.Hesaidthat60%ofelementarygraduatescouldnotaffordtogotohighschool
andtherebytheycouldbecomeapotentialtroublegroup.Thisistherootcauseofcriminality
andhewouldratherspendmoneyonfreehighschoolthanspendittoenlargethemunicipal
jail.[Ibid.,pp.3335]
Former President Estrada also established the Movie Workers welfare Foundation
(MOWELFUND)whenhewasstillanactor(Exh.460).TheMOWELFUNDsenttotheto
studyfilmmakingseven(7)scholarswhowereshowninTheEveningPost,June1,1981
edition(Exh.461).HealsoputuptheERAPFoundationin1988togivescholarshiptopoor
but deserving students. ERAP is the acronym of Education Research and Assistance
Program.ItwasregisteredwiththeSECasshownbyitsArticlesofIncorporation(Exh.462)
TheincorporatorsoftheFoundationwere:formerSenatePresidentJovertoSalonga;former
President Estradas brotherinlaw, Raul P. de Guzman, former VicePresident of the
UniversityofthePhilippinesandmemberofitsBoardofRegents;Mr.AnthonyDee,former
owner of China Banking; Mr. Dee K Chong, member of the Board of Directors of China
Banking;Mr.ManuelZamora,abusinessmanandbartopnotcher;Mr.AntonioAbacan,now

PresidentofMetrobank;Mr.RonaldAllanPoe,alsoknownbyhisscreennameFernandoPoe,
Jr.;Mr.IigoZobelofMakati;Mr.CarlosTuason,aformerChairmanofthePhilippineSports
CommissionandacousinofMr.JoseMikeArroyo;Mr.DannyDolor,abusinessman;Mr.
Hermogenes Tantoco,abig fishpond owner inMalolos,Bulacan;and Mdme.MariaClara
LobregatformerCityMayorofZamboanga(Exh.462B).Accordingtothememorandumof
ExecutiveDirectoroftheERAPFoundation,JingAncheta(Exh.463),forschoolyear1988
1989to20052006,atotalof6,574availedofthescholarshipofthesaidFoundation,ofwhich
2,512graduated,2,251discontinuedand811thencurrentlyenrolled.Therewerescholars
from Cordillera Administrative Region. (Exh. 464); National Capital Region (Exh. 464A);
RegionsItoXIIb(Exhs.464B,464C,464D,464E,464F,464G,464H,464I,464J,464
K, 464L, and 464M); ARMM (Exh. 464N); CARAGA Region (Exh. 464O). The list of
schoolsattendedbythescholarsandtheattachmenttothememorandumofMr.Ancheta
whichwasaReportoftheeCaresProgramofFr.LarryFaraon,datedMarch19,2006re:
StudentsandProfileweremarkedasExhs.463Cand465(withsubmarkings)respectively.
[TSN, ibid, pp.4358]. According to Former President Estrada, the seed money for the
foundationscamefromhissalaryasmayor.Hesaidthatfromthetimethathewasamayor,
then Senator, VicePresident and President, he never received a single centavo from his
salary.TheyallwenttotheFoundations.[Ibid,p.60]
FPres.Estradatestifiedthathedevotedhissalariesaspublicofficialtoscholarshipfor
thepoorbecausewithoutthem,therewouldbenoErap.Thepoorpatronizedhismoviesand
supportedhiminhispoliticalcareer.Hesoliciteddonationsforhisscholarshipprogramsbut
donorswantedtoremainanonymous.HeputuptheERAPMuslimYouthFoundationbecause
it was his campaign promise for the people of .In the Mindanao State Colleges, in , he
promisedtosendonehundred (100) MuslimYouth yearlytoand .Whenhewaselected
President,hespokeonJanuary25,1999ofhisprojectMuslimYouthFoundationin(Exh.
466) and in in Sto. Domingo Church at during the launching of the Educational Reentry,
AgendaforthePresidenttothePoor(Exh.467and467a).Tocomplywiththispromise,he
askedhisbrotherinlaw,Dr.RauldeGuzmantoputuptheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,
whosearticlesofIncorporationwasdulyregisteredwiththeSEC(Exh.252[alsoExhs.G 10,

W17toW176ofProsecution])[TSN,April26,2006,pp.1124]
Aside from Dr. de Guzman, the other incorporators of the Erap Muslim Youth
FoundationwereProfessorDaniloReyesoftheUniversityofthePhilippines(UP)whohada
Masteral and Doctorate Degree in Pulic Administration at UP, another UP Professor, Mila
Reforma,Mr.GeorgeGo,oneoftheownersPCIEquitableBank,andAtty.EdwardSerapio,a
valedictorianoftheAteneodeManilaCollegeofLawandabartopnotcher.Thelatterwas
introducedtohimin1999bythenSecretaryLitoBanayoofthePhilippineTourismAuthority.
HeappointedSerapioasPresidentialAssistantonPoliticalAffairsbecausehewasimpressed
byhisbiodata.SerapioisnotthatclosetohimashedealtwithSerapioonanofficialand
professionallevel.HedeniedthatSerapioestablishedafictitious(kalokohan)corporationfor
him.HedescribedSerapioasanexseminarian,ascholar,averyrespectableperson,very
conservative,veryprofessional,afamilymanandofunquestionableintegrity[Ibid.,pp.2428].
FormerPresidentEstradawasautomaticallytheChairmanEmeritusofthefoundationsthat
heestablished.Hewasthenumberonefundraiserbutheisnotasignatorytothechecksof
thefoundation.Theseedmoneyofthefoundationcamefromhissalary.Hesponsoredan
Erap Golf Tournament which raised P27,000,000.00, some part of which went to
MOWELFUNDandmostofittotheErapMuslimYouthFoundation.Fundswerealsoraised
fromValentinesBallatManilaHotelandfromsolicitationsfromhisbusinessmanfriendsand
classmates.[Ibid.,p.29]
Regarding the meeting allegedly attended by him, Singson, Ricaforte and Serapio
whereheinstructedSingsontogivetotheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,throughSerapio,
jueteng money in the amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200, 000,000.00. former
President Estrada claimed that no such meeting took place. He only learned from Atty.
SerapiothatSingsongaveP200,000,000.00tothefoundationwhichhesaidcamefroman
anonymous donor. He ordered Atty. Serapio to return the money to Singson because his
immediate reaction was that it was jueteng money. The Former President Estrada
emphaticallystated:Imsureitsfromjueteng.[Ibid.,p.34]HeknewbecauseSingsonhad
beenofferingthistohimalongtimeago.AccordingtoSerapiohedidnotknowitwasjueteng
moneyandthathereceivedthemoneyingoodfaith.WhentheformerPresidenttoldSerapio

totakeallpossiblemeanstoreturnthemoney,Serapiorepliedthathewouldconsultthe
Board ofTrusteesfirst. Former President Estrada did not know what happened after that
because rallies and the impeachment started. (Ibid, pp.3436). He learned later that the
moneywasintactattheEquiatblePCIBankandthatitearnedinterest,perbankcertification
(Exh.257C)andpassbook(Exh.257,257Aand257B).Atthetimeofthetestimony,the
money based on the aforesaid documents amounted to P 213, 000,000.00. (Exh. 257B)
[TSN,ibid,pp.4145]Dr.RauldGuzmaninformedhimthatthescholarshipwascontinuingbut
thefoundationcouldnotsendscholarstothebutonlytotheuniversitiesinthe.Oneofthe
scholars,JaniceHalimNegrosawasinthecourtroom,atthetimeofthistestimonyofthe
formerPresident[Ibid.,p.46].Hewashappywiththecontinuationofthescholarshipbecause
itwashisvowtohelpthepoorwhosupportedhiminhiselectionasMayor,Senator,Vice
PresidentandPresident.[Ibid,pp.4748]Heestablishedtwo(2)foundations,theErapMuslim
YouthFoundationandtheErapParasaMahirapFoundationtoemphasizetheassistanceto
ourMuslimbrothers,thetruepurebloodedFilipinoswhodefendedusfromforeigninvaders.It
wasimpossibletousetheErapMuslimYouthFoundationformoneylaunderingbecausehe
wasnotasignatorytothechecksofthefoundation.ItstreasurerwastheChairmanofthe
bankwhowouldnotallowhisnametobeusedinmoneylaundering.IftheFoundationwould
bedissolved,allitsassetswouldgotothegovernment.[Ibid.,pp.5055;andExh.252C]
Insupportofhispolicytogoafterillegalgambling,formerPresidentEstradacitedthe
memorandumandverbaldirectivesthatheissuedtothePNPtoimplementthispolicy.Ina
memorandum dated August 3, 1998 (Exh. 132) of Acting PNP Chief Roberto Lastimoso
pertaining to the aforesaid directives, he reported that he conducted 1,600 operations
resulting in the arrest of 807 suspects, confiscation of P320,039.70 in cash and jueteng
paraphernalia,the filing of253 casesincourtwith13casesstillunder investigation.The
reportgavethestatisticsofillegalgamblingforthesemester1998andinformedtheformer
Presidentthathe[Lastimoso]gaveanultimatumtoallPRODirectorstopursuetheantiillegal
gamblingcampaignwithoutend,untilfinallystoppedanderadicated.Anotherreportofthe
PNPActingchiefstatedinpart:
Dear President Estrada: This pertains to our compliance with the presidential

directivedatedAugust14,1998,regardingtheresurgenceofillegalgamblingoperationsin
thecountry.PleasebeinformedthatthedirectivewassenttoallPNPRegionalDirectorsto
identify,find,arrestandfilechargesappropriateinCourtagainstindividualswhoareusing
thenameofPresidentEstrada,orsupposedconnectionwithhisofficetopromotethese
illegalactivities,andtocomeupwithrigidmeasuresandtangibleresultsandimmediately
stopallformsofillegalgambling,particularly jueteng and masiao.(Exh.134)[TSN,April
26,2006]

On October 7, 2000, Former President Estrada issued a


MemorandumtotheSecretaryofInetriorandLocalGovernment,theDirector
GeneralofPNPthatpendingreviewofPAGCORsBingoTwoBallwhichwasin
themeantimesuspended,theyweredirectedtointensifyantijuetengoperations
topreventunscrupulousindividualsfromtakingadvantageofthesituation.(Exh.
468)He also issuedanother memorandum tothe incoming DirectorGeneral
Panfilo Lacson reiterating his directive against illegal gambling and requiring
periodicandtimelyreportsonallactionsrelativethereto.(Exh.469)[TSN,ibid.,
pp.5664]

On the testimony of Gov. Singson that he was used and humiliated by the former
Presidentandorderedkilledbythelatter,theformerPresidenttestifiedthatonthecontrary,it
was Singson who used his name specifically in jueteng collections and Singson made it
appearthathecouldinfluencehim,thatSingsonwasclosetohim,andthatSingsonjoined
hisstatevisitsevenifhewasnotinvited.SingsonwasaccostedbytheTrafficManagement
Group(TMG)becausehewasillegallyusingsirensandblinkers,astestifiedtobyTMGs
GeneralParedes.[Ibid,pp.6566]

According to Former President Estrada, Singson leveled the serious accusations


againsthimbecauseofhismountingproblems.Singsonhadonlytwo(2)sourcesofincome,
thetobaccoexcisetaxunderR.A.No.7171andjueteng.Singsoncouldnotliquidatehiscash
advancefromthetobaccoexcisetaxshareofIlocosHetoldSingsonthathecouldnothelp
himbecauseCOAwasanindependentconstitutionalbody.SingsonwasalsoagainstBingo
2Ballwhichwasalreadyconceptualizedbecausehewouldlosehissourceofincome.[TSN,

April26,2006,pp.6469]FormerPresidentEstradawasinformedthatSingsontalkedtothen
Secretary Alfredo Lim seeking his intercession to seek a meeting with Former President
Estradasothatjuetengwouldnotbelegalizedorthatiflegalized(throughBingo2Ball)the
franchisebegiventohim,otherwiseitwouldmeanhis[Singsons]politicaldeath.Former
PresidentEstradarefusedtotalkwithSingsonandtoldSecretaryLimtotalktoChairperson
AliceReyes.SingsonapproachedalsootherpersonsasidefromSecretaryLimandSenator
EdgardoAngara.SenatorAngaratoldFPRes.EstradathatSingsonwenttoseehimona
SundayaskinghelpaboutjuetengandBingo2Ball.HetoldSenatorAngaratotellSingson
not to talk to him but to Chairperson Alice Reyes. mentioned that Singson threatened to
exposehimbuthesaidhehadnothingtohideandifSingsonwantedso,tolethimdoit.
Former President Estrada then immediately had the accusations investigated as he had
confirmed that for a long time, Singson had already been using his name, specifically in
juetengcollection.HewashurtbytheaccusationsofSingsonashewasturnedfrombeinga
President,withthebiggestmandateinacleanelection,intoaprisonerbecauseofabiglie
startedbyoneperson,GovernorSingson.MoreoverhissonJinggoyandAtty.Serapiowere
alsodetainedfortwo(2)yearswhentheyknewnothingaboutjueteng[TSN,April26,2006,
pp.6977.]
JOSEJINGGOYESTRADAwaselectedViceMayorofSanJuanin1988andMayor
ofSanJuanin1992.[TSN,November17,2004,pp.1516.]
MayorJinggoystatedthathefirstgottoknowGov.Singson,whomheconsideredas
anacquaintance,duringthepresidentialcampaignofhisfather,FPres.Estrada,inthe1998
elections.Atthattime,Gov.SingsonsupportedFPres.EstradaandhostedalunchforFPres.
EstradasentouragewhentheycampaignedinIlocosAfterthepresidentialcampaign,hesaid
hemetGov.Singsononlyoccasionally.[Ibid.,pp.1617]
Mayor Jinggoy denied the testimony of Gov. Singson that he was the collector for
juetengprotectionmoneyinthestartingJanuary1999toAugust2000. Witnessalsostated
that he has never been called Jingle Bell nor had he received or heard communication
wherehewascalledJingleBell.WitnessalsodeniedthestatementofGov.Singsonthata

certainJessieViceowasthecollectorofjuetengprotectionmoneyinthefromJanuary1999
toAugust2000,becausewitnesshadneverbeenacollectororprotectorofjueteng.However,
MayorJinggoyadmittedthathecametoknowJessieViceowhenthelatterwasrunningfor
congressmansinceViceowasalsoalignedwiththeirpoliticalpartyduringthetimewitness
wasassignedtocampaignforhisfatherinthe.Afterthat,witnessstatedthathemetViceo
threetimesinsocialfunctions.Again,witnessconsideredViceoasanacquaintance.[Ibid.,
1822]
Mayor Jinggoy also denounced for being untrue the allegation that as collector of
jueteng protection money in Bulacan, he collected Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00)
monthlyofwhichOneMillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)wasretainedbyhimandtheotherTwo
MillionPesos(P2,000,000.00)wassenttoGov.SingsonsofficeorwaspickedupbyGov.
Singsons aides from witness office in the municipal hall of San Juan or from witness
residence.[Ibid.,p.22]
Hefurtheraddedthathehadneverusedapersonalizedcheckwithhispictureprinted
onthecheckastestifiedtobyEmmaLimwhoallegedlydepositedsuchcheckdrawnagainst
theUnitedOverseasBankofthe,SanJuanBranchtoGov.SingsonsaccountwithMetro
Bank Ayala Branch. Mayor Jinggoy presented a certification to prove that he does not
maintainacurrentaccountwiththesaidbank.[Ibid.,pp.2526]
Witness also denied the testimony of prosecution witnesses Vicente Amistad and
JamisSingsonwhobothclaimedtohavecollected/receivedjuetengprotectionmoneyfrom
thewitness.WithrespecttothestatementsofJamisSingson,MayorJinggoyassertedthey
wereuntruesincehedidnothaveasecurityaidenamedNestor.Further,thetestimonyof
JamieSingsonthatonotheroccasion,thelattergotprotectionmoneyfromwitnessresidence
at,GreenhillsisalsonottruebecausehedoesnotliveinbutinGreenhills.[Ibid.,pp.2628]
AsregardstherestofthetestimonyofGov.Singson,MayorJinggoyalsostatedthat
followingweretotallyuntrue:thatinhisconversationwithGov.Singson,witnessconfirmed
thathereceivedapart(orFifteenMillionPesos)oftheOneHundredThirtyMillionPesosthat
camefromthetobaccoexcisefundsbecausewitnesswasneverinvolvednordidheknow

anything about it; that before the press conference held on October 9, 2000 at the Club
Filipino, witness tried to dissuade Singson from making the expose because at that time
witnesswasinAustraliawatchingtheSydneyOlympics.[Ibid.,pp.2932]Witness,however,
admittedthatthreeweeksbeforeheleftforAustralia,Singsoncalledhimupbeforemeeting
himattheKamayan,EDSAwherewitnesswashavingdinnerwithhisbasketballteamtoask
ifwitnesscanconvincehisfatherorAtongAngtogiveSingsonthefranchiseofBingo2Ball
andnottohis(Singson)politicalenemies,towhichMayorJingoyrepliedthathewilltrytotalk
toAtongAng.WitnessalsodeniedtheallegationthathecalledupGov.Singsonatmidnight
ofOctober8,2000,ontheeveofthepressconferencewhereaccordingtoGov.Singson,
witness told Gov. Singson that baka naman isama mo pa ako dito, Governor, because
witnesswasthenshootingamoviewithJudyAnnSantos.[Ibid.,pp.3439,102]
Bong Pineda was an acquaintance of Jinggoy Estrada. He denied having known
OrestesRustyRicaforteandYollyRicaforte,whileheadmittedhavingknownBonitoSingson
whomhemetonceortwice.[Ibid.,6568]
Jinggoy Estrada testified that the maintained a current account with the Philippine
NationalbankandLandBankandnotwiththeUnitedOverseasBank.He,himselfmaintained
apersonalaccountwithUnitedCoconutPlantersBank.[Ibid.,pp.8688]
MayorJinngoyknewAtongAngpersonally,whoserealnamewasCharlieandhefirst
cometoknowhimevenbeforethe1998presidentialelections.Hetestifiedthathedidnot
knowAlmaAlfaro,EleuterioTan,VictorTanUy,oraJojoUy,andayatchbythenameof
Escalera.[Ibid.,99104]
ALICIAPEREZLLAMADOREYES(Reyes)wastheChairpersonandChiefExecutive
OfficerofPAGCORsinceJanuary2,1987.ShewasappointedbyFormerPresidentCorazon
C. Aquino, reappointed by Former President Fidel V. Ramos, and again reappointed by
FormerPresidentJosephE.Estrada.[TSN,March7,2005]
ThewitnesstestifiedthatAtongAngproposedtohertheoperationofBingoTwoBalls
sometimeintheyearof2000.ShewelcomedtheideasinceAtongAngsuccessfullyhandled

theJaiAlaioperationsofPAGCOR. WitnessReyesthensuggestedforawrittenproposal
fromAtongAng.InaLetterdatedSeptember1,2000addressedtotheDirectorofPAGCOR
JoseRodriguezIII(Exh.286),AtongAngproposedthefeasibilityoftheBingoTwoBalls.The
proposal was duly approved for negotiation by the Board of Directors of PAGCOR in a
MemorandumdatedSeptember5,2000(Exh.287withsubmarkings).WitnessReyesadded
thattheproposalhadtheconfirmationofFPres.Estradawhoeventoldhertostudythe
proposal and if it will displace Jueteng then he [was] all for it. For the purpose of
implementing the initial operation of Bingo Two Balls, the officers of PAGCOR called a
meeting in Paraaque Casino and invited several personalities knowledgeable in number
gamingoperationsinthe.Gov.Singsondidnotattendthemeetingsincethelatterwasnot
interested according to Atong Ang. The operation of Bingo Two Balls in Ilocos Sur was
nonethelessofferedtothreerelativesofGov.Singson.
AmongtheconditionsfortheoperationofBingoTwoBallswasthedrawingofwinning
numbersinpublicandthatnopaymentswillbemadeunderthetable. Itwasagreedthat
23%ofthetotalrevenuewillberemittedtoPAGCORand77%ofthetotalrevenuewillinureto
thebenefitoftheoperators.TheBingoTwoBallsnationwideoperationwasestimatedtogain
P50to65Millionofsalesaday.AtongAngwassupposedtobegivenamanagementfeeof
8%butwasreducedto7%andthento5%.Themanagementfeewasfinallyrecommended
tobereducedat2%bytheheadoftheBingoDepartmentofPAGCORinaRecommendation
LetterdatedNovember30,2000(Exh.290).
The dryrun operation of Bingo Two Balls lasted for 20 days particularly in the .
AccordingtowitnessReyes,PAGCORgotP24MillionfromtheinitialoperationofBingoTwo
Ballsfromthealone. FPres.Estradathenorderedforthesuspensionoftheoperationof
BingoTwoBallsallegedlybecauseofadversepublicityandcriticismsfromthepress.
Oncrossexamination,witnessReyesclarifiedthattherewasnowrittenagreementfor
thedryrunoperationoftheBingoTwoBallsandthattheconditionssetforthintheinitial
operationwasnotfinal. ShealsostatedthattheP24MillionthatwasremittedtoPAGCOR
representedthe23%sharethatwasagreeduponandthatpartofthissharewasremittedto

theSocialFundoftheOfficeofthePresident.The77%shareoftheincomewasreturnedto
theoperators.
Onredirectexamination,thewitnesstestifiedthattheSocialFundoftheOfficeofthe
President was created during the term of Former President Aquino. During her
administration,thisfundwasutilizedmostlyforbuildingschoolhouseswhichpolicywasalso
adoptedduringtheadministrationofFormerPresidentsRamosandEstrada.
ATTY.EMILIASAMONTE()wastheManagingHeadoftheEntertainmentandBingo
DepartmentofPAGCORsinceJulyof1996toJuneof2001.Shemanaged,supervised,and
controlledthenationwidecommercialbingooperationsandbingoderivatives,suchasQuick
PickGamesandBingoTwoBalls.[TSN,March9,2005]
ThewitnesstestifiedthatherdepartmentreviewedandevaluatedtheBingoTwoBall
ProjectProposalofAtongAngtoPAGCOR.Thesaidprojectproposalwasapprovedforan
initialoperationandthattheOfficerInChargefortheprojectwasJoseRodriguezIIIwhilethe
Consultant of the project was the Prominent Marketing Consultancy Group, Inc. of which
AtongAngwastheGeneralManager. Atong Angalsoserved asthe MarketingAgentof
PAGCORfortheprojectand,assuch,heidentifiedtheoperationalareasandtheprequalified
applicants.TheBingoTwoBallProjectwaspartiallyimplementedfromSeptember18,2000
to October 7, 2000 in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, CAR, Cordillera Administrative
Region,Albay,Bicol,Cavite,Marinduque,Lucena,Batangas,NorthernandSouthernLuzon,
and in Visayas. PAGCOR allegedly attained its financial goals and objectives in the
organizational stage of the project. Witness Padua presented and identified PAGCORs
ShareBasedon Reported Sales Quota(Exh.288) prepared bytheconsultancygroup of
AtongAngtocorroboratethesuccessoftheinitialoperationoftheBingoTwoBallsProject.
BasedonaMemorandumdatedNovember14,2000(Exh.290)approvedbytheBoard
ofDirectorsofPAGCOR,the20dayoperationoftheBingoTwoBallProjectaggregateda
gross sale ofP106,206,661.00 and that P24,427,532.00 wascollected by PAGCOR which
representedits23%share. TheconsultancygroupofAtongAnggained2%fromthe23%
share of PAGCOR. Though there was no written agreement between PAGCOR and the

consultancygroupofAtongAngasregardsthepaymentofthelatters2%share,theBoardof
DirectorsofPAGCORdecidedthattheconsultancygroupofAtongAngwasentitledtosuch
share.
WitnessalsotestifiedthatamongtheobjectivesoftheBingoTwoBallProjectwereto
eradicatetheillegalnumbergamessuchasJuetengandtocreateemploymentopportunities.
However,thesaidprojectwasorderedsuspendedbytheOfficeofthePresidentbecauseof
adversecriticismsandquestionsoflegalityfromthepublic.
On cross examination, witness admitted that there was no bidding conducted by
PAGCORinawardingtheoperationoftheBingoTwoBallProjecttoProminentMarketing
Consultancy Group, Inc. She explained that since Atong Ang also headed the Power
ManagementCorporationwhichsuccessfullyhandledtheJaiAlaiOperationsofPAGCOR,
the Board of Directors of PAGCOR decided to engage the services of the Prominent
MarketingConsultancyGroup,Inc.ofAtongAngtohandletheBingoTwoBallProject.The
witnessfurthertestifiedthatsomeoftheappointedoperatorsoftheBingoTwoBallProject
werereputedasJuetengOperatorsbutqualifiedthatsheonlyknewthemassuchafterthe
initialoperationofthesaidproject.
Onredirectexamination,witnesstestifiedthatassumingtheBingoTwoBallProject
wasnotsuspendedandacontractwasperfectedbetweenPAGCORandtheoperatorthe
contractwouldnonethelesspassthereviewandapprovaloftheOfficeoftheGovernment
CorporateCouncil(OGCC)andtheOfficeofthePresident.
SENATORALFREDOSIOJOLIM (Sen.Lim)wasappointedastheSecretaryofthe
DepartmentofInteriorandLocalGovernment(DILG)onJanuary8,2000.[TSN,March14,
2005]
OnOctober7,2000,Sen.Limreadinthenewspapertheallegedattemptedambushon
thelifeofGov.SingsonanddiscussedtheissuewithCongressmanLuisBabyAsistioduring
their breakfast meeting at the Manila Yacht Club. Thereafter, Sen. Lim and Baby Asistio
visitedGov.SingsonathisresidenceinBlueRidge,. GovernorCasimiroYnares,Jr.later

arrivedandjoinedtheirconversation.AccordingtoLim,Gov.Singsonrelatedtothemthe
detailsoftheattemptedplotagainstthelifeofGov.SingsononthelateeveningofOctober3,
2000.Onsaiddate,membersoftheTrafficManagementGroup(TMG)armedwithlongrilfes
andnotwearingproperuniforms,accostedthevehicleoccupiedbyGov.Singsonalong,for
beatingaredlightandhavingablinkerontopofhisvehicle.Gov.Singsoninitiallyrefusedto
alightfromhisvehicleandgotdownonlywhenthemayorsthathejusthadameetingwith
arrivedonthescene.SingsonarguedwiththeTMGOfficersandrefusedtobebroughtto.
ThedisputeendedwhentheTMGOfficersfinallyagreedthattheywillnolongerforceGov.
SingsontobebroughttosincetheblinkerofthevehicleofGov.Singsonwassurrenderedto
them.
Gov. Singson allegedly said that Atong Ang and Ping Lacson were the persons
responsiblefortheattemptedambushonhislife,andthatbothconspiredtohavehimkilled
becauseGov.SingsonwasagainsttheBingoTwoBallsgamingproposalofAtongAngand
that there was an arrangement for the raising of campaign funds for the presidential
candidacyofPingLacson.Sen.LimfurtherrelatedthatGov.SingsonalsoimplicatedFPres.
EstradaontheallegedattemptedambushonhislifeonthetheorythatAtongAngandPing
LacsonwillnothavethecouragetohavehimkilledwithouttheapprovalofFPres.Estrada.
Gov.SingsonalsogrumbledabouttheawardedfranchisesfortheoperationoftheBingoTwo
BallsinIlocosbyAtongAngtothepoliticalopponentsofGov.Singson. Gov.Singsonalso
mentionedthatFPres.EstradadidnothelphimsortouthisproblemswiththeCommissionon
Audit(COA).
Sen. Lim further testified that on the following day, October 8, 2000, he and
Congressman Baby Asistio went to the and met FPres. Estrada. The witness relayed to
FPres.EstradathesentimentsandallegationsofGov.Singson.FPres.EstradadeniedGov.
Singsonsaccusationsthathehadsomethingtodowiththeattemptedambushandthathe
wouldinitiateaninvestigationonthematter.FPres.EstradasaidthatGov.Singsonwashis
goodfriendandthathewaswithLiminandCagayondeOroduringtheallegedincident.As
totheissueregardingtheBingoTwoBallProjectofAtongAng,FPres.Estradasaidthathe
wasconvincedbyPAGCORthatitcouldtripleitsproceedsascomparedtotheoperationsof

JaiAlai. FPres. Estrada would also trigger an investigation regarding Gov. Singsons
allegationthatAtongAnghadplannedtodiverttheproceedsoftheBingoTwoBallProjectof
PAGCOR. Witness Lim added that FPres. Estrada admitted that he left Gov. Singson to
explaintoCOAbecausehehadnocontrolandsupervisionoverthesaidconstitutionalbody.
The witness also refuted the testimony of Gov. Singson that he conveyed the
impressiontoGov.SingsonthatFPres.EstradagavethesignaltokillAtongAng. Witness
LimclaimedthathisthumbsdowngesturetoGov.SingsonmeantthatFPres.Estradawould
haveAtongAngorderedinvestigatedandnottohavethelatterkilled.
Oncrossexamination,witnessLimtestifiedthathehadnopersonalknowledgeasto
thepurchaseofsharesfromBellCorporationbyGSISandSSS;astothemattersregarding
theIlocosSurExciseTaxes;andastotheJuetengcollectionledgerofYolandaRicaforte.

VIOLETA SUAREZ DAMITAN (Damitan) was the Executive Assistant of the Erap
MuslimYouthFoundationemployedbyRaulP.DeGuzmanonJanuary1,2004(Exh.278).
[TSN, March 16, 2005] She was responsible, among others, for the safekeeping of the
recordsofthesaidcorporationsuchastheArticlesofIncorporationandByLaws,andthe
recordsofapplicantstothescholarshipprogramofthefoundation.
Damitan testified that the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation provided scholarship
education programs to the less privileged Muslim youth Filipinos. The applications and
recommendations filed were reviewed by the Screening Committee and approved by the
BoardofTrusteesofthefoundation.
Damitan presented and identified the credentials and pertinent records of Sittie
ShahaniLaminerowhowasoneoftheapplicantsgrantedascholarshipprogrambytheErap
MuslimYouthFoundation(Exhs.295,296,297andsubmarkings). Shelikewisepresented
and identified several documents enumerating and showing other grantees of the said
scholarship program, namely, Salvador Ongay Domona, Sohayle Hadji Abdul Rachman,
JaniceHalimNegrosa,RoqueSantosMorales,andAhmadRobert(Exhs.279,280,298,299

andsubmarkings).ThewitnessfurtherpresentedandidentifiedaMinutesoftheMeetingof
theBoardofTrusteesoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundationonJuly21,2000toshowthe
appointmentoftheotheremployeesofthefoundationandtheaccountsofthescholarship
program(Exh.274andsubmarkings).
SALVADORONGAYDOMONA [TSN,March16,2005], JANICEHALIMNEGROSA
[TSN, March 30, 2005], ROQUE SANTOS MORALES [TSN, March 30, 2005] and H.
SOLAYHE A.A. MARANGIT [TSN, March 28, 2007], all similarly testified that they were
grantedscholarshipsbytheErapMuslimYouthFoundation. WitnessDomonaappliedand
wasadmittedforthescholarshipprogramontheyear2003;witnessNegrosaappliedandwas
admittedtothesaidprogramontheyear2004;witnessMoralesappliedandwasadmittedto
thesameprogramontheyear2004andwitnessMarangitappliedandwasadmittedtothe
same program in 2004. These witnesses also presented and identified their respective
credentialsandpertinentdocumentaryevidence.(see alsoExhs.301,302,303,304,305,
306,307,308,309,310,andsubmarkings)
ATTY. CARINA JAVIER DEMAISIP (Demaisip) was appointed Assistant Corporate
SecretaryoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.onJanuary1,2004(Exh.277). She
assisted the release of funds and prepared the minutes of the meetings of the Board of
Trusteesofthefoundation.[TSNdatedMarch30,2005andTSNdatedApril4,2005]
DemaisiptestifiedthatRaulP.DeGuzmansolicitedherservicesfortheErapMuslim
YouthFoundationsometimeonJulyof2003whichwasaftertheincarcerationofAtty.Edward
S.Serapio,theCorporateSecretary. Thefoundationwaslocatedatthe4th FloorofVAG
BuildinginGreenhills,.Thewitnessthenidentifiedseveralminutesofthemeetingsapproved
bytheBoardofTrusteesoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation(Exhs.279,281,312,and
submarkings)andcorroboratedthetestimonyofwitnessVioletaS.Damitanregardingthe
approvedandawardedscholarshipprogramsbythefoundation(Exh.313andsubmarkings).
Shealsotestifiedthatamongthereasonswhythefoundationhadnoscholarsfortheyears
2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, except for Salvador O. Domona, were because of (a) the
ineffectivenessoftheBoardofTrusteesbroughtbythechargesagainstFPres.Estrada,(b)

thelackoffundstooperatethefoundationduetothefreezeorders,and(c)thefailureofthe
institutionstocomplywiththerequirementsofthescholarshipprogram. Thefundsofthe
foundationbecameavailableonNovember11,2003.Hence,thefoundationstartedreleasing
checksonlythereafteralthoughsomeoftheapplicationsforthescholarshipprogramwere
alreadyreviewedandapprovedbeforetheavailabilityofthefunds.
MARIALOVEROFLORENDO(Florendo)wasanExecutiveAssistantintheOfficeof
theVicePresidentandtheConfidentialSecretaryofaccusedFPres.Estrada.[TSN,April20,
2005andApril25,2005]
FlorendotestifiedthatshedidnotknowandhadnevermetonanyoccasionEmma
Lim.ThewitnesssaidthatshewasshockedwhenshereadfromthenewspaperthatEmma
LimallegedlygaveherablackbagcontainingP5,000,000.00atthePresidentialResidence.
SherefutedthestatementsthatEmmaLimgaveduringtheImpeachmentTrialonDecember
11, 2000 that the latter went straight to her and handed a black bag which contained
P5,000,000.00; that Emma Lim was not required at the guardhouse of the Presidential
ResidencetohaveherblackbagexaminedintheXRayMachine;thattherewerenofurniture
or sala sets at the right side of the entrance of the Presidential Residence; that witness
Florendo received the black bag and placed it near a table and that she talked to Gov.
Singson and told him that they already arrived; and that Emma Lim went out running
towards her vehicle after giving the black bag to witness Florendo (Exh. 320C and
submarkings).
NORMANDELOSBORDADORA(Bordadora)wasareporterofthePhilippine
DailyInquirer sinceJulyof1996. He testifiedthathe wastheauthor ofanarticlein the
PhilippineDailyInquirerNewspaperentitledChavit,IHaveNeverBeenIntoJuetengwhich
waspublishedonMay21,2005(Exh.335). Thesourceofthecontentsofhisarticlewas
allegedlyGovernorLuisChavitSingsonwhomwitnessBordadorahadinterviewedthrougha
cellular phone which was not recorded. The witness clarified that he interviewed Gov.
Singson on the alleged jueteng involvement of Archbishop Cruz and not on the jueteng
exposeintheyear2000.[TSN,June22,2005]

ATTY. JOSEPH QUION ORSOS (Orsos), P/SUPT. ARTURO LACSINA


PAGLINAWAN(Paglinawan),P/SUPT.RODOLFOSANTOSAZURIN,JR.(Azurin),POLICE
CHIEFINSPECTORNOELBIACAVALLO(Vallo),P/SUPT.ELISEODECENADELAPAZ
(Dela Paz), JONIRO FORMILLEZA FRADEJAS (Fradejas) and RENATO MENDOZA
PAREDES (Paredes),alltestifiedtomattersrelatedtotheOctober3,2000trafficincident
involvingGov.SingsonandtheTrafficManagementGroup(TMG).
Orsos,aPoliceOfficerandtheChiefoftheLegalServicesoftheTMG,presentedand
identifiedaRosterofTroopsdatedOctober3,2000;aDispositionofPersonnelasofAugust
28, 2000 dated October 31, 2000; a Memorandum dated October 4, 2000 regarding the
apprehendedmotor vehicleofGov.Singson;andanotherMemorandum dated October 4,
2000(Exh.360)regardingthetrafficviolationofthedriverofGov.Singson.Headmittedhe
had no personal knowledge of the incident. [TSN, July 13, 2005, Exhs. 35861 with
submarkings]Paredes,DirectoroftheTMG,identifiedaMemorandumdatedOctober4,2000
signedbyhimandpreviouslymarkedasExh.360.[TSNdatedAugust17,2003]Paglinawan,
ChiefoftheGeneralAssignmentSectionoftheWesternPoliceDistrict,testifiedthatthere
werenorecordsintheWPDthatGov.SingsonfiledacaseinrelationtotheOctober3,2000
incident.[TSN,July18,2005]Azurin,ChiefoftheSpecialOperationsDivisionoftheTMG,
testified that, on October 3, 2000, he was called by Vallo for assistance in some
misunderstandingwithGov.Singson.Healsotestifiedtowhathappenedaftertheyproceeded
totheWPDheadquartersinandrelatedthattheagentsoftheTMGGroupwerewearing
properuniformbutadmittedthathehimselfwasnotinproperuniform.Azurintestifiedthatthe
blinker andsirenfoundinthe vehicle of Gov. Singsonwere confiscated for violation of a
MemorandumdatedJuly14,1998issuedbytheOfficeofthePresident.[TSN,July18,2005,
andExh.362withsubmarkings]Vallo,ChiefoftheOperationTaskForceLimbasoftheTMG,
testifiedtotheTMGsspottingofanacceleratingvehicle(Gov.Singsons),thechaseandthe
accostingofthevehicleforatrafficviolation.DelaPaz,PoliceChiefSuperintendentofthe
PhilippineNationalPolice,identifiedhissignatureinaMemorandumsenttorelevantoffices
pertaining to the use of blinkers [TSN, August 8, 2005, Exh. 364] Fradejas, Executive
Assistant II of the Traffic Engineering Center of the Metro Manila Development Authority,
identifiedaCertificationpertainingtotheDPWHPhaseIinstallationoftrafficlightsinMetro

Manila.[TSNdatedAugust8,2005,Exh.384]
DR.GEMMABAULADAVID(David)hadbeenthedentistofFPres.Estradasincethelatter
wasstillaSenator.DavidtestifiedthatsheprovideddentaltreatmentstoFPres.Estradaatthelatters
residencein,Greenhills,andatthePresidentialResidenceinMalacaang.Thewitnessrelatedthat,
everytimeshevisitedFPres.EstradaathisresidenceinGreenhillsaswellasinthePresidential
ResidenceinMalacaangforthescheduleddentalappointment,shehadtopassthestrictsecurity
protocolsconductedattheentranceofbothlocations.Shefurtherrelatedthatattherewasawalk
throughmetaldetectoratthePresidentialResidenceinMalacaang.[TSN,May30,2005]
MARICHUANDUEZAVILLANUEVA (Villanueva)wasaJournalistofthePhilippine
StarNewspaperandamemberoftheMalacanangPressGroup. Sheauthoredthearticle
entitledPalaceBacksPingonintheJune17,2000issueofthesaidnewspaperwhichwas
basedonapressconferencesheattendedinonJune16,2000.[TSN,September26,2005;
Exh.415andsubmarkings]
ATTY. RICARDO VILLANUEVA PUNO, JR., a practicing lawyer, testified that he
joinedthegovernmentasPressSecretaryandPresidentialSpokespersononoraboutMarch
16,2000andstayedinthatpositionuntilJanuary20,2001.Insuchposition,hewouldonly
speakofinformationthathewasauthorizedtodisseminatetothepublicorthemediaatthat
particular time. His position gave him the privilege of being present at discussions on
policies,whichincludedPresidentialmeetings.[TSN,October3,2005]
Tothebestofhisrecollection,thepolicyoftheFPres.Estradathenwasalwaystofight
illegalgambling.Thathasbeenthedeclaredpolicyevenduringthetenureofthewitnessas
PressSecretaryandPresidentialSpokesperson.Hehadageneralrecollectionofthispolicy,
buthehadnospecificrecollectionofthetimesitwasactuallymentioned.
HecouldnotrecallspecificallyapressconferenceheldonJune16,2000,althoughhe
sawtheJune17,2000issueofthePhilippineStarattachedtothesubpoena[Exh.415],but
there was a time when he held a series of briefings for media at 2:00 p.m., and it was
probablyduringoneofthosebriefingsthatthepointsinthearticlewereraised. Thearticle
referred to a drive by the then Director General of the Philippine National Police against
jueteng.Thequestionaskedofthewitnessatthetimewasprobably,whetherFPres.Estrada

infactprescribedjuetengreduction.Itwasveryclearthatitwasinfactthepolicyatthattime,
basedontheirpreviousconversations.Thearticle,however,referredtothedriveallegedly
initiatedbythenPNPDirectorPanfiloLacson.UptothetimethatthewitnessleftinJanuary
2001,hecouldnotrememberanyreversalofthatpolicy. Hewouldnotknow,however,if
juetengcontinueddespitethecampaignagainstit,becausehisofficeasPressSecretarywas
notmonitoringthesituation.

ATTY.HILARIOPAULHAVOCRAGUNJAN,JR.wasacommissionedNotaryPublic
whonotarizedtheLetterdatedMay28,2005ofRodolfoQ.Pineda(Exh.331)addressedto
theChairmanoftheCommitteeonGamesandAmusementsoftheHouseoftheHouseof
Representatives,Hon.MarioZ.Almario. WitnessRagunjan,Jr.testifiedthathepersonally
knewtheaffiantoftheletterbuthadnopersonalknowledgeastothecontentsofthesaid
letter.[TSN,June6,2005]
MARIBETHANGESCOBAR, OfficerinChargeoftheUnitedOverseasBank(UOB)
SanJuanBranch,testifiedonaCertificationdatedJune28,2002addressedtoAtty,Irene
JuradoissuedbyMs.ElmaGutierrez,whowasnolongerconnectedwithUOB.Witnesshad
beentheOICofUOBSanJuansinceMs.Gutierrezresignation.(TSN,November22,2004,
p.48)
ThesaidCertificationstated:Thisistocertifythatbasedonourrecordsfrom1999up
tothepresent,wehavenocurrentaccountlistedunderthenameoftheclientMayorJose
JinggoyEstrada.SheverifiedthefactsstatedintheCertificationbypersonallycheckingthe
recordsonfileintheirsystemandtherewasnoreadingofanaccountunderthenameof
SenatorJoseJinggoyEstrada,uponreceiptofthesubpoena.(Ibid.,p.54)
Escobaralsotestifiedthatshewasnotawareandhasnotseenanycheckwithphoto
oftheclientonthefaceofthecheck.Shehasneverprocessedacustomizedcheckbuthas
seenonewiththelogoofacompanylikeSunlife.WitnessstatedthattheCertificationwas
issuedbasedontheletterdatedJune28,2002ofAtty.IreneD.JuradototheManagerof

UOBSanJuan.(Ibid.,pp.5458)
WitnesstestifiedthatalthoughthecertificationstatedonlythatJoseJinggoy
Estradahadnocurrentaccount,herverificationoftheirtheirrecordsshowedthattherewas
noJoseJinggoyEstradaonthelistofactiveaccountsofUOBSanJuan,aswellasinthe
dormantaccounts. Similarly,theofhadnoaccountwiththeUOBSanJuan,moresothe.
(Ibid.,pp.9498)
ROSEMARIEJ.SANGREGORIO,CommunityAffairsOfficerIIoftheMunicipalGovernmentof
SanJuan,testifiedthatshedidntknowpersonallyaladybythenameofEmmaLim,buthasseenher
testifybeforetheontelevision.SherememberedparticularlythetestimonyofEmmaLimbecause
EmmaLimmentionedthenameofherofficemate,Josie,whowaswiththewitnesswhentheywere
watchingtheproceedingsinthetelevisionalongwithLauroQuirino,whowastheirreceptionistinthe
MayorsOffice.WitnessrememberedthatamongthetestimonyofEmmaLimwasthatshewenttothe
MunicipalOfficetocollectmoney.WitnessstatedthatsheandJosieRamosweresurprisedand
amazedwithEmmaLimstestimonysinceshe[EmmaLim]didnotgototheMayorsOffice.Josie
RamoswastheonehandlingpapersforthesignatureoftheMayor.[TSN,November24,2004,pp.26
42]
JOSEFINAQUIAZONRAMOS workedasoneofthesecretariesintheOfficeofthe
Mayor,for1998to2001,preparingdocumentsforsignatureofthenMayorJinggoyEstrada.
WitnessRamoscorroboratedthetestimonyofRosemarieSanGregoriothatEmmaLimdid
notgototheOfficeofthenMayorJoseJinggoyEstradainJanuary,FebruaryandMarch
2000topickupallegedlyjuetengmoneyfromtheOfficeoftheMayor.
Ramos described as untrue the testimony of Emma Lim that Emma Lim talked to
RamosandwasaskedtositinfrontofRamostableintheOfficeoftheMayoronFebruary
andMarch2000.WitnessstatedthatEmmaLimneverwenttotheOfficeoftheMayorin.
WitnesswassurprisedwhenEmmaLimmentionedhernameduringtheimpeachmenttrial,
andthatshetoldthistoMayorEstradawhocalledherupafterEmmaLimtestified. Mayor
Estradawasalsosurprisedandtoldherthatwhatisthatwomansaying,thatwomanisa
liar.[TSN,December6,2004]

SUSAN MACALLA AVILES was the Social Secretary of Ms. Guia Gomez and a

residentofcorner,MetroManila.Shetestifiedthat,associalsecretary,shewastheonewho
receivedguests,entertainedthemandwastheonewhowouldcalltoservethevisitorscoffee
orjuiceatthehouseofGuiaGomezatcorner.assertedthatGov.Singsonneverwenttothe
houseatP.Guevarra.[TSN,December1,2004,p.1617]SheclarifiedthatthehouseonP.
GuevarraandIbunawereoneandthesamebecausetheiraddresswascorner.(Ibid.,p.44)
NOEL ISRAEL BUENDIA was previously a security guard assigned at the
residenceofGuiaGomezatNo.1IbunacornerP.GuevarraStreets,SanJuan,fromFebruary
26,1998upto2002,andassuch,wasstationedatthegatealongIbunaSt.from6:00a.m.to
6:00 p.m. and the one assigned in the front and incharge of asking visitors. During his
assignmentatGuiaGomezsresidence,BuendiatestifiedthathedidnotseeGov.Singsongo
there.[TSN,December1,2004]
CONGRESSMAN LUIS A. ASISTIO (Cong. Asistio) testified that he was at San
Francisco, California on July 24, 2000 as part of the official Philippine Delegation
accompanying then PresidentJosephE.Estrada inhisstate visitto theUnited States of
America,andthatitwastherethathesawGov.Singson,atthelobbyoftheFairmontHotel
wheretheystayed,tellinghimofthelattersproblemthatFPres.Estradadidnotwanttosee
him.Cong.Asistio,togetherwithGov.Singson,wenttotheroomofFPres.Estrada,andGov.
SingsonaskedFPres.EstradatocalltheChairmanoftheCOAforthereliefoftheAuditor
assignedinhisprovincetowhichFPres.Estradarepliedthathemightgetintotroubleasthe
ChairmanoftheCOAisaconstitutionalappointeeandsuggestedthatGov.Singsoninstead
talktothenExecutiveSectaryRonaldoZamoratoresolvehisproblem.
WitnessalsotestifiedthatafterreturningfromtheU.S.andpriortotheexposeorpressconference
madebyGov.SingsoninOctober2000,hereceivedacallfromthelatteraskinghimiftheycouldmeet
itManilaPeninsula,and,atthesametime,Gov.Singsontoldhimofhisproblemandhisgrievances
(samangloob)againstFPres.Estrada,includingplacinghispoliticalopponentsinpositionsofpower
inhisprovince,suchas,thereliefoftheProvincialCommanderandconferringonhisbrother,Bonito,
whoishismortalenemy,apositionregardingjueteng.
Cong.AsistioclarifiedthatinthemanymeetingshehadwithGov.Singsonduringtheperiodlate
AugusttoSeptember2000,theymainlytalkedaboutthestateoftheIlocosSurprovincialleadership
andoccasionallyGov.SingsonssuspicionsregardingAtongAngsdesignstocornerbingotwoballs
andeasehimout.AccordingtoCong.Asistio,Gov.Singsonisworriedthathiscontinuedprovincial

leadershipwillbeaffectedbythedevelopments.Cong.Asistioalsotestifiedtheynevertalkedabout
jueteng,orreceiptofjuetengmoniesortheallegedreceiptofmoneyfromR.A.7171sinceaccordingto
him,heknewoftheseissuesonlyduringtheImpeachmentTrialandhethinksthatthesearemere
figmentsofGov.Singsonsimagination.
Cong.Asistioalsotestifiedthathe,togetherwithMayorLim,wenttothehouseofGov.Singsonto
persuadethelatternottopushthroughwiththepressconference.
Cong.AsistioalsotestifiedthatinhisvisitstoMalacaangduringthetimeofFPres.Estrada,atleast
threetimesaweek,heneversawAtongAngtherebecauseAtongAngwasbannedbytheFPres.
EstradafromenteringMalacaang.[TSN,October11,2004andOctober13,2004]
ATTY.ESTELITAD.CORDERO(Cordero)testifiedthatshewasaclosefriendMrs.HoneyGirl
Singson,sisterofGov.Singson,andworkedasalegalconsultantforMrs.HoneyGirlSingsonwhenthe
latterwasappointedasDirectorGeneraloftheTechnologyandLivelihoodResourceCenter(TLRC)
untilOctober12,2000.[TSN,November8,2004,pp.9,1112,14]

CorderotestifiedthatinOctober2001,membersoftheSaveIlocosSurAlliance(SISA)visitedherin
herofficeandrequestedhertogooverseveralauditreports(1999to2000,SAOSpecialReport1999)
oftheprovinceandtofindoutifthereisanybasisforfilinganyactionagainstresponsiblepublic
officialsoftheprovince.[Ibid.,p.38]Aftergoingthroughthedocuments,witnessCordero,together
withmembersofSISAandotherconcernedcitizens,decidedtofilecriminalcomplaintsagainstGov.
Singsonandotherresponsibleofficersoftheprovincewhodidsomeanomaloustransactionstothe
detrimentoftheprovince.[Ibid.,pp.4445]
WitnessthoughtthatthetestimonyofEmmaLimintheimpeachmenttrialwereallliesbecausefrom
thestatementofGov.Singson,hedidnothaveanythingtodowithjuetengandthedeliveryofthe
money.Thus,witnessclaimedthatallofthesewerefabricatedstatementsonthepartofEmmaLim.
[TSN,November10,2004,pp.2628]
WitnessCorderoalsotestifiedthatGov.Singsonwasthejuetenglordintheirprovince
andneighboringprovinces,andallmattersrelatingtojueteng,suchas,employment,people,
operationswereunderthecontrolofGov.Singson.[Ibid.,pp.2930]
BRIG.GEN.RODOLFODOCTORDIAZ,aretiredmilitaryofficer,wasassignedasthe
CommandingOfficerofthePresidentialescorts,oneofthemajorunitsofthePresidential
Security Group, in 1998 when FPres. Estrada assumed office. He testified that he was
familiarwiththeprivateresidenceofFPres.Estradain..AccordingtoGen.Diaz,onlythe
First Familys vehicles were allowed to park in the garage. Only five vehicles could be
accommodatedthereandusuallythecarsparkedtherewerethePresidentsprimaryand

secondarycar,aswellasanSUVandtwomorecars.Witnessalsodetailedthesecurity
measuresfollowedin.In,visitorswereneverallowedtoparktheircarsinsidethegarage.
[TSN,June1,2005,pp.5056]
ThewitnessdidnotseeAtongAngeitheratorinMalacanangsincethePresidenthas
beenelected. HehadseenMr.JaimeDichavestwice;Mr.BabyAsistio,onceortwice. He
didnotseeGovernorSingsonin[Ibid.,pp.8183]

RICARDOGREYGOLPEO,General
ManagerofthePhilippineCharity
SweepstakesOffice(PCSO)fromFebruary
2000toFebruary2001,testifiedthatheand
thenPSCOChairmanRosarioLopezwere
summonedbyFPres.EstradatoMalacaang
inMarch2000.Onthatoccasion,FPres.
Estradainformedthemthatjuetenghad
becomeabigproblemtohimandwantedto
knowifthePCSOcandosomethingtofight
jueteng.Thewitnessrepliedthattheywill
studytheinstructionofthePresident.
ChairmanLopezinstructedwitnessto
personallyhandlethematter.Atthetimethe
witnessleftPCSO,hetestifiedthatthePCSO

hadnotcomeupwithasuggestiontothe
Presidentonhowtoeradicatejueteng.[TSN,
April11,2005,pp.1117,19,30)]
DANILODELAROSAREYES wasaMemberoftheBoardofTrusteesoftheErap
MuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.andtheActingTreasurerofthesaidfoundation.Hewasalso
anAssociateProfessorattheNationalCollegeofPublicAdministrationandGovernancein
theUniversityofthePhilippines(UP)DilimanandtheVicePresidentforEducationalServices
fortheErapParasaMahirapFoundation
ReyestestifiedthattheErapParasaMahirapFoundationwasdulyestablishedin
1988andhad14,000recipientsofscholarshipsasoftheyear2000.AmongtheIncorporators
ofthesaidfoundationwasFPres.Estrada.TheErapParasaMahirapFoundation,however,
encountered financial constraints so the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, Inc. came into
existence.
ReyesrelatedthatRaulP.DeGuzman,abrotherinlawofFPres.Estrada,invitedhim
tojoininestablishingafoundationforthepooranddeservingMuslimstudentsinlinewiththe
visionofFPres.EstradaofdevelopinganewgenerationofMuslimleaders.Hethenidentified
thedocumentsrelatedtotheregistrationoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.(Exhs.
251 to 255, 262 to 271, inclusive of submarkings) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). The Erap Muslim Youth Foundation, Inc. was duly organized in
accordance with law and had conducted its business upon incorporation for bona fide
purposesasstatedinitsArticlesofIncorporation(Exh.252)andAmendedByLaws(Exh.
255).TheoriginalMembersoftheBoardofTrusteeswere:Prof.MilaReformina,Dr.RaulP.
DeGuzman,Atty.EdwardS.Serapio,Dr.DaniloReyes,andMr.GeorgeL.Go,wholater
resigned.
The word ERAP affixed to the name Muslim Youth Foundation was allegedly an

acronym for Education, Research, and Assistance Program. The funding of the said
foundation wasprovided bythe Erap Golf Cup,which donated theamountofTen Million
Pesos (P10,000,000.00); the contributions of the Board of Trustees in the amount of
P20,000.00each;andaTwoHundredMillionPeso(P200,000,000.00)donationfromadonor
which,accordingtoSerapio,wouldliketoremainanonymous.TheamountofTenMillionOne
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P10,100,000.00) was deposited with the UCPB and eventually
transferred to Metrobank while the Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000.00) was
depositedwithEquitablePCIBank.TheTenMillionPesos(P10,000,000.00)wasthesource
ofthefoundationsoperatingexpensesandforminimalscholarshipprogramduringthetime
materialinthiscase.
AccordingtoReyes,theErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.had(four(4)scholarsfor
MAinIslamicStudiesintheUniversityoftheforschoolyear20042005. Forthesecond
semesterofthatschoolyear,thefoundationaddedfour(4)morescholarsforMastersDegree,
two in the University of the and the other two in the Philippine Normal University. The
scholarswereonlygivenTenThousandPesos(P10,000.00)persemester.Reyesexplained
thatthefoundationwasinhiatusforthree(3)yearsbecauseitsfundswerefrozenbyacourt
orderandthattheyconductedmeetingsaftertherecuperationofDr.DeGuzmanwhogot
sick,andafterthereleaseonbailofAtty.Serapio.
Reyesalsotestifiedastotheappointmentpapersoftheemployerofthefoundation,suchasthe
ExecutiveAssistant,theAssistantCorporateSecretaryandtheUtilityMessenger.Theofficeaddress
ofthefoundationwastransferredfromtothein.[TSN,February21,2005;February23,2005;and
March2,2005]
EUGENE MACAMASBAD, a Police Senior Inspector with the Philippine National
Police,broughtwithhimthedocumentsrequiredinthesubpoenaaddressedtoGen.Arturo
LomibaoofthePNPorhisauthorizedrepresentative.Heproducedacertifiedtruecopyofa
Memorandum Circular 2000003, certified by Celia Redison (Exh. 365). As to the
memorandumdatedJuly19,2000whichwassubpoenaed,thesamecouldnotbelocatedas
shownbyacertificationdated29July2005issuedbytheDeputyChiefofthePACER.(Exh.
380)[TSN,August1,2005,pp.6069]ThewitnesscametoCourtandproducedtheabove
documentsonlyuponverbalinstructionfromhisofficers.Hewasnottherecordscustodian

andhedidnothaveanyknowledgeaboutrecordsbeingmaintainedbytheiroffice.[Ibid.,pp.
7072,id.]
SEN.EDGARDOANGARA,alawyerandasenatorwhenhetestifiedinCourt,knew
Gov.Singson.Theywerecompadres,beinggodfathersattheweddingofSingsonsniece.In
September2000,Gov.SingsonmadeanunexpectedvisitatSenatorAngarasfarmtorequest
thatthe witnesstalktoPresidentEstrada aboutthe2ballsgame. Gov.Singsontoldthe
witnessthatthefranchiseforthesaidgameinIlocosSurwasgiventohispoliticalopponent
andhewaslosingfacewithhissupporters.Gov.Singsonwantedthefranchisetogotohim
orifitcannotbegranted,thatthegameof2ballsnotbeallowedaltogetherinIlocos. The
witness replied that he would go down to and call the President to relay Gov. Singsons
message.[TSN,June1,2005,pp.1315]
Sen.AngararememberedGov.SingsonsayingthatthefranchisewasgiventoEric
Singson. Gov. Singson even mentioned a list of of jueteng payoffs and that one of the
beneficiaries was the President. When Sen. Angara mentioned to FPres. Estrada Gov.
Singsonsrequestregarding2ballsandstatementsregardingjueteng,thePresidentdenied
thathewasarecipientofanypayoff,sayinghehadnothingtodowithit[2balls]butthatit
wasAtongAngsjurisdiction[Ibid.,pp.16and24]
After Sen. Angara relayed the answer of the President, Gov. Singson asked the
witnesstotalktoAtongAngandthewitnesssaidhewilltry.Whenthewitnesswasableto
talktoAtongAngandrepeatedGov.Singsonsrequest,AtongAngrepliedhewillstudyitor
thathewillhavetoconsultPAGCOR.ThewitnessdeniedhavingtoldGov.SingsonGrabe
to.HuwagkanglumabasatakongbahalakayPresidentedahilbakapatikamingmgaCabinet
membersmaaapektuhannito.[Ibid.,pp.1718,2425]Witnesssawthelistofpayoffsshown
bySingson,buthedidnotreadit.[Ibid.,pp.30,43]
FINDINGSOFFACT
Re:Subparagraph(a)oftheAmendedInformation
Withrespecttotheallegedactsofreceivingorcollectionofsumsofmoneyfrom

illegalgambling,commonlyknownasjueteng,intheformofshareorpercentage,theCourt
finds credible material portions of Gov. Chavit Singsons testimony insofar as they are
corroboratedbyindependentandcompetentevidence.
TheCourtconcedesthatGov.ChavitSingsondidnothavethepurestofmotivesin
exposing the jueteng collections which he testified were done for the benefit of FPres.
Estrada.Undoubtedlyandbyhisownadmission,heresentednotbeinggiventhefranchise
fortheBingoTwoBalls,thegovernmentsanctionednumbersgame,inhishomeprovinceof
IlocosSur.Hefearedthedemiseofhispoliticalcareerasthesaidfranchisewasgiventohis
politicalopponents,EricSingsonandhisbrotherBonitoSingson,totheembarrassmentofthe
mayorswhowereaffiliatedtohim.Gov.ChavitSingsonwasdisappointedtosaytheleastthat
Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, the other son of FPres. Estrada, Secretary Edgardo
Angara,SecretaryAlfredoLim,friendslikeLuisAsistioandMarkJimenez,whomGov.Chavit
SingsonapproachedtointercedetoFPres.Estradatohelphimsecurethefranchise,were
unsuccessful. Gov.ChavitSingsonwasalsodispleasedthatFPres.Estradawouldnotuse
theOfficeofthePresidencytohelphimwithhistroublewiththeCommissiononAuditwhich
wasdemandinghisliquidationoftheTwoHundredMillionPesos(P200,000,000.00)shareof
IlocosSurintheexcisetaxescollectedunderRANo.7171.TheCourtwillnotcitethealleged
attemptonthelifeofGov.ChavitSingsonintheeveningofOctober3,2000consideringthe
contradictoryevidenceonthismatterconsistingofthetestimonyoftheenforcementofficers
ontheincident.
TheactsofcollectionofjuetengprotectionmoneyforFPres.Estradafromvarious
provincesnationwidepermonthaswellasthepaymentstohimandtovariouspersonsfrom
suchsumsofmoneywithhisapprovaloracquiescenceweremethodicallydetailedintwosets
ofledgers:thefirstsetcoveringtheperiodbeginningNovember1998toJuly1999(Exh.W7to
E8),andthesecondsetfortheperiodstartingAugust1999toAugust2000(Exh.A4toA4
l).ThefirstsetofledgerswerepersonallypreparedbyGov.ChavitSingson,aidedbyEmma
Lim and Carmencita Itchon, while the second set of ledgers were prepared by Yolanda
Ricaforte,underthesupervisionofGov.ChavitSingsonandalsowiththehelpofLimand
Itchon.Insofarasthecollectionofjuetengmoneyisconcerned,EmmaLimandCarmencita

Itchon,bytheirownadmissionperformedsimilarrolesasYolandaRicaforteexceptthatthe
latterreceiveddoubletheamountofthemonthlysalaryofLimandItchonbyvirtueofher
supervisorystatus.
The accused would have this Court dismiss the ledgers as hearsay and/or mere
fabrications.However,therearecircumstanceswhichlendcredibilitytothesaidledgers.The
firstsetofledgers(Exh.W7toE8)wasfaxedbyRicafortetoSingsonjustbeforeGov.Chavit
Singsonmadehisexposewhilethe secondsetofledgers(Exh.A4 to A4l)wasinthe
possessionofRicaforte,whichsheproducedduringtheSenateImpeachmentproceedings,
astestifiedtobyAtty.DavidJonathanYap,theSenateLegalCounsel.
YolandaRicafortewascloselyassociatedtoFPres.Estrada,beingthewifeofOrestes
Ricaforte,whowasappointedbyFPres.EstradaasUndersecretaryofTourism. Ricaforte
openedseveralaccountsinthedifferentbranchesofEquitablePCIBankwithunusuallyhuge
depositsandinvestmentsinmultipleofmillionsofpesosduringtheperiodcoveredbythe
secondsetofledgers.
Pertestimonyof,inScoutTobiasTimogBranch,Ricaforteopenedasavingsaccount,
acurrentaccount,sevenspecialsavingsaccountandaPCIEmeraldaccount.IntheSavings
AccountNo.0157042270alone,aftertheinitialdepositofP17,205,000.00onSeptember1,
1999,shedepositedfromSeptember7,1999toJanuary10,2000,astaggeringtotalamount
ofP57,712,150.00. Theinitialdepositsforeachoftheseven(7)SpecialSavingsAccounts
were: P70,000,000.00 (December 2, 1999); P10,000,000.00 (February 7, 2000);
P2,500,000.00(March29,2000);P9,700,000.00(April5,2000);2,500,000.00(May29,2000)
P1,900,000.00(May4,2000);andP2,000,000.00(June1,2000). ThedepositinthePCI
EmeraldFundwasP6,616,676.19(December6,2000).
AccordingtoRosarioS.Bautista,in DilimanMatalinoBranch,Ricaforte openedon
November 19, 1999 a combo account: Savings Account No. 0288020370 and Current
AccountNo.0238008530withaninitialdepositofP70,000,000.00coveredbytwo(2)PCI
BankCheckspayabletocasheachintheamountofP35,000,000.00,drawnbyWilliamT.
Gatchalian.Additionaldepositswere:acheck(Exh.A7h)issuedbyGov.ChavitSingsonon

November22,1999forP1,000,000.00;anothercheckdatedDecember9,1999withPNB
Nagaasdraweebank(Exh.A7j);cashdepositofP3,050,000.00(Exh.A7d)onDecember
2,1999;andcashdepositofP1,000,000.00onJanuary28,2000.
InthePedroGilRobinsonsBranch,accordingtoShakiraC.Yu,Ricaforteopenedon
January6,2000,aRegularSavingsAccountwithaninitialdepositofP6,000,000.00.Other
depositsconsistedof:(1)checkdrawnbyGov.ChavitSingsonforP2,965,000.00;(2)cash
depositofP1,540,000.00onJanuary25,2000;andcheckdrawnbyGov.ChavitSingsonin
theamountofP1,340,000.00.
IntheT.M.KalawBranch,PabillontestifiedthatRicaforteopenedRegularSavings
AccountNo.0193614968andSpecialSavingsAccountNo.02193150503onFebruary8,
2000, with the initial deposits in PNB Managers Check (Exh. A9A) in the amount of
P10,007,777.78andcashofP1,400,000.00.
IntheScoutAlbanoBranch,AlcaraztestifiedthatRicaforteopenedonMarch2,2000
three accounts with initial deposits as follows: Savings Account No. 5733151543,
P1,995,000.00; Special Savings Account No. 573307210, P2,000,000.00; and Checking
AccountNo.5732019757,P5,000.00.
InIsidoraHillsBranch,GonzalestestifiedthatRicaforteopenedonMarch15,2000,
among others, Special Savings Account No. 0770904986 with the initial deposit of
P7,000,000.00intheformofMetropolitanBankandTrustCo.CheckdrawnbyGov.Chavit
Singsonpayabletocash.
Bank officials, such as Salvador R. Serrano, Patrick Dee Cheng, and Carolina S.
Guerrero,testifiedtotheexistenceofcheckspaidbyChavitSingsonwhichlandedinthe
accountsofpersonsassociatedwithFPres.Estrada:(1)MetrobankCheckNo.0000917of
Gov.ChavitSingsonforP5,000,000.00whichwasdepositedonFebruary2,1999inAccount
No.0610146367ofPaulGaryBogardatSecurityBank;(2)MetrobankCheckNo.00138
drawnbyChavitSingsononSeptember29,1999intheamountofP8,000,000.00deposited
intheaccountofMrs.LuisaP.Ejercito;(3)MetrobankAyalaCenterCheckNo.000132drawn

byGov.ChavitSingsonpayabletoWilliamGatchalianintheamountofP46,350,000.00;(4)
MetrobankCheckNo.001547issuedbyGov.ChavitSingsonintheamountofP1,200,000.00
whichwasdepositedintheAccountNo.01804090003ofLaarniEnriquezonDecember23,
1999.
TheErapMuslimYouthFoundation
The paper trail of the P200,000,000.00 deposited for the Erap Muslim Youth
Foundation,Inc.incontrovertiblyestablishedthatthesaidsumofmoneycamefromjueteng
collections through the cashiers / managers checks purchased by Ricaforte using the
depositsintheaccountsthatsheopenedinthedifferentbranchesofEquitablePCIBank
described above, as follows: Cashiers Check for P91,000,000.00, Scout TobiasTimog
Branch,April13,2000(Exh.A6S);CashiersCheckforP77,000,000.00,DilimanMatalino
Branch, April 13, 2000 (Exh. A7ee); Cashiers Check for P11,000,000.00, Pedro Gil
RobinsonsBranch,April13,2000(Exh.A9B);ManagersCheckforP3,000,000.00,Scout
AlbanoBranch,April12,2000(Exh.A10K);andCashiersCheckforP7,000,000.00,Isidora
HillsBranch,April14,2000.
AntonioFortuno,BankOperationsOfficerofEquitablePCIBankPacificStarBranch,
testifiedthattheaforementionedsix(6)checksweredepositedinBearerAccountNo.0279
042255.Fromthesaidbeareraccount,fourteen(14)withdrawalsinManagersChecks(Exh.
K9toX9withsubmarkings)weremadeinvariousamounts.Eachwithdrawalwasdividedinto
twodepositsoratotaloftwentyeight(28)depositsofvariousamountsintotheErapMuslim
YouthFoundation,asshownbytheAccountInformationSlips,DepositReceipts,andDetailed
ReportforTransfersandDebit/CreditMemos(DRTM)(Exh.K9toX9withsubmarkings).
Fortuno identified the Acknowledgement Letter (Exh. I9) dated April 25, 2000
addressedtoAtty.SerapiofromBeatrizBagsit,DivisionHeadofMakatiArea,acknowledging
receiptofthesaidsix(6)checksfordepositonstaggeredbasisandondifferentdatestothe
accountofErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.atOrtigasStrataBranch.
AidaT.BasalisocorroboratedthetestimonyofbankofficerFortunoastotheinter

branchdepositsatEquitablePCIBankStrataOrtigasBranchinSavingsAccountNo.0192
858356oftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,Inc.fromthePacificStarBranchofthesame
bankintheamountofP200,000,000.00onstaggeredbasis.
The slew of bank documents, involving mindboggling amounts of money and
authenticatedbycompetentandcrediblebankofficers,convincestheCourtthatcollectionof
juetengmoneyforFPres.Estradaindeedtookplaceandtheentriesintheledgerwerenot
manufacturedbyGov.ChavitSingson.
Paymentsordisbursementsofthejuetengprotectionmoneytopersonsrelatedtoor
closelyassociatedwithFPres.Estradabeliehisdenialthatthefundsaccountedforinthe
ledgersbelongtohim.Indeed,theCourtcannotseewhyGov.ChavitSingsonwouldmake
such large and substantial payments in the form of checks drawn from his Metrobank
account,topersonalitiessuchasWilliamGatchalian,LaarniEnriquez,LoiEstrada,orother
intimateassociatesofFPres.EstradaunlessthemoneybelongedtoFPres.Estradaandthe
fundswerebeingdisbursedaccordingtohisinstructions.Theevidencedoesnotshowwhy
Gov. Chavit Singson would choose Ricaforte to take over the supervision of the jueteng
collection and let her deposit millions of pesos into Ricafortes accounts in the different
branchesoftheEquitablePCIBankwhenRicafortehadnopriorassociationnorrelationto
Gov.Singsonandthatthelatterhadhisowntrustedassociates.Asadmittedbytheaccused,
itwasFPres.EstradawhohadalongstandingandcloserelationshipwithRicaforteandher
husband. This fact would explain Ricafortes vital participation in the preparation of the
secondsetofledgers.ThesaidledgerswerepreparedandlaterproducedbeforetheSenate
byRicaforteandnotbyGov.Singson.
ThefirstsetofledgersshowthatP72,500,000.00ofjuetengmoneywerehandedto
FPres.Estrada,aliasAsiong Salonga from November1998toJuly1999. Basedon the
secondsetofledgers,thetotalamountofjuetengmoneythatFPres.Estradareceivedwas
P112,800,000.00fromAugust1999toAugust2000.Fortheentiredurationorperiodcovered
bythe2setsofledgersofthetotalamountofP185,300,000.00.washandedbyGov.Chavit
Singson to FPres. Estrada bimonthly. The balance, after these amounts were given to

FPres. Estrada and the deduction of expenses, were deposited by Ricaforte in her bank
accounts.Basedonthetwo(2)setsofledgersthetotaljuetengcollectionsforFPres.Estrada
fromNovember1998toAugust2000amountedtoP545,291,000.00.TheP200,000,000.00
of these sums of money found their way into the account of the Erap Muslim Youth
Foundation.
WithrespecttoJinggoyEstrada,accordingtoGov.Singson,hewastheJinglistedas
anexpenseintheledgerforP1,000,000.00. ItwasGov.SingsonstestimonythatFPres.
Estrada(afterdiscoveringthatentry)forbadeGov.ChavitSingsonfromgivinganyfurther
shareinthejuetengprotectionmoneytoJinggoyEstradaandthatitwillbeuptoFPres.
EstradatogiveJinggoyEstradaashare.Forthisreason,Gov.ChavitSingsonandJinggoy
EstradahidthefactthatJinggoyEstradawasthecollectorfortheandthatthelatterwas
receivingP1,000,000.00.Tobeginwith,theprosecutionstheorythatJinggoyEstradahadto
keep his participation in the jueteng collection a secret from his own father belied the
allegationthatJinggoyEstradasparticipationinthejuetengschemewasthatofaprincipalor
aconspirator. ThegrantofbailtoJinggoyEstradawasanchoredonthisfactadvancedby
Gov.Singsoninhisveryowntestimony.AlthoughprosecutionwitnessGov.Singson,andthe
other witnesses who were under his employ, testified that there were instances that they
collectedorreceivedmoneyfromJinggoyEstrada,therewasnotestimonytotheeffectthat
theysawJinggoyEstradasubtractedhissharefromjuetengcollectionsorinanyotherway
receivedasharefromthejuetengcollections. ThisCourtfurtherfounditdifficulttobelieve
thatJinggoyEstrada,whowasnotevenaresidentofBulacan,wasthecollectorforBulacan.
Gov.SingsonassociatesJinggoyEstradawithViceoallegedlyfromBulacan.WhoisViceo?
WhywasViceonotchargedifitwastruethatjuetengcollectionsfromBulacancamefromhim
beforethey passedthehandsofJinggoy? Therewasnoevidenceatall thatthemoney
JinggoyEstradaturnedovertoGov.Singsonorthelattersrepresentativeswaspartofthe
juetengprotectionmoneycollectedfromBulacanorthathereceivedfundsfromacertain
Viceo.
Theprosecutiondidnotalsorebutthebankcertificationpresentedbythedefensethat
JinggoyEstradadidnothaveanaccountwiththeUnitedOverseasBank. Thecertification

disprovedthetestimonyofEmmaLimthatthedepositslipintheamountofP1,000,000.00
saidtobepartofjuetengmoneywasturnedovertoherbyJinggoyEstradaintheformofa
personalizedcheckwithhisphotograph,fromhisaccountattheUnitedOverseasBank.The
gapsintheprosecutionsevidenceastoJinggoyEstradacreateuncertaintyinthemindofthe
Court as to the participation of Jinggoy Estrada in the collection and receipt of jueteng
money. ThisCourthadalreadybrushedasideprosecutionsrelianceonthetelephonecalls
andbillingstatementsforsuchcallsbetweenRicaforteandJinggoyEstradatoprovethathe
wasajuetengcollectorforBulacan,forbeinghighlyspeculative.TheCourtsrulingremains
firmtothisday.
WithrespecttoSerapio,neitherGov.ChavitSingsonstestimonynortheledgerentries
proved thatSerapiowasinvolvedinanywayinthecollectionordisbursementofjueteng
protectionmoney.Certainly,Serapiosinvolvementappearstohavebegunandwaslimitedto
thefundsoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation.Serapioisbeingchargedwithlaunderingor
concealing a portion of the jueteng protection money in the amount of approximately
P200,000,000.00whichwasdepositedintheaccountoftheErapMuslimYouthFoundation.
TothisCourtsmind,whiletheP200,000,000.00wasclearlyillegallyamassedwealth,
theevidenceonrecordisinsufficienttoprovebeyondreasonabledoubtthatSerapiowas
aware that the questioned funds were in fact amassed from jueteng protection money
collectionsandthatthefactoftheunusuallylargeamountofthedepositsintothefoundations
accountwaswithcriminalintentonthepartofSerapiotolaunderorconcealtheillegal
natureofthefundstoservethepurposeoftheacquisitionoramassingofillgottenwealthby
FPres.Estrada.Theonlyevidencepresentedonthispointistheuncorroboratedtestimonyof
Gov.ChavitSingsonthatSerapiowaspresentduringthemeetingwhereinFPres.Estrada
instructedthetransferoftheamountofP200,000,000.00tothefoundation. TheCourthas
reservations as to the credibility of Gov. Singsons assertion in this regard because Gov.
SingsonfailedtomentionSerapiospresenceonthatoccasionduringhistestimonyatthe
SenateImpeachmenttrial.NeithercantheCourtconsiderfromthesinglefactalonethathe
arranged the staggered deposit of the said sum of money to the Erap Muslim Youth
Foundation that he had a criminal intent to conceal illgotten wealth in furtherance of the

accumulationofsuchwealthbytheprincipalaccused.Moreso,thisCourtisnotpreparedto
conclusivelyrulethattheErapMuslimYouthFoundationisnotalegitimatefoundationorthat
it was set up purely to hide his illegally amassed wealth. The incorporation papers and
businesspermitsoftheFoundationareauthenticandregular. Thepersonalitiesbehindthe
saidfoundationappeartobewellrespectedacademicians.Fortunatelyorunfortunately,the
publicrevelationofthenatureoftheP200,000,000.00aspartofjuetengprotectionmoney
collectedforFPres.EstradacametoosoonaftertheorganizationoftheFoundation. The
Courtisnotinapositiontoascertainwithmoralcertaintyifthiscontroversypreemptedany
legitimatecharitableactivitiesitcouldhaveundertakensoonafteritsincorporationasitwas
explained by defense witnesses or whether it was as the prosecution asserted a money
launderingentity.Premisesconsidered,itisdifficulttopresumeanycriminalintentonthepart
of Serapio to conceal or launder jueteng protection money in order to contribute to the
amassing and accumulation of illgotten wealth by FPres. Estrada in connection with the
transferoftheP200,000,000.00totheErapMuslimYouthFoundation,notwithstandingthat
theevidenceonrecorddemonstrateindisputablythatthesaidsumofmoneyformpartofill
gotten wealth obtained though the predicate acts charged in subparagraph (a) of the
AmendedInformation.
RE:SUBPARAGRAPHBOFTHE
AMENDEDINFORMATION
_____________________________
(b)byDIVERTING,RECEIVING,misappropriating,convertingOR
misusingDIRECTLYORINDIRECTLY,forHISORTHEIRPERSONAL
gainandbenefit,publicfundsintheamountofONEHUNDREDTHIRTY
MILLION PESOS [P130,000,000.00], more or less, representing a
portion of the TWO HUNDRED MILLION PESOS [P200,000,000.00]
tobaccoexcisetaxshareallocatedfortheProvinceofIlocosSurunder
R.A.No.7171,BYHIMSELFAND/ORinCONNIVANCEwithcoaccused
CharlieAtongAng,AlmaAlfaro, JOHNDOEa.k.a. EleuterioTan OR
EleuterioRamosTanorMr.Uy,andJaneDoea.k.a.DeliaRajas,AND
OTHERJOHNDOESANDJANEDOES;

I.EVIDENCEFORTHEPROSECUTION
GOVERNOR LUIS CHAVIT CRISOLOGO SINGSON also testified to prove the

second charge in the amended Information involving the diversion of excise taxes under
RepublicAct(RA)No.7171.[TSNdated,pp.7880]AccordingtoGov.Singson,IlocosSur
was notgetting itsrightful share as a beneficiaryofthe excise tax. He reminded FPres.
EstradaofhiscampaignpromisethathewouldreleaseallthefundstoIlocosSurinadvance,
amounting more or less to Four Million Pesos (P4,000,000.00) including interest. FPres.
Estradapromisedtocomplybuthesaidthatbecauseofthehugeelectionexpenseshehoped
thatGov.Singsonwouldhelp.Since,Gov.Singsonwasafraidnottogetthefunds,hesaid:
Why not? when FPres.Estrada asked: How much? Gov. Singson replied Maybe Ten
Percent(10%)ofwhatyoucanrelease.FPres.EstradainstructedGov.Singsontoprepare
hisrequestandhewillapproveit.Gov.SingsonbroughttherequestaddressedtoSecretary
Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). FPres. Estrada wrote a
marginal note on the request addressed to the DBM with instruction to approve it. The
originaloftheletterwassubmittedtoSecretaryDiokno. Gov.Singsonproducedincourta
Xeroxcopywiththeoriginalstampmarkofreceiptdated8/7.Themarginalnotereads:.To
SecretaryBenDiokno,PleaseseeifyoucanaccommodatetherequestofGovernorSingson
(Exh.Q8andsubmarkings).[Ibid,pp.8196]

AccordingtoGov.Singson,JinggoyEstradaandAtongAngkeptonfollowingupthe
releaseofthemoneyfromDBM.Anoticeoffundingcheckissued(Fund103datedAugust
25, 1998) (Exh. R8) was received by Gov. Singson. Gov. Singson immediately informed
JinggoyEstradaandAtongAng.ThelattertoldGov.SingsonthatthePresidentneededOne
HundredThirtyMillionPesos(P130,000,000.00).Gov.Singsonwassurprisedbecausetheir
agreementwasonlytenpercent(10%).Atongtoldhimtherewillbebillionsofpesos,sothey
should be the first one to deliver to FPres. Estrada and thus be the strongest and more
influential (to the Former President). Gov. Singson then caused the preparation of a
Provincial Board resolution appropriating the sum of Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00). TheBoardapprovedtheappropriationofOneHundredSeventyMillion
Pesos(P170Million)forthefluecuringbarnandThirtyMillionPesos(P30,000,000.00)for
infrastructure.AtongAnggaveGov.Singsonthree(3)namestowhomthemoneywouldbe

sent, which they did. Landbank Vigan transferred One Hundred Thirty Million Pesos
(P130,000,000.00)toLandbankMandaluyongwhichcreditedtheaccountsofthethree(3)
personsnamedbyAtongAngasfollows:AccountNo.056104338,AlmaAlfaro,August27,
1998, P40,000,000.00; Account No. 0561044597, Delia Rojas, August 28, 1998,
P50,000,000.00; and Account No. 0561044600, Eleuterio Tan, August 28, 1998,
P40,000,000.00.ThetotalamountedtoP130,000,000.00.

The above data were contained in a certification of Landbank Branch Head Ma.
ElizabethBalagot(Exh.S8).[Ibid,pp.96108] Gov.SingsondidnotpersonallyknowDelia
Rajas,AlmaAlfaroorEleuterioTan.Inaphotograph(Exh.V8),Gov.SingsonidentifiedJojo
Uy as the Eleuterio Tan who showed up at the bank to withdraw the money. Jojo Uy,
accordingtoGov.SingsonwasveryclosetoFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,pp.109110]

Gov. Singson narrated that Atong Ang called him up from his mothers house and
askedGov.Singsontogotherewheretheywillwaitforthemoney.Gov.Singsonwenttothe
houseofAtongAngsmotheratinthemorningandwaitedthereuntilintheafternoon.When
the money arrived, Gov. Singson noticed that Atong Ang left some money in the house.
AtongAngandGov.SingsonboardedAtongAngsvehicle,andGov.Singsonsvehiclewith
thesecurityanddriverfollowedthem. AtthecornernearthehouseofFPres.Estradaat,
AtongAngaskedGov.Singsontoalightfromhisvehiclesothatitwouldnotbeobvioustothe
people in the vicinity. Gov. Singson alighted from the vehicle and saw Atong Angs car
enteredinsidethehouseofFPres.Estrada.AtongAngwastheonedrivingthecar.After15
to 20 minutes, Gov. Singson followed Atong Ang to the house of FPres. Estrada. Gov.
SingsonthenmettheFirstLady,Dr.LoiEstradawhothankedGov.Singson,sayingChavit,
thankyouverymuchwereallyneededit.Gov.SingsontookthemoneywhichheandAtong
Angbrought.[Ibid,pp.111114]WhenFPres.Estradacameout,Gov.Singsonaskedhimhow
much Atong Ang gave him. FPres. Estrada answered Seventy Million Pesos

(P70,000,000.00).Gov.SingsoninformedhimthatthetotalamountwasOneHundredThirty
MillionPesos(P130,000,000.00).FPresEstradagotmadatAtongAngwhoexplainedthathe
gaveTwentyMillionPesos(P20,000,000.00)toDr.LoiEstrada,andFifteenMillionPesos
(P15,000,000.00) to Jinggoy Estrada. Atong Ang found it hard to explain the remaining
TwentyFiveMillionPesos(P25,000,000.00).[Ibid,pp.114116]

Gov.SingsonfrequentedthehouseofFPres.Estrada. Atonetime,thelatterasked
himagaintomakearequestfortheexcisetaxallocationwhichhewillapprove.Gov.Singson
explainedthatthereleaseofthemoneymustbecontinuedinbigamountsothattheycould
coveruptheOneHundredThirtyMillionPesos(P130,000,000.00). FPres.Estradaagreed
but he did not give the billions promised. Hence, Gov. Singson could not cover up the
(P130,000,000.00). WhentoldbyGov.SingsonthattheCommissiononAudit(COA)was
pesteringthem,FPres.EstradaaskedGov.Singsontocoveritupinthemeanwhile. The
amountofFortyMillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)outoftheOneHundredThirtyMillionPesos
(P130,000,000.00)waspaidtothesupplierofthefluecuringbarnwhichweredeliveredbythe
supplierandinauguratedbyFPres.Estradaasshownbythepicturestakenonthatoccasion
(Exhs.T8andU8).Thefluecuringbarnwasneededbythetobaccofarmerstosavetimeand
money.[Ibid,pp.116121]

Gov.SingsonreferredtotheinauguralspeechofFPres.Estradawherethelatterstated
walang kamakamaganak, walang kaikaibigan,walang kumpakumpadre. Gov. Singson
saidafterwhathappenedthatitwouldmeanevenfriendsshouldpaytoFPres.Estrada.[Ibid,
pp.122124]

Gov.Singsondemonstratedin Court,from thewitnessstanduptothedoorofthe


courtroomandbackinmoreorlesstwenty(20)seconds,thathe,whohadsmallerbuiltthan

Atong Ang, could carry a box containing Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) in
demonetizedbillsfromtheCentralBankinOneThousandPesos(P1,000.00)denomination
each.ThereweretwentybundlesofOneMillionPesos(P1,000,000.00)perbundleinsidethe
box.Thedistancebetweenthewitnessstandandthedoorofthecourtroomwasthirteen(13)
meters.[Ibid,pp.124135]TheboxcarriedbyGov.Singsonweighedmorethanten(10)kilos
andfivebundlesofcashamountingtoP5,000,000.00weighed4.8kilos.[Ibid,pp.172173]
JAMISBATULANSINGSON(Jamis)furthertestifiedthathe,Gov.Singson,hisescort
FedericoArtates,andDriverFaustinoPrudence,lefttheofficeofGov.Singsonontofetch
AtongAnginhisofficeatPinaglabanan. Theyallproceededtothehouseofthemotherof
AtongAng.Gov.SingsonandAtongAngwentinsidethehousewhiletherestwaitedoutside.
Later,AtongAng,Gov.SingsonandWilliamAng,thebrotherofAtongAng,wentout.Gov.
SingsoninstructedthemtoaccompanyWilliamtoWestmontBank,.Jamis,Artates,William
AngandthedriverofAtongAngrodetheMitsubishiVanownedbyAtongAng.WilliamAng
went inside the bank and after 3 hours came out with Jojo Uy and two security guards
carryingtwoboxeseachoratotaloffour(4)boxes.JojoUywasafamilyfriendofAtongAng,
whomJamisoftensawintheofficeofAtongAng.JamisidentifiedJojoUyinaphotograph
(Exh.V8).Eachoftheboxeswerebrownincolor,withalengthofmorethanten(10)inches,
heightoftwelve(12)inchesandthicknessofeight(8)toten(10)inches.[TSNdated,pp.38
55] JamisandArtateseachbroughttwo(2)boxesinsidethevehicleandwentbacktothe
houseofthemotherofAtongAng,withanarmoredvanfollowingthem.Thefourboxeswere
broughtinsidethehousewhereGov.SingsonandAtongAngwereseatedonasofa.After
lunch,JamissawthemenofAtongAngloadingsomethinginthevehicleofAtongAng.
Gov.SingsonboardedthecarofAtongAngandinstructedJamistojustfollowthemto
FPres.EstradashouseatinGreenhills,buttheywereinstructedbyGov.Singsontowaitat
thecorner. WilliamAngearlierinformedthemthattheboxescontainedmoneyforFPres.
Estrada. Jamisdidnotactuallyseethemoney. Afteranhour,Gov.Singsonaskedtobe
fetchedfromFPres.Estradashouse.[Ibid,pp.5968]
MARIAELIZABETHGOZOBALAGOT testifiedthatshewastheManagerofLand

BankViganBranchfromtoandhadoverallsupervisionandcontroloftheaccountsofsaid
Branch.
AccordingtowitnessBalagot,on,LandBankViganBranchreceivedaFacsimileof
InterOffice Debit Advice (Exh. L18 and submarkings) dated from Land Bank Malacaang
Branch with instruction to credit Current Account No. 0402104570 of the Provincial
Government of Ilocos Sur the amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000.00).
LandBankViganBranchcompliedwiththeinstructionandcorrespondinglysentanInter
OfficeCreditAdvice(Exh.M18andsubmarkings).Laterintheafternoonof,authorized(Exh.
N18)representativesfromtheOfficeoftheProvincialGovernorofIlocosSur,namely,Maricar
Paz and Marina Atendido, presented Check No. 0000097650 (Exhs. O 18 and P18 and
submarkings)datedAugust27,1998intheamountofOneHundredSeventyMillionPesos
(P170,000,000.00) issued to the order of Luis Chavit Singson accompanied by an
AccountantsAdviceforLocalCheckDisbursement(Exh.Q18andsubmarkings)dated.
WitnessBalagotconfirmedthaton,theProvincialAdministratorofIlocosSurcalledup
LandBankViganBranch requestingfor encashment of the One Hundred Seventy Million
Pesos(P170,000,000.00)thathadbeencreditedtotheaccountoftheprovince.Sheasked
for three (3) days for encashment as a matter of bank policy but since the Provincial
Administratortoldherthemoneyisimmediatelyneeded,shesuggestedforthemtoapplyfor
ademanddraftpayableandencashableinLandBankMakatiBranch.MaricarPazadvised
witnessBalagotthatthedemanddraftsshouldbepayabletoDeliaRajas,AlmaAlfaro,Nuccio
Saverio,andEleuterioTan,althoughshewasnotgiventhereasonwhythedraftshadtobe
issuedintheirnames.SheneverreceivedanycallfromFPres.Estradainstructingherasto
thesaidnames.
On , witness Balagot called up Gov. Singson to inform him that Delia Rajas and
EleuterioTanweretryingtodeposittheirdemanddraftsinWestmontBankandthegovernor
respondedthatitwasokaywithhim.Shemadeasecondcalltothegovernorintheafternoon
toinformhimofthepresenceofDeliaRajasandEleuterioTaninLandBankShawBranch

andtheywereinsistingthatthechecksbeencashedthere. WitnessBalagotinformedthe
governorthatshecouldnotaccepttheencashmentatthesaidbranch,butGov.Singsontold
hertodowhattheywanted.ShetestifiedthatshecalledthegovernorinsteadofMaricarPaz
becausesheknewforafactthattheonegivinginstructionstoMaricarPazwasthegovernor
himself.
WitnessBalagotthenadvisedLandBankShawBranchtocancelthedemanddrafts
andtheamountscoveredwilljustbecoursedthroughtheindividualaccountsbyinterbranch
transaction.WitnessBalagotthenpreparedanInterBranchTransactionAdviceforEleuterio
Tan(Exh.Z18) andDeliaRajas(Exh.Y18)andcreditedtheamountofFortyMillionPesos
(P40,000,000,00)andFiftyMillionPesos(P50,000,000.00)totheirrespectiveaccounts.The
cancelled demand drafts were returned to Land Bank Vigan Branch with a Memorandum
(Exh. A19) dated . The demand draft issued to Nuccio Saverio, on the other hand, was
encashedinLandBankMakatiBranch.
Witness Balagot also identified and affirmed her Sworn Affidavit (Exhibit B19 and
submarkings)datedrelativetotheforegoingfacts.[TSNdatedandTSNdated]
MARIA CARIDAD MANAHAN RODENAS was the cashier at Land Bank Shaw
Branch.ShetestifiedthatsheknewapersonbythenameofAlmaAlfaroastheauthorized
representativeofvaluedclients,Mrs.CatalinaAngandYolandaUy,andasanaccountholder
ofthebranch.[TSN,,pp.1316] AccordingtowitnessRodenas,Alfaroclaimedtobean
employeeofPowerExpressandthatPowerExpresswasownedbyCatalinaAng.[TSN,,pp.
2125]
WitnessRodenastestifiedthatonAugust27,1998,sheassistedAlmaAlfaroopenher
own savings account with the branch with an initial deposit of One Thousand Pesos
(P1,000.00)(Exh.H13).AlfaropresentedherschoolID(Exh.F132)andSSScard(Exh.F13
1)asvalidIDsandpersonallyaccomplishedthesignaturecard(Exh.G 13).Alfaroindicated
herbusinessaddresstobec/oPowerExpressandresidenceaddressas,ZoneIVA,Talisay,
NegrosOccidental.Aftercomplyingwithrequirements,AlfarotoldwitnessRodenasthatForty

MillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)comingfromLandBankViganBranchwillsoonbecreditedto
heraccount.[TSN,,pp.1627]Trueenough,FortyMillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)fromLand
BankViganBranchwascreditedonlinetoAlfarosnewlycreatedaccount.WhenAlfarotold
witnessRodenasthatshewantedtowithdrawthemoneyrightaway,thelattertoldAlfaroto
just come back the following day as she will still have to prepare the money. Witness
Rodenas then requested from Land Banks the amount of Forty Six Million Pesos
(P46,000,000.00)tocovertheamountneededbyAlfaroaswellastocoverotherwithdrawals
forthedayasshownbytheFundTransferRequest(Exh.I13).
When Alma Alfaro returned to the bank on the following day, she proceeded to
withdrawFortyMillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)(Exh.J13)incashfromheraccount.[TSN,,
pp.27 43] In thatsameafternoon,Alma AlfaroaskedwitnessRodenastohelp hertwo
friends,whomsheintroducedasEleuterioTanandDeliaRajas,withtheirdemanddrafts.
DeliaRajasbroughttwodemanddrafts,DemandDraftNo.099435intheamountofThirty
MillionPesos(P30,000,000.00)(Exh.L13)andDemandDraftNo.09936intheamountof
Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) (Exh. K13). Eleuterio Tans Demand Draft, on the
otherhand,wasintheamountofFortyMillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)(Exh.M13).
WitnessRodenastestifiedthatTanandRajasaskedthattheybeaccommodatedin
LandBankShawBranchbecausetheyconsideredittooriskytoencashtheirdemanddrafts
inthecashdepartmentinBuendia,andthereaftertobringitbacktoMandaluyongsincethey
were from Mandaluyong. [TSN, , p. 136] After examining the demand drafts presented,
witness Rodenas advised Rajas and Tan that she could not accommodate their request
becauseLandBankShawBranchwasnotthepayingunitofthedraftsandthatshedidnot
havetheamountwithheratthattime. Duetotheirinsistence,however,witnessRodenas
conferred with Elizabeth Balagot and Lawrence Lopez, the Branch Manager and Branch
AccountantofLandBankViganBranch,whotoldhertojustcancelthedemanddraftsandlet
RajasandTanopenaccountswiththeirbranchsothattheycouldcredittheamountsonline.
[TSN,,pp.4451]

EleuterioTanpresentedtwoIDs(Exh.N13)andaccomplishedaspecimensignature
card (Exh. O13) and cash deposit slip (Exh. P13) for One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00).
WitnessRodenasidentifiedEleuterioTaninapicture(Exh.F9).DeliaRajasalsopresented
twoIDs(Exh.Q13)andaccomplishedaspecimensignaturecard(Exh.R13)anddepositslip
(Exh.S13)forOneThousandPesos(P1,000.00).
WitnessRodenassentthecancelleddemanddraftsbyfacsimiletoLandBankVigan
BranchandaftersometimetheViganBranchcreditedonlinetheproceedsofthedemand
draftstothenewlycreatedaccountsofTanandRajas.Theoriginalofthedemanddraftswere
later returned to the Vigan Branch. [TSN, , p. 133] Tan and Rajas then accomplished
withdrawalslips(Exh.T13&Exh.U13)towithdrawFortyMillionPesos(P40,000,000.00)and
FiftyMillionPesos(P50,000,000.00),respectively. Thereafter,EleuterioTanfiledthree(3)
applicationsforcashierscheck(Exhs.W13,V13 &X13)causingLandBankShawBranchto
issueTHREE(3)cashierschecks(Exhs.W131,V131&X131)inhisnameintheamountof
Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000.00) each. The three (3) cashiers checks were later
depositedatWestmontBank,MandaluyongBranchtoSavingsAccountNo.2011007727.
[TSN,,pp.5291]
SPO2FREDERICOAPENESARTATESwasapolicemansince1988.Atthetimeof
histestimony,hewasassignedattheViganCityPoliceStationbutdetailedtoGov.Singson
assecurityescort.
WitnessArtatestestifiedthatonAugust31,1998,hewasintheofficeofGov.Singson
attheinSanAndresBukid,,togetherwithGov.Singson,JamisSingsonanddriverFaustino
Prudencio.Accordingtohim,Gov.SingsoninstructedthemtogototheapartmentofAtong
AngsmotherandwhiletheretheyaccompaniedWilliamAng,AtongsbrothertoWestmont
BankatShawBoulevard,MandaluyongCitywheretheygotfour(4)boxesofcashfromthe
saidbankandreturnedbacktothehouseofAtongAngsmotherandlateronproceededto
FPres.Estradashouseat. Hedescribedeachoftheboxestobe10inchesinlength,12
inchesinheight15inchesinwidth[TSN,September25,2002,pp.90107].[TSNdated]

ILONOR ANDRES MADRID testified that she was the Chief of License Section,
OperationsDivision,LandTransportationOffice.presentedandidentifiedcertificationsdated
January2,2001(Exh.I11)and(Exh.D9)pertainingtothedatainthedriverslicenseofVictor
JoseTanUy,andidentifiedcomputergeneratedphotographsofVictorJoseTanUy(Exhs.J11
&D91).[TSN,,pp.127148]
GWEN MARIE JUDY DUMOL SAMONTINA was the Assistant VicePresident and
HeadofRecordsandoftheSocialSecuritySystem(SSS)sinceJanuary1998.Shewasthe
officialrecordscustodianoftheSSSandinchargeofensuringthatallrecordsreceivedbythe
brancheswerearchived.
WitnessSamontinabroughtwithhertheSocialSecurityFormE1(Exh.V111andsub
markings)filedbyDeliaIlanRajas.Thisformshowedthatheraddresswas,Mandaluyong,
MetroManilaandSSSnumberwas3323655087.WitnessalsobroughtseveralSSSForm
R1andR1AfiledbytheemployersofRajaswithSSSnamely(1)AdmateCompany,Inc.,(2)
Energetic Security and Specialists, Inc. (3) Jetro Construction and Development Inc., (4)
Power Management and Consultancy Inc. The forms (Exhs. W11, X11, & Y11, and sub
markings)filedbyAdmateCompany,Inc.showedthecompanyaddresstobe,Mandaluyong,
MetroManila. ThefirstR1AFormfiledonshowedRajasastheonlyemployee.TheR1A
Form filed on showed that Rajas as listed as one of the employees. The forms were
accomplished by the employers representative and treasurer, Yolanda A. Uy. The forms
submittedbyEnergeticSecurityandSpecialists,Inc.(Exhs.Z11andA12,withsubmarkings)
showedthebusinessaddresstobe,Mandaluyong,MetroManila. Theformsshowedthat
CharlieT.AngandDeliaRajasappearedasemployees. Theformswereaccomplishedby
Ma. Ang. The Form R1 (Exh. B12, with sub markings) of Jetro Construction and
Development, Inc. filed on showed that it had two employees. This document was
accomplishedbyYolandaAng.ItsFormR1A(Exh.C12,withsubmarkings)filedonshowed
thatithad18employees,includingDeliaRajas. Theaddressisstill,Mandaluyong,Metro
ManilaanditwaspreparedbyYolandaA.Uy. Theforms(Exhs.D12,E12 &F12,withsub

markings)ofPowerManagementandConsultancyIncorporationwerereceivedbySSSon.
Ithadanofficeaddressat,CornerN.Domingo,,MetroManila.Amongtheofficerslisted
wereCharlieT.Ang,NerissaS.Ang,andWilliamT.Ang.DeliaRajasappearedasoneofits
employees.[TSN,,pp.2560]
II.EVIDENCEFORTHEDEFENSE
Duringhistestimony,accusedFORMERPRESIDENTJOSEPHEJERCITOESTRADA
vehementlydeniedthatheaskedGov.SingsontogivehimpartofIlocosSursshareonthe
tobaccoexcisetaximposedbyRepublicActNo.7171;thatwhenhewasapproachedbyGov.
Singsonregardingthesaidshareofhisprovince,hetoldSingsontomakeaformalrequest,
andthatSingsonalreadyhadapreparedrequest(Exh.Q)towhichFPres.Estradawrotehis
marginalnoteaddressedtothenBudgetSecretaryDiokno,stating:Pleaseseeifyoucan
accommodate.

FPres. Estrada explained that he could not have alluded to his election expenses
becausecontributionstohis1998PresidentialCampaignwereoverflowing;thatherejected
manycontributionswhichkeptpouringinasitwasthecasewithaverypopularcandidatelike
him;thatheevenaskedhispartytreasurerstodistributecampaignfundstotheircandidates
forMayor,CongressmanandGovernor,thatGov.Singsongotabigshareofthecampaign
funds,thatGov.Singsonstestimonyonthepercentageheallegedlyaskedforwasalieashe
wouldnottakeawayfundsintendedforfarmersandthatinfactduringhistermasPresident
herejectedanofferofFourteenMillionDollars(US$14,000,000)forhimtosignasovereign
guaranty;thathedidnotknowAlmaAlfaro,EleuterioTanorMr.Uy,andDeliaRajas,that
beingthePresident,hecouldnothaveconspiredwithDeliaRajaswhomheheardwasa
cook; that he met Charlie Atong Ang sometime in 1993 or 1994, when the latter was
introducedtohimbyhisfriend,JojoAntonio;thathewasnotthatclosetoAng;thatAtongAng
neverwenttohishouseatPolkStreet,Greenhills,SanJuantodelivermoneyfromtheexcise
taxastestifiedtobyGov.Singson;thatthegarageinhishousecouldnotaccommodate
Atong Angs vehicle since the Presidential Car wasparked there and there were security

arrangementsifhewasathomeandthatGov.Singsonwasmerelypassingtheblametohim
becausehewouldnothelpGov.SingsonwithhisproblemwiththeCommissiononAudit.
[TSN,,pp.63113]

On,FPres.EstradatestifiedthatAtongAngdidnotgotohisresidenceatPolkStreet,
GreenhillsnoratMalacaangexceptwhenAtongAngattendedtheweddingofhisdaughter;
thatinthereenactmentattheBangkoSentral,itwasshownthatOneThirtyMillionPesos
(P130,000,000.00)inbillscouldnotfitintofour(4)boxescontrarytothetestimonyofGov.
Singson,andthattheweightofthesaidsumofmoneywasequivalenttotwoandonehalf
sacksofricewhichcouldnotbecarriedbyoneperson.

FPres.EstradadisclaimedanyknowledgeofProsecutionsExhibitsA19, X18 and


Y18 and also Landbank check dated for Forty Million Pesos (P40,000,000.00) and Gov.
SingsonslettertoElizabethBalagot,LandbankManagerofViganBranchinIlocosHealso
testifiedthattheNoticeofFundingCheckIssued,Fund103datedsignedbyDBMSecretary
BenjaminDioknoaddressedtotheProvincialGovernorofIlocosSur,[Exh.R 8]didnotreach
theOfficeofthePresident.
AccordingtoFPres.Estrada,hedidnotknow,norhaveseen,AlmaAlfaro,theperson
mentionedinthecertificationthatinterbranchdepositsmadebytheprovincialgovernmentof
IlocosSurfromAugust27to28,1998,particularlyonAugust27,1998toAccountNo.0561
044538 in the name of said Alma Alfaro in the amount of Forty Million Pesos
(P40,000,000.00). HesaidthathesawherforthefirsttimeonlyduringtheImpeachment
Trial.[TSN,,pp.4249]Healsodidnotknow,norhaveseen,DeliaRajasandEleuterioTan,
theownersofthebankaccountsatLandBankShawBranchwhowererecipients ofthe
onlinecreditfromLandBankViganBranchonAugust28,1998intheamountsofFiftyMillion
Pesos(P50,000,000.00)andFortyMiIlionPesos(P40,000,000.00)respectively[TSN,ibid,
pp.5051].ThepersonsshowninthephotographsmarkedasprosecutionsExhibitsF,G9,

andT8werenotknowntohim.HewasabletoidentifythephotographmarkedasExhibit
U8 which was the inauguration of the fluecuring plant in Ilocos Sur, which he later on
learnedwasamereshowoff(pakitangtao)becausetheprojectdidnotpushthrough.

FPres.Estradalikewisedeniedanyknowledgeofprosecutionsexhibitspresentedto
identifyVictorJoseUy(a.k.a.EleuterioTan)(Exhs.N9,N13,T11&J);DeliaRajas(Exhs.
V,W,H, H13,Y, Y3,Z11,A12,B124,C12,D12 &Q13) and Alma Alfaro
(Exhs.F12&F13).[TSN,March29,2006,pp.5968,79,80]

FPres.Estradalikewisedisclaimedanyknowledgeofprosecutionsexhibitsregarding
theP130,000,000.00excisetaxshareofIlocosSur[Exhs.H13,I13,J13,K13,M13,L13,O13,
P131,R13,S13,E13,U13,V13,V131,W13,W131,X13,X131,Y13,Z13,M17,N17,O17,P17,Q17,
R17,S17,L18,M18,N18,O18,P18,Q18,R18,S18,T18,B19,Z18.[TSN,,pp.7695]

FPres.EstradaalsobeliedGov.SingsonstestimonyofthatheorderedGov.Singson
tocoveruphisunliquidatedcashadvancesbycounteringthatGov.Singsontriedtocoverup
hisowncashadvancesastheCommissiononAuditwasalreadygoingafterhimandhe
wantedtopasstheblametoFPres.Estrada.[TSN,,pp.98100]Whenhelearnedaboutthe
TwoHundredMillionPesos(P200,000,000.00)excisetaxshareofIlocosSur,heinstructed
thenJusticeSecretaryArtemioG.Toquerotoinvestigatethematter. SecretaryToquero,in
turn,referredthemattertotheNationalBureauofInvestigation(NBI). Afteroneweek,NBI
RegionalDirectorCarlosSaunarsubmittedareportthroughaMemorandumdated(Exh.199)
to Secretary Toquero. Director Saunar also submitted toFPres.Estrada aDecember 12,
2000letter(Exh.201);anotherdocument(Exh.204)addressedtoSecretaryToqueroonthe
subject Governor Luis Chavit Singson, et al. for malversation of public funds Twenty

MillionPesos(P20,000,000.00)andforviolationofSection3(a)ofRepublicActNo.3019;
an affidavit of Agustin D. Chan, Jr. (Exh. 202) and to which is an attached letter dated
December3,2000ofAgustinT.Chan,Jr.(Exh.202D)withattachedcertification(Exh.206
C)demandingthatGov.SingsonsettlehisoutstandingcashadvanceintheamountofOne
HundredMillionPesos(P100,000,000.00)andTwentyMillionPesos(P20,000,000.00)under
CheckNos.98397and42364datedDecember29,1999andMarch19,1999,pursuantto
paragraph9.1and9.3.3.3ofCOACircularNo.97002andSection89ofP.D.No.1445;an
affidavitofElizabethArabellodatedJanuary12,2001(Exh.205);adocumententitledWP,
itemSingsoncashadvances(Exh.208),whichdetailstheunliquidatedcashadvancesof
Gov.Singsonatyearend1999amountingtoOneHundredThirtyFiveMillionFiveHundred
Eighty Four Thousand Eight Hundred Eighteen Pesos and Seventeen Centavos
(P135,584,818.17);andNBIDispositionForm,SubjectResultsofEvaluationandEvidencein
SupportofCOAReportsontheprovincialgovernmentofIlocosSurfortheyears1997and
1998(Exh.198),statingthattheamountofFourHundredThirtyFiveMillionOneHundred
Ninety Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Eight Pesos (P435,190,298.00) was spent by Gov.
Singson on the Tomato Paste Plant which COA found to be a nonfunctioning and non
operationalprojectandtohaveincurredthelossofmorethanTwentyMillionSixHundred
FiftyfiveThousandandSeventyfourPesos(P20,655,074.00)asofJune30,1998[TSN,
March 29, pp.106131] and that there were ELEVEN (11) other cases of unsettled,
unliquidatedordissolvedcashadvancesofGov.SingsonwhichincludedtheOneHundred
SeventyMillion(P170,000,000)unliquidatedcashadvancesforthepurchaseofequipmentfor
theTobaccoFlueCuringPlantinvolvedinthiscase.[TSN,ibid,pp.143144]

FPres.EstradanarratedthatDirectorSaunarinformedhimthatthecaseagainstGov.
SingsonwasclearandshouldbefiledrightawaywiththeOfficeoftheOmbudsman.Director
SaunargavehimacopyofthecomplaintaffidavitoftheNBI(Exh.200,200N,2000,200P,
200Q)recommendingthefilingoftheappropriatechargesagainstGov.Singsonandother
Ilocos Sur provincial officials among others for the nondelivery of the supplier NS
International,Inc.oftheequipmentforthefluecuringbarnandredryingplantintheamount

ofOneHundredSeventyMillionPesos(P170,000,000.00)(Exh.200R).[TSN,,pp.718]
However,Gov.SingsonwasgrantedimmunityfromcriminalprosecutionandGov.Singson
wasabletopassonthecaseagainstFPres.Estradabyimplicatingthelatterastheonewho
orderedhimandtestifyingagainsthim.[TSN,ibid,pp.1925]

ThelasttimeFPres.EstradatalkedtoGov.SingsonwaswhenhestoppedoveratSan
FranciscoUSAforaspeakingengagementonhiswaytoanofficialvisittoWashingtonhe
wassurprisedthatGov.Singsonwhowasnotamemberofhisdelegationfetchedhimatthe
airport.Afterhisspeakingengagement,hewentuptohisroomwhereCongressmanAsistio
and Gov. Singson had a big problem with the COA in Ilocos Sur because the provincial
auditor did not want to cooperate with him. Gov. Singson asked FPres. Estrada to help
transfer the said auditor, which request he refused because COA is an independent
constitutional body. Gov. Singson insisted that FPres. Estrada call the COA Chairman to
interfereinhisbehalf.HeremindedGov.Singsonthatheshouldnotlookafterhimselfbuthe
shouldprotectthenameoftheOfficeofthePresident.Gov.Singsonthenabruptlystoodup
andgrudginglyleft.FPres.EstradacametoknowofthenameoftheCOAprovincialauditor
during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and he was Atty. Agustin Chan who
testifiedatthehearinganddemandedthatGov.Singsonliquidatehiscashadvances.Later,
FPres.EstradareadfromthenewspaperthatChanwasambushedandkilledinatownin
Ilocos[TSN,ibid,pp.3144]
ATTY.AGATONS.DACAYANAN wastheStateAuditoroftheCommissiononAudit
(COA) assignedatthe for the years1995 to 1999. He examined,auditedandsettled all
accounts of the based on the documents submitted by, and gathered from the Provincial
Accountant,ProvincialTreasurer,BudgetOfficerandotherofficialswhohaveaccesstothe
financialtransactionsoftheprovincialgovernment.HesubmittedAnnualAuditReportsatthe
endofeveryyear.
WitnessDacayananthenpresentedandidentifiedtheAnnualAuditReportsfor
theyearsendedDecember31,1995(Exh.187andsubmarkings);December31,1996(Exh.

188andsubmarkings);December31,1997(Exh.189andsubmarkings);and,December31,
1998(Exh.190andsubmarkings). [TSNdated,TSNdatedSeptebmer22,2004andTSN
dated]
BONIFACIOM.ONAwasDirectorIIIofCOAandtheOfficerInChargeofitsSpecial
AuditOffice.WitnessOnatestifiedthatoneofhisdutiesasOICoftheSpecialAuditOffice
wastotransmittheReportpreparedbytheirauditteamstothedifferentauditingunitsandas
suchhehadthechancetoreviewastoitsformtheSpecialAuditReportfortheProvinceof
IlocosSurfortheperiod1999(SAOReportNo.9931)(Exh.191andsubmarkings),whichhe
presentedtotheCourtbyvirtueofasubpoenaducestecum,andafterwhichhetransmitted
thesametotheGovernorofIlocosSur.[TSNdatedOctober4,2004]
ELVIRAJAVIERFELIX wasStateAuditorIVoftheCOA. Witnesstestifiedthatshe
wastheOfficerinChargeoftheProvincialAuditorsOfficefromOctober5,2001toJuly31,
2002,andshepresentedandidentifiedAnnualAuditReportsfortheProvinceofIlocosSurfor
theyearsendedDecember31,2001(Exh.192andsubmarkings),andDecember31,2002
(Exh.193andsubmarkings).
WitnessFelixalsopresentedandidentifiedcopiesoftheAnnualAuditReports
of the Province of Ilocos Sur for the years ended December 31, 1999 (Exh. 194 and
submarkings)andDecember31,2000(Exh.195andsubmarkings)whichshesecuredfrom
theProvincialAuditorsOffice,andwhichwerepreparedduringthetermofthenProvincial
AuditorAtty.AgustinChanwhowaskilledinanambushonOctober4,2001.[TSNdatedand
TSNdated]
ELIZABETHM.SAVELLAwasanAuditoroftheCorporateGovernmentSectorofthe
COA.SavellatestifiedthatshewasassignedpreviouslywiththeSpecialAuditOfficeof
theCommissionofAuditandwasdesignatedin1999astheTeamLeaderofaSpecialAudit
Teamthatconductedaspecialauditofthefortheperiodfrom1996to1999.BeingtheTeam
Leader,witnessSavellawastheoneassignedtoconsolidatealltheauditfindingssubmitted
by the team membersto comeupwiththe auditreport. ThesaidauditreportwasSOA
ReportNo.9931(Exh.191andsubmarkings).

Witnessstatedthatthescopeoftheauditwasthefinancialtransactionandoperation
ofthefortheperiod1996to1999.Theylooked,particularly,intotheutilizationofR.A.7171
fundsandtheutilizationofthePNBloanspecificallytheimplementationoftheTomatoFlue
Curing Plant Project, stating that the audit aims to evaluate the regularity of the
implementationoftheprovincesprojects.[TSNdatedandTSNdated]

CONGRESSMANLUISA.ASISTIOtestifiedthatheknowsGov.Singsonandmethim
severaltimes. HesaidthatonJuly24,2000,heaccompaniedGov.SingsontoseeFPres.
EstradaathisroomattheFairmontHotelatwhereGov.SingsonrequestedFPres.Estradato
calltheChairmanoftheCommissiononAudittoaskforthereliefoftheAuditorassignedto
hisprovincetowhichFPres.Estradadeclined.
AsistioclarifiedthatinthemanymeetingshehadwithGov.SingsonduringtheperiodlateAugustto
September2000,theynevertalkedaboutallegedreceiptofmoniesfromR.A.7171andheknewof
theseissuesonlyduringtheImpeachmentTrial.HethinksthatthesearemerefigmentsofGov.
Singsonsimaginationsincetheynevertalkedofanythingexcepttheprovincialleadership.
Gov.SingsonalsodidnotmentionthenameofaccusedMayorJinggoyEstrada.HeaddedthatGov.
Singsonatonetimewenttohishousewhentherewasanongoingrallyatpriortothepressconference
andtoldhimthathe(Gov.Singson)doesnotconsiderFPres.Estradaashisfriendanymore.
AsistioaddedthathewatchedtheImpeachmentTrialagainstFPres.Estradaandthinksthatitisafarce
becauseinalltheirconversations,Gov.SingsonnevermentionedaboutR.A.7171nortalkedabout
jueteng,exceptprobablywhenhesaidkuninnanilanglahathuwaglangyungliderato.
AsistiostatedthatinhisvisitstoMalacaangduringthetimeofFPres.Estrada,atleastthreetimesa
week,heneversawAtongAngtherebecauseAtongAngwasbannedbyFPres.Estradafromentering
Malacaang.[TSNdatedandTSNdated]
CARLOSP.SAUNARwasRegionalDirectoroftheNationalBureauofInvestigation.InOctober
2000,hewastheChiefoftheAntiGraftDivisionoftheNBI,assumingthepositionfrom1997or1998
uptoJuly2001,andassuchwastaskedtoinvestigatethepublicdisclosuresmadebythenGov.Singson
asperinstructionsofthenNBIDirectorFedericoOpinion,whowas,inturn,directedbythenJustice
SecretaryArtemioG.TuqueroinaMemorandumdatedOctober10,2000(Exh.199andsubmarkings).
Intheconductoftheirinvestigation,Saunarandhisteamofinvestigatorssecureddocumentsfromthe
COA,suchas,theAuditReportsoftheProvincialGovernmentofIlocosSurandtheScheduleof
UnliquidatedCashAdvances,andsubpoenaedtheconcernedpublicofficialsandemployeesoftheof
[TSN,October13,2004,pp.6769]

Afterevaluatingthereportsandevidence,witnesssubmittedanEvaluationDispositionForm(Exh.198
andsubmarkings)dated16October2000whichmadementionof11cases(AnnexAofDisposition
Form)(Exh.198B)ofirregularitiesthatwereassignedtodifferentteamsforinvestigation.[TSN,
October13,2004,pp.80,84]
TheresultofSaunarsinvestigationontheP170,000,000.00allegedunliquidatedcashadvancesof
GovernorSingsonandsomeothercashadvanceswascontainedinaRevisedReportofInvestigation
whichbecamethesubjectofaComplaintAffidavit(Exh.200andsubmarkings)dated10January2001
signedbyCarlosS.Caabay,thenactingDirector,NBI,filedwiththeOfficeoftheOmbudsman.
WitnessexplainedthattheRevisedReportofInvestigationtracedtheP170,000,000.00fromitssource
uptoitsliquidation.[TSN,October13,2004,p.96]
Saunartestifiedthattheymadearecordcheckandsearched,asrequestedbytheSenateBlueRibbon
Committee,forthewhereaboutsofaccusedAlmaAlfaro,accusedEleuterioTanandaccusedDelia
Rajasbutfailedtolocatethem.[TSN,,pp.107110]TheNBIfiledtwo(2)othercasesinvolvingcash
advancesoftheGov.SingsonwiththeOfficeoftheSecretaryofJustice,oneofwhichiscontainedina
casetransmittal(Exh.201andsubmarkings)dated12December2000addressedtoHonorableArtemio
G.TuquerorelatingtotheP100,000,000.00cashadvanceofGov.SingsonandsupportedbyaReportof
Investigationdated12December2000(Exh.201B).Theothercasetransmittal(Exh.204and
submarkings)theyfiledwiththeDepartmentofJusticeonwasinconnectionwiththecashadvanceof
Gov.SingsonintheamountofP20,000,000.00,andsupportedbyanotherReportofInvestigationdated
14December2000(Exh.204B).InalltheinvestigationsconductedbytheNBIonthecashadvances
ofGov.Singson,Saunarsaidthattheypreparedananalysis,WPSingsonCashAdvance(Exh.208
andsubmarkings)(WPstandsforworkingpaper),andthatbasedontheworkingpaper,Gov.Singson
hadaccumulatedcashadvancesofThreeHundredFiveMillionSixHundredThousandPesos
(P305,600,000.00)betweentheperiodJanuary1997toJanuary2000.Fromthistotal,theamountof
P170,015,181.83appearstohavebeensettled,leavingabalanceofunliquidatedcashadvancesofGov.
SingsonofP135,584,818.70asofJanuary2000.[TSN,,pp.5354]
TheamountofP163,663,636.27asappearingintheworkingpaper,whichwasalsothesubjectmatter
ofthecomplaintaffidavitfiledwiththeOmbudsman(Exh.200),issupposedtobetheamountthatwas
thesettlementofthecashadvanceofP170,000,000.00less30%withholdingtaxsupposedtobe
remittedtotheBIR.TheP170,000,000.00pesoscamefromtheP200,000,000.00representingthe
shareoftheProvinceofIlocosSurfromtheexcisetaxescollectedpursuanttoR.A.7171thatwas
releasedbytheDBM.TheP170,000,000.00wasthencashadvancedbyGov.Singsonfromtheaccount
oftheProvinceofIlocosSurinLBPViganBranch,whereinacertainMarinaAtendidodepositedthe
amountofP40,000,000.00infavoroftheaccountofAlmaAlfaroattheLBPShawBoulevardBranch
throughaninterbranchaccommodation.ThesamewaswithdrawnincashbyAlmaAlfaro.[TSN,
October25,2004,pp.5763]

AstotheremainingP130,000,000.00,four(4)demanddraftswereappliedforbyMaricarPaz,oneof
whichwasissuedinfavorofLuccioSaberriointheamountofP40,000,000.00whichwaswithdrawnin
LBPMakati,wheretheamountofP35,000,000.00wasdepositedtoanothersavingsaccount(the
accountnumberisindicatedinthedemanddraft)inthesameLBPMakatiwhiletheP5,000,000.00was
cashed.TheseconddemanddraftpertainstoanotherP40,000,000.00pesosinfavorofEleuterioTan

whichwasnegotiatedattheLBPShawBoulevardBranchbutwascancelled,andinlieuofthis,the
correspondingamountwaswiretransferredfromLBPViganto.Thetworemainingdemanddrafts
pertaintoDeliaRajas,oneintheamountofP20,000,000.00andtheotherintheamountof
P30,000,000.00,andwerenegotiatedinLBPShawBoulevardbutwerealsocancelled,the
correspondingtotalamountofP50,000,000.00wasthenwiretransferredanddepositedtotheaccount
ofDeliaRajasinLBPShawBoulevard.[TSN,October25,2004,,pp.6470]
SaunarreiteratedthattheyconductedanindepthinvestigationoftheexposemadebyGov.Singson,
whichincludesallegedviolationsontheAntiGraftandCorruptPractices,malversationofpublicfunds
andviolationofR.A.4200,pursuanttothememorandumissuedbytheSecretaryofJustice.However,
theirinvestigationsofarhasnotreachedthepointofillegaljuetengorillegalgambling.Theydidnot
conductanindepthinvestigationontheactivitiesofMr.AtongAngandFPres.Estradabecausethey
havenotreachedthatpointwheretheevidencewouldshowthattheyhaveparticipated.[TSN,October
25,2004,pp.102104]

However,theyalreadyfiledacomplaintaffidavitdatedwhichreferredtotheOneHundredSeventy
MillionPesos(P170,000,000.00)thatwascashadvancedbyGov.Singsonbasedontheevidencethey
gatheredsofarintheirinvestigation.

SaunarfurthertestifiedthatonNovember2000,DirectorOpiniondirectedhimtoaccommodate
interviewsontheresultoftheirinvestigationinconnectionwiththeP170,000,000.00allegedcash
advanceofGov.SingsonwhichwasdoneinhisofficewhenhewasstilltheChiefoftheNBIAnti
GraftDivision,andtheresultofwhichappearedinaVCD.[TSN,,pp.18,2627]
[TSNdatedOctober13,2004,TSNdatedOctober25,2004,TSNdatedOctober27,2004andTSN
datedNovember3,2004]
BANGKOSENTRALNGPILIPINAS(BSP)OCULARINSPECTION
On,theCourtconductedanotherocularinspectionattheoftheBSPupontherequest
of the accused Estradas. The Court observed that if the P130,000,000.00 were all in
P1000.00denominationsanddividedinto130bundleswitheachbundleconsistingof1000
piecesofP1000.00pesobillsamountingtoP1Millionpesos,onlyamaximumof20bundles
amountingtoP20Millionpesoswouldfitinabox(Exh.XOcularInspection),withaninneror
interior dimensions of 12 inches width, 10 inches height and 15 inches length which
measurementwasgivenbyprosecutionwitnessesArtatezandacertainOJSingsonduring
theirtestimony.Thus,theP130Millionpesoswouldfitin6andboxes.

IftheP130,000,000.00wereinP500.00denominationsanddividedinto260bundles
witheachbundleconsistingof1000piecesofP500.00billsamountingtoP500,000.00,the
P130,000,000.00pesoswouldfitin13boxes.
ACertificationissuedbytheBSPthattheP1,000,000.00pesosinP1000.00billswould
weighaboutjustunderakilohasalreadybeensubmittedbytheaccusedintheprevious
hearing.[TSNdated,pp.1011]
FINDINGSOFFACT
Re:Subparagraph(b)oftheAmendedInformation
Withrespecttothepredicateactofdivesting,receivingormisappropriatingaportionof
thetobaccoexcisetaxshareallocatedfortheProvinceofIlocosSur,thisCourtfindsthat
indeedanamountofP130,000,000.00outoftheP200,000,000.00shareintobaccoexcise
taxes of the Province of Ilocos Sur was withdrawn from the provincial coffers and
misappropriatedandmisusedtothedamageandprejudiceofthesaidprovince.
TheevidencepresentedbeforethisCourtestablishbeyonddoubtthatGov.Singson
initiatedtheprocessthateventuallyledtotheallocationandreleaseoffundsbythenational
governmenttotheProvinceofIlocosSuroftheamountofP200,000,000.00fromtheexcise
taximposedpursuanttoRepublicActNo.7171. Aschiefexecutiveofthe,Gov.Singson
personallyhandedalettertoFPres.EstradarequestingthereleaseofIlocosSurssharein
thetobaccoexcisetaxes[Exh.Q8]topinhimonhiscampaignpromisetothepeopleofIlocos
Surduringthe1998PresidentialElections.FPres.Estrada,throughamarginalnoteonGov.
Singsonsletter,endorsedtherequesttothenSec.BenjaminDioknooftheDepartmentof
Budget and Management (DBM) [Exh. Q81]. The DBM released the amount of
P200,000,000totheasitsshareintobaccoexcisetaxesasshownintheNoticeofFunding
CheckIssued,Fund103datedAugust25,1998signedbyDBMSec.BenjaminDioknoand
addressedtotheProvincialGovernorofIlocosSur[Exh.R8].Gov.Singsonforthwithcaused
theSangguniangPanlalawiganofIlocosSurtoenactaResolutionappropriatingthesumof
P200,000,000.00, of which P170,000,000.00 was intended for fluecuring barns and

P30,000,000.00forinfrastructure.Gov.SingsoncausedthereleaseofP170,000,000.00from
thesaidfundasshownbytheAuthorizationheissuedtoMaricarPazandMarinaAtendido,
employeesofhisofficetoofficiallytransactwithLandBankViganBranch,inbehalfofthe
Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur dated August 27, 1998 [Exh N18], Check No.
0000097650datedAugust27,1998issuedtotheorderofLuisChavitSingsonintheamount
of P170,000,000.00 [Exhs. O18 and P18], and an Accountants Advice for Local Check
DisbursementdatedAugust27,1998[Exh.Q18]. Thisamount,however,wasbrokendown
intosmalleramountsanddeposited/transferredtotheaccountsofindividualsidentifiedwithor
known associates of Atong Ang, namely Alma Alfaro, Delia Rajas and Eleuterio Tan, as
shownbyacertificationofLandBankViganBranchManagerMa.ElizabethBalagot[Exh.
S8],DemandDraftApplicationNos.656and712inthenameofDeliaRajas[Exhs.R 18and
S18],DemandDraftApplicationNo.734inthenameofEleuterioTan[Exh.T18],andDemand
DraftApplicationNo.722inthenameofNuccioSaverio[Exh.U18],andthefourdemand
draftsissuedpursuantthereto[Exhs.V18,K13,L13andM13].Afifthdemanddraftinthename
ofGov.Singsonwasinexplicablycancelledalbeittheamountcoveredbyitwasdepositedin
theaccountofAlmaAlfarothroughanInterBranchDepositAccomodationSlip[Exh.X18]as
instructed by Maricar Paz to Land Bank. The demand drafts issued to Delia Rajas and
Eleuterio Tan were similarly cancelled and the amounts of P40,000,000.00 and
P50,000,000.00coveredbythedemanddraftsweredepositedintheaccountsofEleuterio
TanandDeliaRajas,respectively,atLandBankShawBranch.AlmaAlfarosP40,000,000.00
waswithdrawnbyherincashadayafteritwasdepositedinheraccountatLandBankShaw
BranchonAugust27,1998[TSN,November4,2003,pp.2743].Ontheotherhand,Tanand
Rajas withdrew on the same day P40,000,000 and P50,000,000, respectively, from their
accounts and Tan used the proceeds to buy Three (3) cashiers check in the amount of
P30,000,000eachoratotalofP90,000,000[Exhs.W131,V131&X131]. TheThree(3)
cashierscheckweredepositedinSavingsAccountNo.2011007727atWestmontBank,
MandaluyongBranch[Ibid,pp.5291].TheP40,000,000.00originallycoveredbythedemand
draftinthenameofGov.SingsonwhichwascancelledandsubsequentlywithdrawnbyAlma
AlfarowasnotshowntohavebeendepositedatWestmontBank.Whoprofitedfromthissum

ofmoney?TheCourtcanonlysurmisegiventhedearthofeventheprosecutionsevidence
onwhathappenedtothemoneyafteritwasreceivedbyAlmaAlfaro.Significantly,itappears
thatoftheP170,000,000.00appropriatedbytheSangguniangPanlalawiganofIlocosSurfor
fluecuringbarnsonlytheamountofP40,000,000.0wenttothesupplierofthefluecuring
barn,NuccioSaveriowhoencashedhisdemanddraftatLandBankMakatiBranch.Saverio
couldcollectonlythesaidamountinviewofthetestimonyofGov.Singsonthathedelivered
onlyonemoduleoffluecuringbarnscostingP40,000,000.00.
AccordingtoJamisSingsonandArtates,theyaccompaniedWilliamAng,thebrotherof
AtongAng,toWestmontBanktowithdrawmoneybuttheyjustwaitedoutsidethebank.They
helpedcarrythefour(4)boxestothevehiclewhenWilliamandthesecurityguardsbrought
thesaidboxesoutsidethebank. Thereafter,theyjoinedWilliamtransporttheboxestothe
homeofCatalinaAng,andlatertotheresidenceofFPres.Estradaat. JamisandArtates
weretoldbyWilliamAngthattheboxescontainedmoneyforFPres.Estrada.
TheprosecutionsevidencethatonlytheamountofP90,000,000.00wasdepositedin
WestmontBankcreatedaloopholeintheimpressiongivenbythetestimonyofGov.Singson
that he and Atong Ang were supposed to bring the P130,000,000.00 withdrawn from
WestmontbanktotheresidenceofFPres.Estrada. TheCourtcanonlyspeculatethatthis
could have been the reason why during the Ocular Inspection at the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas(BSP)theamountofP130,000,000.00couldnotfitthefour(4)boxesdescribedby
Gov.Singsonandtheotherprosecutionwitnesses.
TherearealsogapsintheprosecutionsevidenceontheallegeddeliverytoFPres.
Estradaofthedivertedfundsoraportionthereof.Itwasnotestablishedhowmuchcashwas
allegedly stashed in the boxes that came from Westmont Bank and which were
unloaded/reloadedatthehouseofCatalinaAngorhowmuchcashwasintheboxesallegedly
broughttoFPres.Estradashouse.NoonetestifiedthathesawcashbeinghandedtoFPres.
Estrada,Sen.LoiEstradaorJinggoyEstrada.Seriousdoubtsareengenderedbythebare
testimonyofGov.Singson,theprosecutionsstarwitness,who,byhisownaccount,didnot
eventouchtheboxesofmoney,norcountthemoneyinsidetheboxesthatarrivedatthe

homeofCatalinaAngandallegedlyreloadedfordeliveryto.Gov.Singsondidnotalsosee
theallegedturnoverofthemoneybyAngtoFPres.Estrada,Dr.LoiEstradaorMayorJinggoy
ashestayedatthecornerof,somanymetersawayfromthehighlyfencedandgatedhouse
ofFPres.Estrada.TheCourtfindsitqueerthatGov.Singsonwouldstayonlyatthecornerof
the street where FPres. Estradas residence is located instead of accompanying Ang to
witness the delivery of money that, according to him, was important to him and his
constituentsinIlocosOnlyAtongAngcouldhavecrediblytestifiedontheallegeddeliveryof
moneybuttheprosecutiondidnotpresenthimasawitness,despitehispleaofguilttoa
loweroffenseandhisadmissionthathepartookofP25,000,000.00oftheP130,000,000.00of
theexcisetaxshareofIlocosThisCourtcouldnotadmitwithoutcorroboratingevidenceGov.
SingsonsbaretestimonythatFPres.EstradapurportedlygotmadthatAtongAnggavehim
onlyP70,000,000.00andthatAtongAnghadgivenP20,000,000.00andP15,000,000.00to
Dr.LoiEstradaandMayorJinggoyrespectively. InthisCourtsview,certaindetailsofGov.
Singsonstestimonyonthispointareratherincredibleandfarfetched.Gov.Singsonhadnot
offeredanyexplanationwhyandhowAtongAnghadthetemerityorthegutstodividethe
moneyamongFPres.EstradaandthemembersoftheFirstFamilyanddecidebyhimselfthe
amountoftheirrespectiveshareswithoutpriorclearanceofFPres.Estrada,thenthehighest
executiveofficialoftheland.
Furthermore,therecordisbereftofevidencetoconfirmGov.Singsonstestimonythat
FPres.Estradawasinterestedinthediversionoftobaccoexcisetaxesorthattherewasan
agreementbetweenGov.SingsonandFPres.Estradathat10%ofanyamountreleasedtothe
wouldbeturnedoverbyGov.SingsontoFPres.Estrada. Gov.Singsonsstatementsthat
AtongAngandMayorJinggoykeptfollowingupthereleaseofthemoneyandthatAtongAng
informedGov.SingsonthatFPres.Estradawantednotjust10%butP130,000,000.00ofthe
P200,000,000.00 are likewise uncorroborated. Regarding the testimony of Gov. Singson
implicating Jinggoy Estrada in the commission of the predicate act mentioned in sub
paragraph(b),theHonorableSupremeCourtearlyenoughhadclarifiedtheimportofthe
chargeagainstaccusedJinggoyEstradaundertheAmendedInformationinthismanner:
Xxx xxx xxx Subparagraph (b) alleged the predicate act of diverting,
receivingormisappropriatingaportionofthetobaccoexcisetaxshareallocatedforthe

,whichActistheoffensedescribedinitem[1]intheenumerationinSection1(d)ofthe
law. This subparagraph does not mention petitioner (Jinggoy Estrada) but instead
names other conspirators of the Former President. [Jose Jinggoy Estrada vs.
Sandiganbayan,G.R.No.148965,supra,p.553]

TherecentdecisioninPeopleofthevs.Sandiganbayan(SpecialDivision)andJose
JinggoyEstrada(G.R.No.158754,promulgatedAugust10,2007)whichupheldthisCourts
ResolutiongrantingbailtoJinggoyEstrada,hasexplainedtheessenceandimportofthe
abovequotedruling:
Obviously hoping to maneuver around the above ruling so as to implicate
individualrespondentforpredicateactsdescribedinsubparagraphs(b),(c)and(d)of
theAmendedInformation,petitionernowargues:
Itshouldbeemphasizedthatinthecourseoftheproceedingsin
theinstantcase,respondentJinggoyEstradawaivedthebenefitofthe
saidrulingandopted,instead,toparticipate,ashedidparticipateand
later proceeded to cross examine witnesses whose testimonies were
clearlyofferedtoprovetheotherconstitutiveactsofPlunderallegedin
theAmendedInformationundersubparagraphsb,c,andd.
Wedisagree.
At bottom, the petitioner assumes that the ruling accorded benefits to
respondentJinggoythatwereinexistentatthestartofthatcase.Butnosuchbenefits
wereextended,astheCourtdidnotreadintotheAmendedInformation,ascouched,
somethingnotthereinthefirstplace.RespondentJinggoysparticipation,ifthatbethe
case,intheproceedingsinvolvingsubparagraphsb,c,andd,didnotchangethe
legal situation set forth in the aforequoted portion of the Courts ruling in G.R. No.
148965.Forwhenitpassed,inG.R.NO.148965,upontheinculpatoryactsenvisaged
andascribedintheAmendedInformationagainstJinggoy,theCourtmerelydefined
whathewasindictedandcanbepenalizedfor.Inlegaljargon,theCourtinformedhim
ofthenatureandcauseoftheaccusationagainsthim,rightguaranteedanaccused
undertheConstitution. Infine,allthattheCourtcontextuallydidinG.R.No.148965
wasnomorethantoimplementhisrighttobeinformedofthenatureoftheaccusation
inthelightofthefilingoftheAmendedInformationasworded. Ifatall,theCourts
holdinginG.R.No.148965freedindividualrespondentfromtheilleffectsofawrong
interpretationthatmightbegiventotheAmendedInformation.

The mere fact that FPres. Estrada endorsed Gov. Singsons request for release of
fundstothethenDBMSecretaryforreviewdoesnotindicateanyundueinterestonthepartof
FPres.EstradainthegrantofGov.Singsonsrequest.Thetenorofthemarginalnoteitself
wassimplyfortheDBMSecretarytoseeif[he]canaccommodatetherequestofGovernor
Singson. Finally, not a scintilla of evidence links FPres. Estrada to any of the obscure
personalities who withdrew the P130,000,000.00, namely, Delia Rajas, Alma Alfaro, and
EleuterioTanandtoanyoftheofficialbankdocumentsthatmadepossiblethediversionand
misappropriationoftheaforesaidpublicfunds.

Insum,thepapertrailinrelationtotheP130,000,000.00divertedtobaccoexcisetaxes
beganwithGov.SingsonandendedwithAtongAng.ThisCourtdoesnotfindtheevidence
sufficienttoestablishbeyondreasonabledoubtthatFPres.Estradaoranymemberofhis
familyhadinstigatedand/orbenefitedfromthediversionofsaidfunds.
RE:SUBPARAGRAPHCOFTHE
AMENDEDINFORMATION
_____________________________
(c)bydirecting,orderingandcompelling,FORHISPERSONALGAINAND
BENEFIT,theGovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS) TOPURCHASE,
351,878,000SHARESOFSTOCKS,MOREORLESS,andtheSocialSecurity
System(SSS), 329,855,000SHARESOFSTOCK,MOREORLESS,OFTHE
BELLECORPORATIONINTHEAMOUNTOFMOREORLESSONEBILLION
ONE HUNDRED TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND
SIXHUNDRED SEVENPESOSANDFIFTY CENTAVOS[P1,102,965,607.50]
AND MORE OR LESS SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY FOUR MILLION SIX
HUNDRED TWELVE THOUSAND AND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY PESOS
[P744,612,450.00],RESPECTIVELY,ORATOTALOFMOREORLESSONE
BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
SEVENTYEIGHTTHOUSANDFIFTYSEVENPESOSANDFIFTYCENTAVOS
[P1,847,578,057.50];ANDBYCOLLECTINGORRECEIVING,DIRECTLYOR
INDIRECTLY, BY HIMSELF AND/OR IN CONNIVANCE WITH JOHN DOES
AND JANE DOES, COMMISSIONS OR PERCENTAGES BY REASON OF
SAID PURCHASES OF SHARES OF STOCK IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE
HUNDREDEIGHTYNINEMILLIONSEVENHUNDREDTHOUSANDPESOS
[P189,700,000.00], MORE OR LESS, FROM THE BELLE CORPORATION
WHICH BECAME PART OF THE DEPOSIT IN THE EQUITABLEPCI BANK
UNDERTHEACCOUNTNAMEJOSEVELARDE

Under paragraph (c) of the Amended Information, accused FPres. Estrada was
charged with the crime of plunder, for having willfully, unlawfully and criminally acquired,
amassedoraccumulatedandacquiredillgottenwealthintheamountofP189,700,000.00
representingcommissionsorpercentagesbyreasonofthepurchaseofsharesofstockof
BelleCorporationbySSSandGSIS.
The gravamen of this specific charge is whether FPres. Estrada, unjustly enriched
himself at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the
RepublicbyreceivingacommissionofP187MillionasconsiderationforthepurchasebySSS
andGSISofBelleShares. EveniftheProsecutionisabletoestablishthatFPres.Estrada

used his official position, authority, relationship and influence and directed, ordered and
compelledCarlosA.Arellano(thenPresidentoftheSSS)andFedericoC.Pascual(then
PresidentofGSIS)forSSSandGSIStobuyBelleshareswithmoneyoftheGSISandSSS
whichareheldintrustbythesaidinstitutionsforthemillionsofemployeesofthegovernment
and the private sector, such fact alone does not constitute an overt or criminal act, the
commissionofwhichwouldwarrantaconvictionforplunder.Prosecutionmustestablishthat,
in consideration of the purchase by GSIS and SSS of the Belle Shares, FPres. Estrada
receivedtheamountofP189,700,000.00ascommission.
IndischargingitsburdenofproofthatFPres.Estradadirected,orderedandcompelled,
forhispersonalgainandbenefit,theGSIStopurchase351,878,000sharesofstockmoreor
less, and the SSS to purchase 329,855,000 shares of stock more or less, of the Belle
CorporationintheamountofmoreorlessOneBillionOneHundredTwoMillionNineHundred
SixtyFiveThousandSixHundredSevenPesosAndFiftyCentavos(P1,102,965,607.50)and
more or less Seven Hundred Forty Four Million Six Hundred Twelve Thousand And Four
HundredFiftyPesos(P744,612,450.00),respectively,oratotalofmoreorlessOneBillion
EightHundredFortySevenMillionFiveHundredSeventyEightThousandFiftySevenPesos
AndFiftyCentavos(P1,847,578,057.50),theprosecutionpresenteditsprincipalwitnessesin
thepersonsofArellano,Pascual,OcierandCapulong.
EVIDENCEFORTHEPROSECUTION
WILLYNGOCIER(Ocier)wastheViceChairmanandDirectorofBelleCorporationon
June24,1999. HetestifiedthatSSIManagement,acompanycreatedbyRobertoOngpin
wastheSellingstockholderofBellesharestotaling650,000,000.[TSNJanuary9,2002,p.94]
Roberto Ongpin, in his personal capacity, originally gave an option to Mark Jimenez to
purchasethese650,000,000sharesofBelle[Ibid.,pp.6768]becauseRobertoOngpinat
thattimegranted(sic)totransformBelleCorporationintotheforemostgamingcompanyinthe
Philippines,andhewantedsomebodytohelphimacquiring(sic)licensestodoJaiAlaiand
todoSuperSabong,Bingo,Casino,etc.,etc.[Ibid.pp.71and72]andMr.RobertoOngpin
whomheheldinhighregard,toldhimthatMarkJimenezwasaveryclosefriendofFPres.
Estrada.[Ibid.p.84] TheoptionwasgivenasanincentiveforMarkJimenezasafavorto
RobertoOngpin.[Ibid.p.88] MarkJimenezwasnotabletoexercisetheoptionbecause

OngpinwasoustedfromtheBoardofBelleonJune15,1999.[Ibid.p.90]
AfterameetingoftheBoardofDirectorsofBelleCorporationonJuly20,1999(Exh.
P),whenDichavesaskedOcierabouttheoptiongivenbyOngpintoMarkJimenezandifthe
optioncanbegiventohim,OciertoldDichavesthattheoptioncannotbegivenanymore
becauseofthefactthatthesharesareintendedtobesoldinlightofarecentcallforunpaid
subscription. [TSN, January 7, 2002, p. 17] The Board of Director of Belle Corporation
decidedtomakeacallforpaymentofunpaidsubscriptionstoraisemoneytoaddressthe
debtproblemoftheCorporation. [TSN,October1,2001,p.79] Whenaskedwhatcanbe
doneinrelationtotheBelleshares,OcierexplainedtoDichavesthatheneedsthelatters
helpinsellingtheBellesharestocoverforthe75percentunpaidsubscriptionandthetwoof
thembasicallyagreedtodividetheworkwhereinOcierwouldcontacthisforeignbrokersto
sellthesharesandDichaveswillcontacthislocalcounterpartsorcontactsifhecansellthe
shareslocally.[TSN,January7,2002,p.18]
Ocierfurthertestifiedthatovertime(sic)themarketwasnotverystrong,sotheforeign
brokerstookquiteawhiletomakedecisionsabouttheiractionofbuyingBelleshares.[]Ina
subsequentmeetingwithDichaves,OciertestifiedthatDichavesconfirmedtohimthatthere
wasagoodchancethatGSISandSSSmaybewillingtobuytheBellesharesandwhenhe
askedwhenthesharescanbetransactedhewasassuredbyDichavesthatthelatterhad
takenupthematteralreadywithFPres.EstradaandthatDichavestoldhimthattheFormer
PresidenthadalreadyspokentoCarlosArellanoofSSSandDingPascualofGSISaboutthe
saidmatter.[Ibid.p.19]
Afterafewweeks,DichavescalledOcierandtoldthelatterthatthetransactionmaybe
pushingthroughbutthatDichaveswantedtotakeupamatterofconditionthatwasproposed
for the transaction to pushthroughwhichwastotheeffectthatOcierwillhavetogivea
commissionforthetransactiontopushthrough.[Ibid.pp.2021]Ociertestifiedthatsincethe
sharesinvolvedwasapproximately600,000,000to650,000,000andthepriceofBelleatthat
timeataboutP3.00pershare,thetotalexpectedproceedsofthesalewasalmostTwoBillion
Pesos(P2,000,000,000.00)andthecommissionthatJaimewasaskingforamountedtoTwo
HundredMillionPesos(P200,000,000.00).[Ibid.p.23]
Whenaskedtowhomthecommissionshouldbegiven,Ocieransweredthataccording

toDichaves,theconditionwasbeingimposedbyFPres.Estrada.[Ibid.p.26]Whenaskedfor
hisreactiontotheinformationconveyedbyDichavesthatitwasFPres.Estradathatimposed
thecondition,Ociertestifiedthathisreactionwasthathefeltthatitwasquiteabigamountof
commissiontobepaidandthatnormally,inrealestateandstocktransactions,commissions
rangebetweenthree(3)tofive(5)percentonlyandhetoldDichavesthathefindsthatquite
high[Ibid.p.34],towhichDichavesansweredthatthatwasthecondition.[Ibid.p.36]When
asked whathisanswerwastotheanswerofDichavesthatthatwasthecondition,Ocier
answeredthathewasconstrainedtoagreebecauseDichavestoldhimthatthatwastheonly
wayforthetransactiontopushthrough.[] OcierfurthertestifiedthatonOctober21,1999,
Bellesharestotaling447,650,000weresoldbySSIManagementtoGSISandSSSthrough
EasternSecuritiesDevelopmentCorporation[Ibid.p.39;Exh.Q;Q1;Exh.T]whileother
BelleSharesweresoldthroughotherbrokers.[TSNdatedJanuary14,2002,p.20]
CARLOSALMARIOARELLANO(Arellano)wasappointedChairmanandPresidentof
SSSonJuly1,1998byFPres.Estrada.[TSN,November7,2001,p.49]Thetransactionwith
Belle was initiatedonOctober 6,1999. HegotacallfromFPres.Estrada andwastold:
GustokokayoniDingPascualaytignanninyoangpagbilingBelleCorporationsastock
market.[Ibid.pp.7577]Hethoughtthatthewordstignanninyowasaninstructionforhim.
[Ibid.p.80]Aftertheinstruction,heaskedthepeopleintheInvestmentDepartmentofSSS
totakealookandreviewthesharesofBelleasaninvestmentitemintheportfolioofSSSand
alsotofindouttowhatextenttheSSScanfurtherincreasetheSSSpositioninthesaidstock.
[Ibid.p.82]
As far as the Investment Committee was concerned, they agreed that Belle is still
possibleinvestmentfortheSSS.[Ibid.p.94]InanswertotheinstructionofthePresidenthe
saidOpo,opo.[]HegotacallfromFPres.Estradatheweekafterandhewasaskedtosee
thePresidentatMalacanang.[Ibid.p.95]AtMalacaang,hesawFPres.EstradawithJaime
Dichaves.WhilehewasthereheapproachedtheFPres.whostoodupandtookhimaside
andaskedwhetherthistime,hehadfollowedFPres.instructionstobuyBelleshares.He
replied:TinitignanpapongInvestmentcommitteenamin.[Ibid.pp.97,104] Hedidnot
immediatelybuytheBellesharesbecausehefeltthatitwasnotthepropertimingandthe
volumethatwasbeingconsideredwastoomuchandnotyetthepropertime.[Ibid.p.102]

WhenheansweredthistotheFormerPresident,herecalledthatthereactionoftheFormer
President was to tell him Bilisan ninyo na, bilisan. [Ibid. p. 107] Upon receiving these
instructions,hestilldidnotdoanythingforafewdaysafter.[Ibid.p.115]Afterseveraldays,
hereceivedanothercallfromFPres.EstradaandherepeatedBilisanmo,bilisanninyona.
[Ibid.p.124]Asfarashewasconcerned,itwasmoreseriousthanpreviousordersgivento
him.[]OnOctober21,theSSSimplementedthetransaction.[TSNdatedNovember7,2001,
p.110]
FEDERICO CALIMBAS PASCUAL (Pascual) was the President of GSIS in 1999,
testifiedthathehadameetingwithFPres.EstradaonSeptember6,1999andinthatmeeting,
hewasinstructedbytheFPres.EstradatobuyBelleShares.ItwasonlyinOctober9,1999
when he ordered his people to buy Belle Shares because First: he was hoping that the
President was not serious in his September 6, 1999 instruction and he was hoping the
Presidentwouldforgethisinstruction.[TSN,November22,2001,p.20]Second,becausehe
was not very comfortable with Belle because some people are of the opinion that Belle
Shares,becausethecorporationisinvolvedinjaialaiandgambling,isspeculativeflavor.[]
InanothertelephoneconversationwithFPres.EstradaonOctober9,1999,hefeltthat
thePresidentwasmoreseriousinhisinstructionsinthesensethat,hewasawayandthere
wasthistelephonecallandhefeltthatFPres.Estradawasalreadyagitated.[Ibid.p.24]In
thetelephonecall,hewasaskedbyFPres.EstradabakithindikapabumibilingBelleto
whichherepliedtatawaghoakosaheadofficeatpapaaralanko.[Ibid.pp.5657]
WhenhereturnedtotheonOctober21,1999,helearnedthatGSIShadpurchased
351,000,000 Belle Share worth P1,100,000,000.00 asshown by the investmentcommittee
confirmationreport.
Oncrossexamination,hetestifiedthathispurposeinexecutinghisaffidavitwasto
removefromthemindsofthedoubtingpublicthathebenefitedfromtheBelleShares.[Ibid.p.
48;Exh.OtoO4]Theallegedmoneymakingthatintervenedorsupervenedinthepurchase
ofBelleShareswasnotincludedinhisaffidavitbecausethepurposewastoshowhowGSIS
purchased shares of Belle on the instruction of the Former President. [Ibid. p. 54] The

purchasesofBelleSharesweremadewhenhewasabroad. FPres.Estradagavehimthe
instructionstobuyandhealsomadeinstructionstohispeopletobuy,thatwasthechainof
events.[Ibid.pp.68;74] HeauthorizedthepurchaseofBelleSharesonlyifBellewasa
qualifiedshare.[Ibid.p.69] IfhedidnotmakethatcalltothepeopleinGSISaboutthe
Former Presidents instruction, there was probably no possibility of GSIS acquiring Belle
SharesduringthatperiodoftimebeginningOctober13toOctober21.[Ibid.p.77]Exceptfor
theinstruction,therewasnothingirregular,illegaloranomalousaboutthetransactionandhe
doesnotknow whethersomebodybenefited from the purchase ofBelleSharesthat took
placebetweenOctober13to21.[Ibid,p.83]
RIZALDY TADEO CAPULONG (Capulong) was the Deputy Chief Actuary and
AssistantVicePresidentoftheSecuritiesTradingandManagementDepartmentoftheSocial
Security System (SSS). He headed the Actuary Department which was responsible in
makinglongtermandshorttermprojectionsoftherevenuesandexpendituresofSSS. As
AVP of the Securities Trading and Management Department, Capulong was in charge of
providingresearchandoperationalsupporttotopSSSofficeswithregardtoequitiesand
investment.
Capulong testified that he made the recommendation which cost the SSS
P1,300,000,000.00becauseperhisresearch,evaluationandverification,itwasaprofitable
transaction.HehadgoneintothevalidityandlegalityoftheacquisitionoftheBelleShares
andhewasconvincedthattheywereallproper,legalandbeyondreproach.Hesignedthe
recommendationandsubmitteditforapprovaloftheExecutiveManagementCommitteeand
thenfortheapprovaloftheSocialSecurityCommission. Capulongclarifiedthatitwasan
approval for allocation not for funding. For SSS to be able to acquire shares of their
corporation, itwasnecessary that there wasan approval for an allocation. SSShad the
amountofmoneybutitwasnotreservedforBelletransactionsevenwiththeapprovalofthe
recommendation.Themoneywillonlybeidentifiedandallocatedatthetimeoftransaction.
[TSNdatedFebruary6,11,13,and18,2002]
EVIDENCEFORTHEDEFENSE

REYNALDO PASTORFIDE PALMIERY (Palmiery) was the Senior Executive Vice


President and the Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board of Trustees of the
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Palmiery was the Chairman of the
InvestmentCommitteeoftheGSISin1998to2000. TheInvestmentCommitteediscusses
thenewproposalsforinvestmentwhichwereelevatedbytheCorporateFinanceGroupofthe
GSIS. TheprocessisthattheFinanceCorporateGroupfirststudiesandevaluatesstocks
whicharenotyetqualifiedandaccreditedtobepurchasedandelevatesthistotheInvestment
Committee for discussion, and if it is approved by the Investment Committee then it is
elevatedtotheboardforapproval.
PalmierytestifiedthattheGSIShadbeentradingallBelleSharesin1993. Thefirst
acquisitionofGSISthenwasabout18millionshares,or5%oftheoutstandingstocksofBelle
Corporation,andthattheGSISbookedanaggregatetradinggainofP145,859,195.95onthe
purchaseofBelleSharesalone(Exh.236andsubmarkings).
PalmierythenpresentedandidentifiedaJointCounterAffidavitwhichthemembersof
the Investment Committee filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. He confirmed the
statementcontainedinthelastparagraphofthejointaffidavitthattheInvestmentinBelle
Shares was made solely on the basis of the compliance with the law and GSIS internal
guidelines.PalmierywasnotawareofanyphonecallmadebyFPres.EstradatoPascual.
HefurtherexplainedthattheacquisitionoftheBellesShareswaspursuanttothedirectiveof
General Manager Pascual. Palmiery related that he received a call from Pascual and
instructedhimtoreviewandstudytheprospectsofBelleCorporationwiththeendobjectiveto
purchasesharesofstockofthesaidcorporationuptothelimitallowedundertheexisting
guidelinesofGSIS.Theevaluationwaspursuedandapproved.

Oncrossexamination,PalmieryadmittedthatunderGSISResolutionNo.284seriesof
1992, General Manager Pascual was given the sole authority to trade in stocks listed or
tradedinthetwo(2)majorstocksexchange,andunderGSISResolutionNo.273,hewas
grantedthecontinuingauthoritytobuyBelleShares.ResolutionNo.273wasthenamended

in 1998 by the GSIS providing for the continuing authority for the President and General
ManageraswellastheExecutiveVicePresidentandtheSeniorVicePresidentforCorporate
FinancetopurchaseandsellstockstradedintheStocksExchangeatprevailingprices.
Onredirectexamination,PalmierytestifiedthatwhenGeneralManagerPascualcalled
andinstructed him to purchase BelleSharesthe number ofsharesto bepurchased was
specified to be within the limits of the GSISGuidelineswhich was the number ofshares
equivalenttooneboardseator10%oftheoutstandingshareswhicheverishigher.[TSN
datedDecember13,2004andTSNdatedJanuary24,2005]

HON. HERMOGENES DIAZ (Conception) was a Retired Associate Justice of the


SupremeCourtandChairmanoftheBoardofTrusteesoftheGovernmentServiceInsurance
System(GSIS).
testified that he was familiar with the Belle Resources and Shares of Stocks, and
confirmedtheveracityandaccuracyofthestatementinparagraph10ofhisAffidavit. With
respect to the acquisition that took place on , witness Concepcion explained that the
President/GeneralManageroftheGSIShasfullauthoritytobuyandsellshareslistedinthe
stockexchangeoftheamountswithintheboundarysetforthbytheBoardofTrustees.So,
thePresidentbuysandsellsthesesecuritieswithouttheBoardknowingwhathedidbecause
decisionshavetobemadesometimesonthespotinordertogetabettermargin.Paragraph
16(2)oftheCounterAffidavitwascheckedwiththerecordsoftheGSIS,theCommitteein
charge of the investment, and the amounts made by the GSIS on these shares,
P145,859,195.94,wasfurnishedtothem.Witnessexplainedthatduringtheperiodfrom1993
to2000,theGSISwouldbuysharesthensellthem,buysharesthensellthem,andbythat
process, the GSIS made P145 Million as profit or actual gain. Witness also stated that
paragraph 16 (9) which refers to the purchase of 351,878,000 shares was based on the
recordsoftheGSIS.
alsotestifiedthatthenPresidentandGeneralManagerFedericoPascualnevertold

themthatFPres.talkedtohimnordiscussedtothewitnesstheallegeddirectiveorpressure
broughtuponhimbyFPres.Estrada. TherewasnoneedtoaskFedericoPascualwhyhe
boughtsharesbecausethereisthepresumptionthatourfunctionsareregularlyperformed.
[TSNdatedDecember8,2004]
MERCEDITASGARCIAGACULITAN(Gaculitan)wastheCorporateSecretaryofthe
SocialSecurityCommission(SSS).GaculitantestifiedthatbeforetheseinvestmentsinBelle
ResourcesCorporationweremadepriorapprovaloftheinvestmentbytheCommissionen
bancwereobtainedsinceallpurchasesandallinvestmentsarerequiredtobeapprovedor
passeduponbytheSocialSecurityCommission.[TSNdatedDecember13,2004]
AccusedFORMERPRESIDENTJOSEPHEJERCITOESTRADAtestifiedonhisown
defense.Therelevantportionsofhistestimonyaresetforthbelow.
ThepurchaseofBelleSharesaccordingtoaccusedFPres.Estrada
IntheMemorandumforFPres.Estrada,thedefensestatedthatunderthisindictment,
theProsecutionincurtheboundendutytoprove:
1.accusedEstradasactsconstitutiveofdirecting,orderingandcompelling
theGSISandSSStobuyBelleShares;
2. thepurchaseweremadesolelyduetothesaidactsofcompulsionby
accusedEstrada;
3. theextentandparameterofEstradasactsrelativetothequestioned
purchases;
4.theallegedprofitcommissionisgovernmentfundormoney;and
5.damagestothegovernmentorPeopleofthe.
TheDefenseclaimsthattheprosecutionsevidenceitselfshowsthat(1)
the transaction complained of was perfectly valid, since accused FPres.
Estradadidnotdirect,orderorcompelSSSandGSIStobuyBelleShares
and (2) there is no proof that any commission was paid to the accused.
[DefenseMemorandum,p.192]

TobolsteritsclaimthatthepurchaseofBelleShareswasaperfectlyvalidtransaction,
theDefensepointedtothefollowingportionsofArellanostestimony:
1. That thepurchaseofBelle Shares was a routinetransaction in theregular
courseofbusiness,forSSShadpreviouslypurchasedBelleSharesatprofit;
2. What was told by FPres. Estrada to Arellano was simply to initiate the
acquisitionof BelleShares.Howmanyshareshewasorderedtobuy
and at how much price per share, was never dealt with in the phone
conversation;
3. The abovenotwithstanding, Arellano proceededonhisownvolitionwiththe
acquisitionofthe249MillionBelleShares.
4. TheDecisiontopurchasewasexclusivelyhisandthepolicymakingbodyof
SSS.

[Ibid.pp.193194,citingTSN,November8,2001,pp.63,7374,7576]
TheDefensearguesthatthereasonwhyArellanotestifiedinthemannerhedidand
executedanaffidavitimplicatingFPres.Estradaintheinstantplundercasenotwithstanding
thattherewasnothingirregular,illegaloranomalousintheOctober21,1999acquisitionof
BelleShareswasbecausehistestimoniesandaffidavitarehislastditchefforttoexculpate
himselffrompossibleplunderchargeswherehemaybedetainedwithoutbailconsideringthat
plunderisacapitaloffense.[Ibid.p.197]
Likewise,theDefensecitedthetestimonyofCapulongwhotestifiedthatheexamined
andauditedalltheacquisitionpapersandthevariousconfirmationslipsandofficialreceipts
coveringtheacquisitionandfoundthemtobeinorder.Hencehehadnoobjectionto,buton
thecontrary,approvedthepaymentofthesaidacquisition.Saidwitnessalsotestifiedthatas
far as hewas concerned,therewas nothing illegalor irregular or anomalousin the SSS
purchaseofBelleSharesinOctober21,1999andthatitwasalegalinvestmentandavalid
investmentthatisinthelistofinvestmentofSSS.Thatitisnotanirregularinvestmentandit
issaidthatitmightbesomewhatnotordinaryinthesensethatinthiscasetherewasacall.
[Ibid.p.198,citingTSN,November14,2001,p.53]
Insofar as the acquisition by GSIS of Belle Shares, the Defense argued that the
purchasebyGSISwasinaccordancewithinvestmentpolicyandrules.
The Defense sought to establish that the Belle Shares were qualified under GSIS

policyandcharterandGSISmaybyitselfandinaccordancewithitsrules,purchaseBelle
Shareswithouttheneedofanyorderorcompulsionfromanybodyasshownbythetestimony
ofPascual,thePresidentofGSISwhenheadmittedthatevenwaybackin1993,GSIShad
beenpurchasingordealingwithBelleSharesandhadalreadymadeprofitsattheextentof
around P145,000,000.00 since 1993 up to the present prior to his coming in as the new
GeneralManagerofGSIS.[TSN,November22,2001,pp.61to62]Thatthepurchasewasin
accordance with the GSIS policy was established by Pascuals testimony that the trading
departmentundertheCorporateFinanceGroupinvestigatedandmadefurtherinquiriesin
connectionwiththesharesandconcludedthattherewouldbenoviolationthatcouldhave
beencommittedbyGSISinthepurchaseoftheshares.[TSN,December3,2001,pp.14and
15] PascualfurthertestifiedthatthepriceofP3.13persharewastheworthoftheshares
aroundthetimeitwaspurchasedanditwasreportedtohimbyhispeoplethatthereason
why they bought so much was because there was a history of profitability and that they
already had a P1,000,000,000.00 turnover plus and he felt that it was a good buying
afterwards. (sic) [Defense Memorandum, p. 204] Pascual also testified that he had no
informationifanybodybenefitedfromthepurchaseofBelleSharesthattookplaceonOctober
13to21andadmittedthatGSISwassufferingapaperlossbecauseofthepurchase.[Ibid.p.
204205,citingTSN,November22,2001,pp.8384]
Defensearguedthatassuming arguendo thattherewasaninstructionfromFPres.
Estradaforsuchpurchase,suchinstructionwasnottoocompellingorirresistibletodirectly
causethe execution ofthepurchasesuggestionandthatsuch instructionwasimmaterial
because the GSIS Board which approved the transaction did not receive the alleged
instruction of the Former President and that in the same vein, the GSIS decided on the
purchaseindependently,freefromanycompulsionbyanoutsiderastheinstructiongivenby
PascualwastotheeffectthatastudybeconductedandiftheBelleSharesarequalified,to
buy within the range of their authority. [Defense Memorandum, pp. 205206, citing TSN,
December3,2001,p.93]
AstoPascualstestimonythatitwasunusualforFPres.Estradatocallhimforthe
purchase of a (sic) particular shares, the Defense pointed out that as per admission of

Pascual,whathemeantbyunusualwasthatFPres.Estradacalledhimwhenhewasoutof
thecountry.Defensepointedouthowever,thatastestifiedbyFPres.Estrada,thelatterdidnot
knowthatPascualwasoutofthecountrywhenhecalled.[Ibid.p.209]Defensepointedout
that,byPascualsadmission,theGSISBoardwasnotpressuredintofindingthattheBelle
Shareswereokay,aboveboard,andthattheywerenotpressuredbyanybodyintoconcluding
thepurchase.[Ibid.p.214,citingTSN,December3,2001,p.93]
FPres.EstradatestifiedthatheappointedArellanoandPascualandheknowsthat
BelleResourcesisthedeveloperofTagaytayHighlandsbecausesometimes,hespendshis
weekend in Tagaytay Highlands. [TSN, April 26, 2006 (pm), p. 1011] He denied that he
instructedororderedPascualtobuyBelleSharesonSeptember6,1999duringameeting
withhim.WhathetoldPascualwastostudyandmakeduediligenceifBelleShareswillbe
beneficialtothe GSIS.To whichPascualansweredYesand thathe hasthisCorporate
FinanceGrouptomakethestudy. AstothetestimonyofPascualregardinghistelephone
conversationwithFPres.Estrada,thelattertestifiedthathedidnotknowthatPacualwas
abroad and he talked to him not about Belle Sharesbut about delayed benefits of GSIS
members.[Ibid.pp.17,24]HedeniedorderingPascualtobuyBelleShares.[Ibid.pp.1517]
HeclaimedtherewasnothingirregularabouthisinstructiontoPascualwhenheonlytoldhim
tomakeaseriousstudyandduediligence.[Ibid.p.22]
AsregardsArellanostestimony,FPres.EstradadeniedthatheevercalledArellanonor
didheorderhimtobuyBelleShares.HeremembersthatMr.JaimeDichavestoldhim,that
being one of the members of the Board of Directors, the latter informed him that Belle
Resources are offering their stocks to GSIS and SSS and that Dichaves was looking for
investors,localandforeignandhetoldDichavesthatitwillbeuponthestudyofSSSand
GSISwhowilldecidewhethertheyarebuyingornot.[Ibid.p.25]Asregardsthetelephone
conversationwithArellano,FPres.EstradatestifiedthattheytalkedinTagalogandhesaidto
ArellanotostudytheofferofBelleResourcesandifitwillbebeneficialtothegovernment
thenwhynot. TowhichArellanoansweredYes,sir,thathewouldreferthemattertothe
InvestmentCommitteeetogiveduediligence.[Ibid.pp.2627]FPres.Estradadeniedthathe
pressuredArellanoandsaidthathenoticedthatthetestimonyofPascualandArellanoare

thesameasiftheyareofthesamescript.[Ibid.p.29]FPres.EstradastatedthatPascualor
Arellano,admittedbuyingBelleSharesandtheyweretheoneswhodecidedtheamountand
how much to buy and they did not inform him anymore. [Ibid. p. 32] As regards the
testimoniesofPascualandArellano,FPres.Estradatestifiedthatitseemstheyhaveonlyone
lawyer.HelearnedthatPascualandArellanowerecalledbythenDOJSecretaryPerezandit
wasthelatter whopressuredthem totestifyagainsthimandtheywere threatened tobe
chargedwithplunder.HealsolearnedthatSecretaryPerezgavethemaladylawyerbuthe
doesnotknowtherelationofPereztothatladylawyer.[Ibid.p.37]FPres.Estradatestified
thatafterArellanotestifiedinCourt,thelattercalledhimandapologizedbecauseaccordingto
him,hecouldnotdoanythingsincehewasthreatenedbySecretaryPerezwiththewordsthat
iftheycansendthePresidenttojail,whatmoreofhim?[Ibid.p.41]
FPres. Estrada also denied knowledge of the alleged conversation and transaction
betweenOcierandDichaves. HetestifiedthatMr.Dichaveswas,atthattime,oneofthe
membersoftheBoardofDirectorsofBelleResourcesandabusinessman.[Ibid.p.42]
FPres.Estradacitedinstanceswhenhewasofferedcommissionsbutherejectedthemsuch
astheIMPSAandSGSdeals.[Ibid.pp.4548] HisreactiontoArellanosstatementtohim
that the latter was threatened was to say that he understood because the same thing
happenedto him when he was offered by Secretary Nani Perezthathecould goto any
countryofhischoicebutherefused.[Ibid.pp.4950]

FINDINGSOFFACT
Re:Subparagraph(c)oftheAmendedInformation
Wefind that theprosecution hasestablished beyond reasonable doubt thatFPres.
EstradadirectedandinstructedArellanoandPascualforSSSandGSISrespectivelytobuy
BelleShares.
AscanbeculledfromthetestimonialanddocumentaryevidenceoftheProsecution,
thefollowingcircumstancessurroundthepurchaseoftheBelleSharesbyGSISandSSS.

On July 20, 1999, Ocier and Dichaves discussed the matter of the sale of the
650,000,000sharesofBelle,inthelightofarecentcallforpaymentofunpaidsubscription
whichtheBoardofDirectorsofBelleCorporationdecidedtoaddressitsdebtproblems.Ocier
explainedtoDichavesthatheneedsthelattershelpinsellingtheBelleSharestocoverfor
the75percentunpaidsubscription.Theyagreedtodividethetaskoflookingforbuyersof
theseBelleShareswithOcierlookingforforeignbuyersandDichavestolookforlocalbuyers.
[TSN,January7,2002,p.18]
InasubsequentmeetingwithDichaves,thelatterconfirmedtoOcierthattherewasa
goodchancethatGSISandSSSmaybewillingtobuytheBellesharesasDichaveshad
takenupthematteralreadywithFPres.EstradaandthatDichavestoldhimthattheFormer
PresidenthadalreadyspokentoCarlosArellanoofSSSandDingPascualofGSISaboutthe
saidmatter.[Ibid,p.19]
Afterafewweeks,DichavescalledOcierandtoldthelatterthatthetransactionmaybe
pushingthroughbutthatacommissionwillhavetobepaidasaconditionforthepurchaseto
pushthrough. [Ibid.p.21] AsperOcierstestimony,DichavestoldhimthatitwasFPres.
Estradawhoimposedthecondition.[Ibid.p.26]Sincethesharesinvolvedwasapproximately
600,000,000to650,000,000andthepriceofBelleatthattimewasaboutP3.00pershare,
thetotalexpectedproceedsofthesalewasalmostTwoBillionPesosandthecommission
involvedwouldamounttoTwoHundredMillionPesos.[Ibid.p.23]
Sincethepaymentofthecommissionwastheonlywayforthetransactiontopush
through,hewasconstrainedtoagreetothepaymentofthecommission.[Ibid.p.36]
OnSeptember6,1999,atameetingwithFPres.Estrada,FedericoPascual,President
ofGSISwasinstructedbythePresidenttobuyBelleShares.[TSN,November22,2001,p.
20]
On October 6 1999, Carlos Arellano got a call from FPres. Estrada and was told:
GustokokayoniDingPascualaytignanninyoangpagbilingBelleCorporationsastock
market.[TSN,November7,2001,p.77] Hethoughtthatthewordstignanninyowasan

instructionforhim.[Ibid.p.80] AftertheinstructionheaskedthepeopleintheInvestment
DepartmentofSSStotakealookandreviewthesharesofBelleasaninvestmentiteminthe
portfolioofSSSandalsotofindouttowhatextenttheSSScanfurtherincreasetheSSS
positioninthesaidstock.[Ibid.p.82]
He got a call from FPres. Estrada the week after and he was asked to see the
PresidentatMalacanang.[Ibid.p.95] AtMalacaanghesawFPres.EstradawithJaime
Dichaves.WhilehewasthereheapproachedthePresidentwhostoodupandtookhimaside
and asked whether this time, he had followed FPres. Estradas instructions to buy Belle
shares. He replied: Tinitignan pa po ng Investment committee namin; [Ibid. p. 97104]
WhenheansweredthistothePresident,herecalledthatthereactionofthePresidentwasto
tellhimBilisanninyona,bilisan.[Ibid.p.107]Uponreceivingtheseinstructions,hestilldid
notdoanythingforafewdaysafter.[Ibid.p.115]
After several days, he received another call from FPres. Estrada and the latter
repeatedBilisanmo,bilisanninyona.Asfarashewasconcerned,itwasmoreseriousthan
previousordersgiventohim.[Ibid.p.124]
October9,1999whilePascualwasabroad,hetalkedbyphonetoFPres.Estradawho
askedhimbakithindikapabumibilingBelletowhichherepliedtatawaghoakosahead
officeatpapaaralanko.[TSN,November22,2001,pp.5657]HefeltthatthePresidentwas
moreseriousinhisinstructionsinthesensethat,hewasawayandtherewasthistelephone
call and he felt that FPres. Estrada was already agitated. [Ibid. p. 24] He ordered the
purchaseoftheBelleSharesonthesameday.ThePresidentgavehimtheinstructionstobuy
andhealsomadeinstructionstohispeopletobuy,thatwasthechainofevents.[Ibid.pp.68;
74]
FortheperiodOctober1321,1999,GSISbought351,878,000BelleSharesandpaid
P1,102,965,607.50(Exh.N),andtheSocialSecuritySystem(SSS)bought329,855,000Belle
SharesforP744,612,450.00onOctober21,1999.[TSN,February14,2005,p.78]
ThatthepurchaseofBelleSharesbyGSISandSSSwastheresultoftheinstructions

oftheFPres.Estradaisborneoutbythefollowingcircumstances:
1. ThesequenceofeventsbeginningfromthetimeOcieragreedtothepayment

ofcommission,totheinstructionstransmittedpersonallyandbytelephonecalls
fromFPres.EstradatoPascualandArellano,totheactualpurchaseofBelle
SharesbyGSISandSSS.

2.ThehastewithwhichGSISandSSSboughtBelleShares.Inthecaseof
GSIS, from October 9, 1999 (when the agitated instructions weregiven) to
October13,1999(thedatewhenthefirstpurchasesweremade)oraperiodof4
days.InthecaseofSSS,afewdaysafterOctober13,1999,(thedatewhen
themoreseriousorderwasgivenbyFPres.EstradatoArellano)toOctober
21,1999(thedatewhenthepurchasesweremade)oraperiodofnomorethan
8days.TheinstructionstobuyoriginatedfromFPres.Estradaandcascadedto
PascualandArellanothentoGSISandSSSrespectively.
3.TheobediencetoFPres.EstradasinstructionsdespiteArellanosreluctanceto
dosobecausehebelievedthatitwasnotthepropertimingandthevolumethat
was being considered was too much and not yet the proper time. [TSN,
November7,2001,p.102] AndinthecaseofPascual,hisreluctancetobuy
because hewasnotverycomfortablewithBellebecausesomepeopleareof
theopinionthatBelleShares,becausethecorporationisinvolvedinjaialaiand
gambling,hasspeculativeflavor.[TSN,November22,2001,Ibid.p.20]
4. The relationshipofPascualandArellanotoFPres.Estrada,who,beingthe
appointeesandsubordinatesofFPres.Estrada,cannotrefusetheinstructionof
theirsuperior.
5.Themannerinwhichtheinstructionsweregiven.InthecaseofArellano,
hefeltthatthethirdorderwasmoreseriousthanpreviousordersgiventohim.
[TSN,November7,2001,p.124]And,inthecaseofPascual,becausehefelt
thatFPres.Estradawasalreadyagitated.[TSN,November22,2001,p.24]

We find no merit to the claim ofthe Defense that the prosecutionsevidence itself
shows that: (1) The transaction complained of was perfectly valid, since accused FPres.
Estradadidnotdirect,orderorcompelSSSandGSIStobuyBelleSharesand(2)Thereisno
proofthatanycommissionwaspaidtotheaccused.[DefenseMemorandum,p.192]
The denial of FPres. Estrada that he instructed Pascual and Arellano to buy Belle
SharescannotovercomethestraightforwardanddirecttestimonyofPascualandArellano
attestingtothepersistentinstructionsgivenbyFPres.Estradawhichisrepletewithdetails.
Meredenialbyanaccused,particularlywhennotproperlycorroboratedorsubstantiatedby
clearandconvincingevidence,cannotprevailoverthetestimonyofcrediblewitnesseswho
testify on affirmative matters. Denial, being in the nature of negative and selfserving
evidence,isseldomgivenweightinlaw.Positiveandforthrightdeclarationsofwitnessesare

oftenheldtobeworthierofcredencethantheselfservingdenialoftheaccused.[Peoplev.
Quilang,312SCRA,328,329]
NeithercanWegivemoreweighttotheclaimoftheDefensethatthepurchaseofBelle
Shares was a perfectly valid transaction even as it pointed to the following portions of
Arellanostestimony:
1. ThatthepurchaseofBelleShareswasaroutinetransaction intheregular

courseofbusiness,forSSShadpreviouslypurchasedBelleSharesatprofit;
2. What was told by FPres. Estrada to Arellano was simply to initiate the
acquisitionofBelleShares.Howmanyshareshewasorderedtobuyandat
howmuchpricepershare,wasneverdealtwithinthephoneconversation;
3. Theabovenotwithstanding,Arellanoproceededonhisownvolitionwiththe
acquisitionofthe249MillionBelleShares.
4. TheDecisiontopurchasewasexclusivelyhisandthepolicymakingbodyof
SSS.[Ibid.193194,citingTSN,November8,2001,pp.63,7374,7576]

forprefatorytotheseactionsoftheSSSweretheinstructionsgivenbyFPres.
Estrada to Arellano and the compliance with said instructions by Arellano.
WhileitistruethattheSSShadpreviouslygrantedauthorityforadditional
investmentbySSSinBelleSharespriortoandupto1999,itwasonlyinthe
1999 purchases that there was an instruction coming from FPres. Estrada
throughArellanotopurchaseBelleShares.
TheevidenceoftheDefenseshowthatthe1stIndorsementdatedSeptember29,1999
re: proposal to increase by P450,000,000.00 the investment allocation for Belle to total
P1,300,000,000.00wasnotsignedbyArellano(Exh.242),contrarytotheassertionofthe
Defense. [In its formal offer of Evidence on p. 45, Defense claimed that Exh. 247 was
executedbyArellano.Exh.247isthesameasExh.242]
Neitherwasthereanydocumentaryevidencesubmittedshowingtheapprovalbythe
Commissionoftheproposalincreasingby450,000,000theinvestmentallocationforBelleto
totalP1,300,000,000.00.
Likewise, the testimony of Capulong that he examined and audited all the
acquisition papers and the various confirmation slips and official receipts covering the

acquisitionandfoundthemtobeinorderandhence,hehadnoobjectionto,butonthe
contraryapprovedthepaymentofthesaidacquisition;thatasfarashewasconcerned,there
wasnothingillegalorirregularoranomalousintheSSSpurchaseofBelleSharesinOctober
21, 1999 and that it was a legal investment and a valid investment that is in the list of
investment of SSS; that it is not an irregular investment and it is said that it might be
somewhatnotordinaryinthesensethatinthiscasetherewasacall[DefenseMemorandum,
p.198,citingTSN,November14,2001,p.53],infactcorroboratesArellanosstatementthat
indeedtherewasacallfromFPres.EstradainstructingthepurchaseofBelleShares.
Moreover,Capulong,inhistestimony,statedthatBelleCorporationShareswereno
longerqualifiedstockssinceBellehadnotdeclareddividendswhetherincashorstockin
1997,1998and1999.[TSN,February14,2005,p.75]
HelikewisetestifiedthatitwasformerPresidentandChairmanCarlosA.Arellanowho
directlygavetheorderstothebrokerstopurchaseBelleSharesinbehalfoftheSSSandhe
(Capulong) had nothing to do directly insofar as the acquisition was concerned since his
participationismerelylimitedtorecommendtheincreaseofthefundingfortheacquisitionof
theshares.[TSN,February11,2002,p.11]
Capulong further testified that for the month of October, 1999, the SSS bought
389,855,000 shares with a value of P1,031,126,400.00. [Ibid. p. 38] In his subsequent
testimony,CapulongtestifiedthatonOctober21,1999,theSSSbought249,679,000shares
atthevalueofP784,551,150.00atanaveragepriceofP3.14/share.[TSN,February14,2005,
p.78] AfterOctober21,1999,BelleShareswasonadownwardtrendgoingdowntothe
P1.00levelbytheyear2000.ByOctober23,2001,itwentbelowP1.00,thenitwentdownto
70centavosbyFebruary15,2001.AsofFebruary11,2002,itwasbeingtradedat40to50
cents.[Ibid.pp.9293]
Capulongfurthertestifiedthatoutofthe249,679,000shareswhichSSSboughton
October21,1999forP784,551,150.00,atotalof96,366,000sharesweresoldatanaverage
selling price of P1.7736/share resulting in a loss amounting to P127,464,710.00. [TSN,
February18,2002,pp.9495]

TheDefensearguesthatthereasonwhyArellanotestifiedinthemannerhedidand
executedanaffidavitimplicatingFPres.Estradaintheinstantplundercasenotwithstanding
thattherewasnothingirregular,illegaloranomalousintheOctober21,1999acquisitionof
BelleShareswasbecausehistestimoniesandaffidavitarehislastditchefforttoexculpate
himselffrompossibleplunderchargeswherehemaybedetainedwithoutbailconsideringthat
plunderisacapitaloffense.[DefenseMemorandum,p.197]
This argument of the Defense are mere allegations and extracted from FPres.
Estradas testimony that Arellano called him up and explained the circumstances behind
ArellanosexecutionofhisAffidavitwhicharehowever,uncorroborated.
NeitherdowefindthatthepresenceoftheinstructionfromFPres.Estradaisnegated
by the argument of the Defense that the acquisition by GSIS of Belle Shares, was in
accordancewithinvestmentpolicyandrules.
The Defense sought to establish that the Belle Shares were qualified under GSIS
policyandcharter andGSISmaybyitselfandinaccordancewithitsrules,purchaseBelle
Shareswithouttheneedofanyorderorcompulsionfromanybodyasshownbythetestimony
ofPascual,thePresidentofGSISwhenheadmittedthatevenwaybackin1993,GSIShad
beenpurchasingordealingwithBelleSharesandhadalreadymadeprofitsattheextentof
around P145,000,000.00 since 1993 up to the present prior to his coming in as the new
GeneralManagerofGSIS.[TSN,November22,2001,pp.61to62]Thatthepurchasewas
inaccordancewiththeGSISpolicywasestablishedbyPascualstestimonythatthetrading
departmentundertheCorporateFinanceGroupinvestigatedandmadefurtherinquiriesin
connectionwiththesharesandconcludedthattherewouldbenoviolationthatcouldhave
beencommittedbyGSISinthepurchaseoftheshares.[TSN,December3,2001,pp.14and
15] PascualfurthertestifiedthattheaveragepriceofP3.14persharewastheworthofthe
sharesaroundthetimeitwaspurchased[TSN,November22,2001,pp.8990]anditwas
reportedtohimbyhispeoplethatthereasonwhytheyboughtsomuchwasbecausethere
wasahistoryofprofitabilityandthattheyalreadyhadaP1,000,000,000.00turnoverplusand
hefeltthatitwasagoodbuyingafterwards.(sic)[TSN,November28,2001,p.55]

Nowhere in the argument of the Defense does it establish the absence of the
instructionofFPres.EstradatoPascual,otherthantheselfservingdenialofFPres.Estrada.
Moreover, as Pascual testified, the GSIS profits in 1999 did not come from Belle
Shares.Furthermore,thefactthatGSISmadeprofitstotheextentofaroundP145,000,000.00
since1993didnotmeanthatitmadeprofitsfromtheBelleSharespurchasedin1999. As
testifiedbyPascual,theactualprofitoftheGSISin1999didnotcomefromBelleSharesbut
fromotherstocksandtherewasnocontributiontotheprofitofGSISfromtheBelleShares
acquisitionbecauseuptothepresenttheyarestillholdingontotheBelleShares.[TSN,
November22,2001,p.81]EventheevidenceoftheDefenseshowsthatasofDecember29,
2000,thevalueofBelleShareshadgonedowntoP0.69/sharefromtheaveragepurchase
priceofP3.14/shareandanallowanceforprobablelossofP374,052,750.00hadbeensetup
(Exh.250,J12).
FPres. Estradas testimony that he called Pascual to inquire about delayed GSIS
benefitsisnegatedbythefactthatafterthecalltoPascual,thelattergaveinstructionstobuy
BelleShares.Ifbenefitswerebeingdelayed,whywouldGSISspendbillionsofpesostobuy
BelleSharesinsteadofsettingasidethesemoniestoavoiddelayinGSISbenefits?
Defense arguedthatassumingarguendo thattherewasaninstructionfromFPres.
Estradaforsuchpurchase,suchinstructionwasnottoocompellingorirresistibletodirectly
causethe execution ofthepurchasesuggestionandthatsuch instructionwasimmaterial
because the GSIS Board which approved the transaction did not receive the alleged
instructionofthePresidentandthatinthesamevein,theGSISdecidedonthepurchase
independently,freefromanycompulsionbyanoutsiderastheinstructiongivenbyPascual
wastotheeffectthatastudybeconductedandiftheBelleSharesarequalified,tobuywithin
therangeoftheirauthority.[DefenseMemorandum,pp.205206]
PascualstestimonythatwhenhetalkedtoFPres.Estradaandthelatteraskedhim
why he had not bought Belle Shares in an agitated tone; that he did not mention the
instructionofFPres.Estradatoothersbecausetheinstructionwasspecifictohim;thaton
October9,1999afterhistelephoneconversationwithFPres.Estrada,hegavetheinstruction

toGSIStobuyBelleSharesshouldbeaffordedstrongerweightandmoreprobativevalue
thantheargumentsoftheDefense.Asstatedearlier,theProsecutionhasestablishedthatit
wastheinstructionsofFPres.EstradathattriggeredtheinstructionsofPascualandArellano
to GSIS and SSS respectively which caused these agencies, in turn to follow the usual
procedures established for the purchase of the shares which finally culminated in the
purchaseoftheBelleSharesbyGSISandSSS.

AstoPascualstestimonythatitwasunusualforFPres.Estradatocallhimforthe
purchase of a (sic) particular shares, the Defense pointed out that as per admission of
Pascual,whathemeantbyunusualwasthatFPres.Estradacalledhimwhenhewasoutof
thecountry. Defensepointedouthowever,thatastestifiedbyFPres.Estrada,thelatterdid
notknowthatPascualwasoutofthecountrywhenhecalled.[Ibid.p.209]Defensepointed
outthat,byPascualsadmission,theGSISBoardwasnotpressuredintofindingthattheBelle
Shareswereokay,aboveboard,andthattheywerenotpressuredbyanybodyintoconcluding
thepurchase.[Ibid.p.214,citingTSN,December3,2001,p.93]
WefailtoseehowtheadmissionofPascualthatitwasunusualforFPres.Estradato
callhimtoinquireaboutwhyGSIShadnotpurchasedBelleSharesinanagitatedtoneand
thestatementofFPres.EstradathathedidnotknowthatPascualwasoutofthecountryat
the time he called Pascual could lead to the conclusion that the GSIS Board was not
pressuredintofindingthattheBelleShareswereokay,aboveboardandthattheywerenot
pressuredbyanybodyintoconcludingthepurchase.TheissuewasnotwhethertheGSIS
BoardwaspressuredintofindingthattheBelleSharespurchasewasokayoraboveboard,
butwhetherFPres.EstradapressuredPascualintoorderingGSIStobuyBelleShares.
Thetestimoniesofdefensewitnesses,JusticeHermogenesD.Concepcion,Jr.,the
formerChairmanofGSIS,andReynaldoPalmiery,ExecutiveVicePresidentofGSIS,didnot
disprovethatFPres.EstradagaveinstructionstoPascualforGSIStobuyBelleSharessince,
asadmittedbythem,theywerenotawareofsuchinstructions.Nowhereinthetestimonyof
Pascual did he state that he informed these people of the instructions of FPres. Estrada

because,as statedbyPascual,theinstructionswerespecificto himsohedidntwantto


involvehismanagementanymore.[TSN,November28,2001,pp.910]
The P189,700,000.00 Check No. 6000159271 payable to cash, drawn on
International Exchange Bank with Eastern Securities Corporation as
drawer[Exh.RR4]
After the purchase by GSIS and SSS of the Belle Shares, Ocier caused the
preparation of a check by Eastern Securities Development Corporation in the amount of
P189,700,000.00representingtheprofitcommissiontobepaidfromthesale.[TSN,January
14,2002,p.3336]
Ocier identified International Exchange Bank Check No. 6000159271 dated
November 5, 1999, payable to cash in the amount of P189,700,000.00 with Eastern
SecuritiesCorporationasDrawer.Ociertestifiedthatthecheckwaspreparedsothathecan
hand carry and deliver it to Dichaves as per their agreement when he agreed to pay P
200,000,000.00commission.[TSN,January7,2002,p.49]Whenaskedwhowassupposed
togetthecommission,OcieransweredthataccordingtoJaimeDichaves,PresidentEstrada
wassupposedtogetthecommission.[Ibid.p.55]
Ocier testified that he delivered the check to the residence of Dichaves in No. 19
CorinthianGardens,[TSN,January9,2002,p.13]andhedeliveredthecheckbecausehe
hadaprearrangedappointmentwithDichaveswhereinhewassupposedtohandthecheck
toDichaves.[Ibid.p.15]Mr.DichavesarrangedtheappointmentbecausehewantedOcierto
explaininpersonwhythecheckamountisP189,700,000.00whenthepreagreedamount
wasP200,000,000.00.[Ibid.p.18] Ocierexplainedthathedeductedtransactiontaxesand
brokers commissions from the amount of P200,000,000.00 and rounded the figure to
P189,700,000 of (sic) which Dichaves agreed. Ocier learned later on that the check he
delivered to Dichaves was deposited at Far East Bank to the account which he believes
belongedtoDichaves.[Ibid.p.60]
Oncrossexamination,OcieradmittedthatFPres.Estradawasnotpresentwhenhe
hadhisconversationwithDichavesontheBellesharesonJuly20,1999.[TSN,January14,
2002,pp.2029] NeitherdidhetalktoFPres.EstradaafterthecheckforP189,700,000.00

(Exh.R)wasissuedandclearednordidheinquirefromFPres.Estradawhetherhereceived
orwascreditedinanyofhisaccountwiththeamountstatedinthecheck.[Ibid.pp.3940]
Ocierlikewisetestifiedthathedidnothavetheopportunitytodiscusstheprofitcommission,
northereceiptoftheprofitcommissionnortheVelardeaccountwithFPres.Estradadespite
thefactthathehadconstantmeetingswithFPres.Estrada.[Ibid.p.6061]
WhenOcierwasaskedifhecouldsaythatDichaveswasinstructedbyFPres.Estrada
regarding the profit commission, Ocier answered that he trusts his cousin Dichaves and
whateverthelattertellshimhewouldnormallybelieve.Ocieralsotestifiedthatthetotalityof
whathestatedinhisaffidavitabouttheinstruction,ortherepresentationmadebyDichaves
was not corroborated or confirmed by FPres. Estrada or anybody else representing him
becauseitwasjustbetweenhimandDichaves.[Ibid.pp.3945]
CitingOcierstestimony,Defensearguesthatsuchtestimonyonthesubjectsalesand
commission are purely hearsay and does not bind FPres. Estrada. What is clear on the
recordisthatthecommissionwenttoDichavesasgleanedfromOcierstestimony.[Defense
Memorandum,p.221222]
InanattempttoestablishthattherewasnoevidencethatFPres.Estradareceivedany
percentage or commission from the sale of Belle Shares, the Defense pointed out that
Capulongstestimonyindicatedthatwhiletherewasabrokerscommission,whichwaspaidto
brokerslikeAbacusSecuritiesCorporation.[DefenseMemorandum,pp.215216,citingTSN,
February11,2002,pp.1316]Inthecaseofthe389,855,000BelleSharesboughtbySSSfor
P1,031,126,400.00,thepaymentswentfromSSStothebrokers,thebuyingbrokers.[TSN,
February11,2002,p.38[
TheCourtfindsthat InternationalExchangeBank Check No.6000159271 dated
November 5, 1999, payable to cash in the amount of P189,700,000.00 with Eastern
SecuritiesCorporationasDrawer(Exh.R),waspaidascommissioninconsiderationofthe
purchaseofBelleSharesbySSSandGSIS.WhilethetestimonyofOciertotheeffectthat
DichavestoldhimthatitwasFPres.Estradawhoimposedtheconditionforthepaymentof
commission is hearsay insofar as FPres. Estrada is concerned, the said testimony is

admissibleasproofthatsuchstatementwasmadebyDichavestoOcier.Testimonyofwhat
oneheardapartysayisnotnecessarilyhearsay. Itisadmissibleinevidence,nottoshow
thatthestatementwastrue,butthatitwasinfactmade.Ifcredible,itmayformpartofthe
circumstantialevidencenecessarytoconvicttheaccused.[Bonvs.People,419SCRA103]
AsregardstheargumentthatCapulongstestimonyindicatedthatwhiletherewasa
brokerscommission,thiswaspaidtobrokerssuchasAbacusSecuritiesCorporationandthat
thepurchasepriceofP1,031,126,400.00for389,855,000BelleShareswentfromSSStothe
buyingbrokers,again,wefindthisargumentoftheDefensetobeunavailing.Theissueisnot
whetherFPres.EstradareceivedBrokerscommissionorreceivedthepaymentfromSSS,but
whetherhereceivedthecommissionmentionedbyDichavestoOcierasconsiderationforthe
purchaseofBelleSharesbyGSISandSSS.
HavingfoundthatacommissionwaspaidinconsiderationofthepurchaseofBelle
Shares by SSS and GSIS, the next issue that this Court must determine is whether the
commissionwenttoFPres.EstradaorDichaves.
ThepapertrailforInternationalExchangeBankCheckNo.6000159271
First:FarEastBankandTrustCo.(CubaoAranetaBranch)
In tracking the check (Exh. R), Prosecution presented Ms. Yolanda de Leon, (De
Leon),SeniorManagerofBPI(CubaoAranetaBranch)formerlyFarEastBankandTrustCo.
[BPImergedwithFarEastBanksometimein2000]DeLeontestifiedthatDichaveswasone
of the valued clientsofthe Bankand that Jaime Dichaves and AbbyDichavezhad joint
current and savings accounts with then Far East Bank and Trust Company in 1999. The
Current Account had the No. 0007055587 and the Savings Account had the No. 0107
386399(C/ANo.0007055587andS/ANo.0107386399).[TSN,February4,2002,pp.23
24;(Exhs.BBandZ)] Sheidentifiedthemicrofilmcopyof InternationalExchangeBank
CheckNo.6000159271[Ibid.p.3941;Exh.DD]datedNovember5,1999intheamountof
P189,700,000.00asthecheckthatwasdepositedtothesavingsaccountofDichaveson
November5,1999asevidencedbythemicrofilmofthedepositslip[Ibid.pp.4244;Exh.EE]
andthebankstatementofaccountforS/ANo.0107386399datedNovember30,1999.[Ibid.
pp.4849;Exh.FF,FF1]
ShetestifiedthatonNovember9,1999,theamountofP189,700,000.00wasauto
transferred from S/A No.0107386399 to C/A No.0007055587 as appearing in the

StatementofAccountsforS/ANo.0107386399andC/ANo.0007055587.[;Exh.FF2;
Exh.GG,GG1]ShealsotestifiedthatJaimeDichavesdrewacheckagainstC/ANo.0007
055587intheamountofP189,700,000.00asevidencedbyFarEastBankandTrustCo.
CheckNo.3165579,amicrofilmcopyofwhichsheidentified.[Ibid.p.5253;Exh.HH]She
testifiedthatatthedorsalportionofthemicrofilmcopyofCheckNo.3165579,thereappears
anaccountnumber160625015[Ibid.p.56;Exh.HH4]butshecouldnotidentifythebank
thattheaccountbelongsbecausethebankindorsementoftheotherbankwasnotclearly
visible.ShefurthertestifiedthatbothC/ANo.0007055587andS/ANo.0107386399were
closedasofFebruary29,2000andMarch31,2000respectively.[Ibid.p.57;Exhs.IIandJJ]
Oncrossexamination,Detestifiedthatshehadnohandinthepreparationofthe
StatementofAccountsmarkedasExhs.FF,ZZ,IIandJJ.[Ibid.p.84]
The Court finds that InternationalExchange Bank CheckNo.6000159271 dated
November5,1999wasdepositedtoFarEastBankandTrustCo.S/ANo.0107386399
ofJaimeDichavesandautotransferredtoC/ANo.0007055587ofJaimeDichaveswhodrew
from the latter account, Far East Bank and Trust Co. Check No. 3165579 for
P189,700,000.00.
Second: EPCIBGreenhillsOrtigasBranchtoEPCIBBinondoBranch
S/A0160625015withtheAccountNameJoseVelarde
The prosecutions evidence on the deposit of Far East Bank Araneta Check No.
3165579 which was the subject of an interbank deposit from EPCIB Greenhills Ortigas
BranchtoEPCIBBinondoBranchAccountNo.0160625015inthenameofJoseVelarde
consisted in the testimony of Ms. Glyzelyn Bejec, the Teller who processed the Deposit
ReceiptmarkedasExhibitI5.ShetestifiedthatasofNovember8,1999,shewasassignedto
theEPCIBankGreenhillsOrtigasBranchasCustomerServiceAssistantTellerwithTeller
IdentificationNo.8.Herbasisforindicatingthenumber0160625015intheDepositReceipt
wastheAccountInformationSlipwhichisfilledinbythedepositorortherepresentativeofthe
depositor.[TSN,May6,2002,pp.4647;61]
AftershewasgiventheAccountInformationSliptogetherwiththefourchecks,she
firstverifiedthefaceofthecheckastothedate,theamountinwordsandfigures,afterwhich
shestampedthenonnegotiableendorsementatthebackofeachcheck,andalso,shewrote

downtheaccountnumberindicatedontheAccountInformationSlipgiventoher.Shewrote
down the account no. 0160625015 at the dorsal portion of the check after which she
depositedthecheckstotheAccountNo.indicatedintheAccountInformationSlip.[Ibid.p.65;
68]
Sheexplainedthatthedepositprocessinvolvedfirst,encodingtheaccountnumber
givenintheAccountInformationSlip,afterwhichsheswipedeachcheckonthecheckreader
andencodedtheamountoneachcheckandafterthatadepositreceiptwasgenerated.After
she had encoded the account number and the amounts of the four (4) checks that she
processedfordeposittheaccountnamethatreflectedinthecomputerwasJoseVelarde.
[Ibid.p.6970]
The checks that she processed for deposit were forwarded to their distributing for
safekeepingandmicrofilmingthenextday. Whenshewasshownthecertifiedcopyof Far
East Bank Check No. 3165579 in the amount of P189,700,000.00 from the Philippine
ClearingHouseCorporation,shetestifiedthatthiswasthesamechecksheprocessedand
sheidentifiedthedorsalportionwhereshewroteAccountNo.160625015(sic). Herother
meansofidentifyingthecheckwasherTellerIDno.8whichappearsatthecheck(ExhU41)
andsheidentifiedtheaccountholderofthecheckasJaimeC.DichavesorAbe(sic)C.
Dichavesandsheattestedthatthecheckispayabletocash. ShetestifiedthattheBank
acceptschecksevenifnotendorsedbythedepositorsheacceptedthecheckevenwithout
endorsementbecauseitwasgiventoherbytheBranchMangerfordeposit.[Ibid.p.7284]
OncrossexaminationshetestifiedthatshethrewawaytheAccountInformationSlip
becausethedepositreceipthadbeengeneratedorthetransactionhasbeenvalidatedinthe
depositreceipt.[Ibid,p.89]
To corroborate the testimony of Ms. Bejec, the prosecution presented Ms. Teresa
Barcelona,theBranchManageroftheEPCIBGreenhillsOrtigasBranchduringtheperiod
November,1999.Sheidentifiedinterbankdepositreceiptdated8November1999whichwas
previouslymarkedasExh.I5 issuedbytheEPCIBGreenhillsOrtigasBranchfordepositto

accountnumber0160625015withtheaccountnameJoseVelarde.Thetransactionisan
interbankdepositoffour(4)checkstotheaccountofJoseVelardemaintainedattheBinondo
Branch. [TSN, May 15, 2002, p. 80] The total amount of the four (4) checks is
P263,292,303.65ofwhichonecheckisissuedby FarEastBankandTrustCo.Araneta
BranchwithCheckNo.3165579amountingtoP189,700,000.00.[Ibid.p.81;Exh.U41]
ThepersonwhotransactedtheinterbankdepositwiththeEPCIBGreenhillsOrtigas
BranchwasMs.BabyOrtalizawhotransactedpersonallywiththewitnessanditwasMs.
BabyOrtalizawhoreceivedthethirdcopyofthedepositreceiptfortheaccountholder.[Ibid.
p.82] ThistransactionwasprocessedbyTellerGlezelynBejecasherTellerIDappearsin
thedepositreceipt.[]
The Defense argued thatBejecstated that the checkswere handed to her by the
BranchManager,TeresaBarcelonaandnotbythepersonwhomadethedeposit,andthatthe
depositordidnotappearbeforeher. Notoneofthebankpersonneloranyotherwitness
presentedbytheprosecutiontestifiedthatFPres.Estradahadanyparticipationintheopening
ofCurrentAccountNo.0001105254954(sic)andSavingsAccountNo.0160625015inthe
nameofJoseVelarde,noritsclosing.Notoneoftheprosecutionwitnessestestifiedastothe
sourceofthefundsdepositedinthesaidaccounts.Norwasthereanywitnesswhocould
identifyanyofthepersonswhoissuedthechecksdepositedunderthesaidaccountand
under what circumstances the same were issued. In short, there is no proof that FPres.
Estrada willfully, unlawfully and criminally amassed, accumulated and acquired illgotten
wealthintheamountofP3.2Million(sic).Neitheristhereproofthatthismoneycamefrom
commissions,gifts,percentages,kickbacksoranyformofpecuniarybenefitsgiventohim
asthesourceofsaidmoneyhavenotbeenidentifiedortraced.Thereisnoevidencetoshow
thathehadenrichedhimselfattheexpenseoftheFilipinopeople. [DefenseMemorandum,
pp.242243]
At any rate, Defense argues that the documents submitted as exhibits by the
prosecutiononlytendtoprovewhatchecksweredepositedtothesaidAccountNo.0160
625015ofEquitablePCIBankinthenameofJoseVelarde.[Ibid.p.242]

TheCourtfindsthattheFarEastBankandTrustCo.AranetaBranchCheckNo.
3165579amountingtoP189,700,000.00drawnbyDichaveswasdepositedtoEPCIBS/ANo.
0160625015 account of Jose Velarde as part of the deposit to said account totaling
P263,292,303.65(Exh.I5;U41;127L).
ThelinkbetweenFPres.EstradaandtheJoseVelardeAccount
IndischargingitsburdenofprooftoestablishthattheJoseVelardeAccountbelongto
FPres.Estrada,theprosecutionreliedonthefollowing:
1. ThetestimonyofClarissaOcampothatshesawFpres.Estradasigned
JoseVelardeontheDebitCreditinstructionforS/A0160625015 (Exh.
E5);
2. The admission ofFPres. Estrada [TSN,May 24,2006, p.23] that he
signedJoseVelardeonExh.E5;
3. The many bank transactions of Baby Ortaliza involving the personal
accounts of FPres. Estrada and his family, the personal account of Loi
EstradaandtheJoseVelardeAccount;
4.TheuseoftheJoseVelardeCurrentAccountforthepurchaseofthe;
5.ThefundingthattheJoseVelardeAccountreceivedfromtheUrbanBank
SpecialTrustAccountofFPres.Estradasson,JoseVictorEjercito;and
6.ThecustomarysigningofFPres.EstradaasJose.
The signatures of FPres. Estrada as Jose Velarde in the Investment
Management Agreement (IMA), Signature Cards, Investment Guidelines,
Directional Letters, and DebitCredit Authority for EPCIB CA/SA 0160
625015ofJoseVelarde
ClarissaOcampotestifiedthatafterexplainingthedocumentsbeingpresentedforhis
signature,sheandAtty.CuratosawFPres.EstradasignedasJoseVelardeonthethree(3)
copiesoftheInvestmentManagementAgreement(IMA)[Exh.W4toY4;TSNNovember13,
2002,pp.7073],two(2)signaturecards(Exh.Z4;A5)whichhesignedthree(3)times[TSN,
November13,2002,pp.7880],one(1)copyoftheInvestmentGuidelines(Exh.B5;Ibid.pp.
8284),two(2)copiesoftheDirectionalLetters(Exh.C5 toD5; Ibid.pp.8789),andone(1)

copyoftheDebitCreditAuthority(Exh.E5). [Ibid.pp.9293] Hertestimonyregardingthe


DebitCreditAuthorityinparticularwasasfollows:
OMB.MARCELO
QAfterthesetwoexhibitsmarkedasExhibitCtothe5 thpowerandDtothe5th
powerweresignedbytheformerPresidentandhandedbyyoutoAtty.Curato
whathappenednext?
AIwaspreparingtogoandthenIrecalledthattherewasanenvelopethatwas
giventomebythebankingsidewhichcontainedthefundingmediumandsoI
lookedatit,Ipulledoutthedocumentinsidetheenvelope,IreaditandthenI
gaveittothePresidentforsigning.
QAftergivingittothePresidentwhathappenednext?
A Actually,Iexplainedtohimthattheletterofinstructionwhichisadebit/credit
authority,Itoldhimthatthebankingsidegaveittomewhichauthorizesthe
banktoactuallydebitordraw500MillionfromhisaccountsoIwaspointingat
theaccountnumberinthedebit/creditauthoritysodebithisaccountdraw500
MillionandcreditthesameamounttotrustforfundingofhisloantoWellexsir.
QWhatwashisreactiontoyourexplanation?

AHewasnoddinghisheadsir.
QAfterhenoddedhisheadwhathappened?
AHesignedthedocumentandIsawhimsigned.
OMB.MARCELO
QWhatwasthesignatureaffixedbytheformerPresident?

AHesignedasJoseVelarde.
QAftertheformerPresidentsignedthisdocumentasJoseVelardewhat
happened,ifany?
AIgotthedocumentandthenIlookedatitandIpasseditontoAtty.Curato.

[TSN,November13,2002,pp.9293]

OnMay24,2006,FPres.Estradatestifiedasfollows:
QMs.OcampoandAtty.Curatotestifiedbeforethiscourtthatyousignedas
JoseVelardeinthedocumentsthatyouhavejustidentifiedawhileagoand
yousignedasJoseVelarde,whatcanyousayastothattestimony?
ATHATISTRUE.PINIRMAHANKOPOIYANDAHILPOSAPAKIUSAPNIMR.
JAIME DE CHAVES (SIC) NA OKAY NA RAW PO YONG INTERNAL
ARRANGEMENTSABANGKOATPALABASINNAAKOANGMAYARING
JOSE VELARDE ACCOUNT PARA MASIGURO PO NA YONG KANILANG

PINAUTANG, IPAUUTANG SA WELLEX GROUP OF COMPANIES NI MR.


WILLIAM GATCHALIAN AY SIGURADONG BABAYARAN. AYAW PO NILA
SANANG PAUTANGIN SI MR.GATCHALIAN BAKA HINDI DAW PO
MAKABAYADSATAKDANGPANAHON. [TSN,May24,2006,p.23;Emphasis
Supplied]
WilliamGatchalianisabigbusinessman.isangmalakingnegosyanteatsiyapo
aymayaringWellexgroupofcompaniesatsiyarinpoayisasatumulongsa
amingpartidonoongnakaraang1998presidentialelection.[Ibid,p.25]
QNow,youwererequestedbyMr.JaimedeChaves(sic)tomakeitappearthatyou
own the Jose Velarde account and that there was an internal arrangement
betweenyouandMr.deChaves(sic)IaskyounowMr.President,whendidyou
agreetosuchrequestandarrangement?
AHindilangpodahildoonsainternalarrangement.Hindilangpodahilgustokong
tulungan si Mr. William Gatchalian kundi higit po sa lahat ay nakita ko ang
kapakanannoongmahigitnatatlonglibong(3000)empleyadonakungsakaling
hindimapapautangsiMr.WilliamGatchalian,maaringmagsaraangkanyangmga
kumpanyaatyongmgataong,mahigittatlonglibong(3,000)empleyadokasama
nayongkanilangmgapamilyaaymawawalanngtrabaho. ATINISIPKORING
NAWALANAMING(SIC)GOVERNMENTFUNDSNAINVOLVEKAYAHINDINA
AKO NAGDALAWANG ISIP NA PIRMAHAN KO. [Ibid. p. 2627; Emphasis
Supplied]

IntheDebitCreditAuthoritysignedbyFPres.EstradaasJoseVelardefor
EPCIBS/ANo.0160625015,thefollowingwordsexpresslyappear:
. . . my SA/CA No.0160625015 maintained with your branch in the amount of
P500,000,000.00andcreditmyTrustAccountNo.101780561representingmyinitial
contribution(Exh.E53).[EmphasisSupplied]

LucenaBabyOrtalizaandthebankaccountsofFPres.Estradaandthe
JoseVelardeAccount
To establish the close relationship and trust of FPres. Estrada and his family on
LucenaBabyOrtaliza,theprosecutionpresentedREMEDIOSAXALANAGUILA,Personnel
officeroftheOfficeoftheVicePresident(OVP).
ShetestifiedthatOrtalizawasappointedVPStaffOfficerIIfromJanuary2,1996to
June30,1998byFPres.Estrada.BeingintheimmediatestaffoftheVicePresident,shehas
thetrustandconfidenceoftheVicePresidentandshecanreportanywhere,anytimeasmay
bedirectedbytheVicePresident.[TSN,May22,2002,pp.2124]
Likewise, the Prosecution presented Linda P. Sison, Presidential Officer VI, Chief
PersonnelDataBank,OfficeofthePresident.ShetestifiedthatOrtalizawasemployedinthe
officeofthePresidentonJuly1,1998andappointedPresidentialStaffOfficerVIbyFPres.

Estrada.Shewasassignedtotheinternalhouseaffairsofficewhichnormallyattendstothe
needsofthePresidentandmembersofthefamily. SheresignedeffectiveSeptember30,
2000asPrivateSecretaryVIinaletterofresignationdatedOctober4,2000.[Ibid.pp.47
48]
ToestablishthatBabyOrtalizatransactedforthebankaccountsofFPres.Estradaand
his family the Prosecution presented Salvador Serrano, VicePresident, Centralized
Operations and Control Division of Security Banking Corporation. He identified the
InvestmentSavingsAccountAgreementofFPres.Estrada[Exh.C14C148]intheamountof
P10,000,000.00 with Security Bank San Juan Branch where, above the typewritten name
JosephE.EstradaunderthewordConformeappearsthesignatureofBabyOrtalizaand
hewastoldbytheNewAccountsClerkoftheSanJuanBranchthatBabyOrtalizaisthe
representativeofFPres.Estrada.[TSN,May8,2002,pp.7981;8790;128129]
ThewitnessalsoidentifiedthepurchaseofTBillsbyFPres.Estradaevidencedby
ConfirmationSaleNo.81046(Exh.C149toC1416)valuedateApril10,1997wherethere
appearsthesignatureofBabyOrtalizaaboveTSNo.96848.[TSN,May8,2002,p.114]
TheProsecutionalsopresentedMs.PamelaMoranwhotestifiedthatMs.Ortalizawas
theonlyonepersontransactingtheaccountsofFPres.Estradawhenshewasinchargeof
theNewAccountsSectionoftheSecurityBankSanJuanBranch. [TSN,May15,2002,p.
146;pp.149152]
TheProsecutionfurtherpresentedPatrickDeeChengofCitibankwhotestifiedthatin
theHoldAllMailAgreementsignedbyMs.LuisaP.Ejercito,herdesignatedrepresentative
wasMs.LucenaBabyOrtaliza.[TSN,October7,2002;pp.8083;Exhs.B11;C11andsub
markings]
The Prosecution presented Ms. Marie Rose Ancheta Claudio who was Branch
ManagerofUrbanBankGreenhillsBranchfrom1998.[TSN,March26,2003,p.92] She
identified the Letter of Authority dated November 23, 1999 addressed to Urban Bank

GreenhillsBranch(Exh.I19)forissuanceofthree(3)ManagersChecksintheamountsof
P42,716,554.22,P10,875,749.43andP54,161,496.52,wherethewordsReceivedBy:Baby
Ortalizaappeared.Asperthewitness,however,itwasnotBabyOrtalizawhoreceivedthe
check as she herself gave the Managers Checks directly to the client, Joseph Victor G.
Ejercito.[TSN,March26,2003,p.168]
HavingpresentedevidencethatBabyOrtalizatransactedforFPres.Estradaandfamily
with the Banks where FPres. Estrada and Family had accounts, the prosecution then
presentedevidenceofthetransactionsbyOrtalizainrelationtotheJoseVelardeAccountto
establishthatFPres.EstradaownstheJoseVelardeaccounts.
Thus,theprosecutionpresentedTeresaA.BarcelonawhotestifiedthatBabyOrtaliza
transactedwithherpersonallyforthedepositofP143,000,000.00(Exh.M5andsubmarkings)
intotheJoseVelardeS/ANo.0160625015accountanditwasBabyOrtalizawhoreceived
thecopyofthedepositreceiptfortheaccountholder.[TSN,May15,2002,pp.7680]
Likewise,BabyOrtalizatransactedwithherpersonallyforthedepositoftheamountof
P263,292,303.65[Exh.I5 andsubmarkings]totheJoseVelardeS/A0160625015account
anditwasBabyOrtalizawhoreceivedthecopyofthedepositreceiptfortheaccountholder.
[TSN,May15,2002,pp.8082]BabyOrtalizaalsotransactedwithherforthedepositofthe
amountofP40,000,000.00(Exh.N5andsubmarkings)totheJoseVelardeS/A0160625015
accountanditwasBabyOrtalizawhoreceivedthecopyofthedepositreceiptfortheaccount
holder.[TSN,May15,2002,pp.8385]BabyOrtalizatransactedwithherforthedepositof
P163,500,000.00(Exh.Q5 andsubmarkings)totheJoseVelardeS/A0160625015account
anditwasBabyOrtalizawhoreceivedthecopyintendedfortheaccountholder.[TSN,May
15,2002,pp.8992]
Theprosecutionfurther presented MelissaP. Pascualformer bank TellerofEPCIB
VirraMallBranchwhotestifiedthatshepersonallyprocessedvariouschecks(Exhs.V15;W15;
X15;Y15;A16,inclusiveofsubmarkings)depositedbyMs.OrtalizatotheJoseVelardeS/A
0160625015.

ShewassureitwasBabyOrtalizawhodepositedthesechecksbecausetheirbranch
issosmallthateverytimeshecomestotheirbranch,hervoiceistooloudsoshewouldcatch
herattention.ShewouldseeOrtalizagivethecheckstoherofficerwhichtheofficerwould
givetoherforvalidation,forprocessing.[TSN,December9,2002,pp.2123;35;3739]
ThepurchaseoftheforP142Millionfrommoneywhichcamefromthe
EPCIBC/A0110254954ofJoseVelarde
The prosecution presented evidence to show that the purchase of the Boracay
MansionwasinitiatedbyacheckNo.0110714951datedOctober5,1999issuedbyJose
VelardefromhisEPCIBC/ANo.0110254954intheamountofP142,000,000.00payableto
JoseLuisJ.Yulo(hereafterYulo)(Exh.G16) whodepositedthesametohisBPIC/ANo.
0383074827whichwasajointaccountwithMa.CarmenL.Yulo.[TSN,December9,2002,
p.114125;Exh.F16]Subsequently,onOctober8,1999,YuloissuedBPICheckNo.0002129
(Exh.U16;T16)fromhisBPICurrentAccountwhichwasdepositedtotheaccountofSt.Peter
HoldingsCorporationwhich,inturn,thelatterusedtobuythreeManagersChecks,onefor
P86,766,960.00payabletoVicenteASMadrigaland/orGerardoMadrigalassellersofthe
BoracayProperty(Exh.V16;W16);anotherforP53,931,535.60payabletoMercedesA.Reyes
(broker) (Exh.X16) andthethirdforP1,301,504.40payabletoVicenteASMadrigaland/or
GerardoASMadrigalforpaymentofdocumentarystamps (Exh.Y16).[TSNDecember16,
2002,pp.2951] ToestablishthattheBoracayPropertywas,inreality,ownedbyFPres.
Estrada,Prosecutionpresentedataginthecarpetindicatingthename:Pres.J.Estrada
(Exh.H19H2)[TSN,March19,2003];aLocatorSlipwhichbearsthewordsApprovedBy;
MS.LAARNIN.ENRIQUEZ, (Exh.H19) aschoolcorrespondenceforFPres.Estradaschild
with Laarni Enriquez, namely: Ejercito, Ma. Jerika Larize (Exh. H19a), and portion of the
testimonyofChavitSingsonwherehementionedthatFPres.EstradasnewhouseinNew
Manila was called Boracay. [TSN, July 24, 2002, pp. 129134] However, Jose Luis Yulo,
whomtheprosecutionportrayedasthedummyofFPres.Estradainthepurchaseofthewas
notchargedasanaccusedinthiscasewhichpresentedalegalissueastotheproprietyof
attachmentcoveringthesaidpropertyduringthependencyofthiscriminalcase.

ThefundingoftheJoseVelardeAccountfromtheUrbanBankAccountof
JoseVictorEjercito
TheprosecutionpresentedMarieRoseAnchetaClaudiowhotestifiedthatJVEjercito
was the owner of Special AccountNo. (SPAN) 858 with Urban Bankpursuant to a Trust
AgreementexecutedbetweenJVEjercitoandUrbanBankTrustDept.[TSN,March26,2003,
pp.9899] Ma.AileenC.TiongsontestifiedthatUrbanBankManagersCheckNo.43222
(Exh.W19) forP75,000,000.00camefromapreterminatedplacementofSPAN858.[TSN,
April2,2003,pp.2021] ThisUrbanBankManagersCheckNo.43222wassubsequently
replacedbyfour(4)ManagersChecksNos.39975,39976,39977and39978(Exhs.B152,
B154, B156 and B158) in the respective amounts of P70,000,000, P2,000,000.00,
P2,000,000.00andP1,000,000.00(Exhs.B1529).
Subsequently,onJanuary24,2000,thesefour(4)checksweredepositedtoEPCIB
S/ANo.0160625015ofJoseVelarde(Exh.B15;Exh.127N).
Likewise, as mentioned earlier, three (3) Urban Bank Managers Checks for the
amountsofP10,875,749.43,P42,716,554.22andP54,161,496.52(Exh.I517,I518andO52),
receivedbyJVEjercitoweredepositedtoEPCIBS/ANo.0160625015ofJoseVelarde(Exh.
I5).
ProsecutionsEvidencetoshowthatitwascustomaryforFPres.Estrada
tosignasJose
Prosecution presented Marianito M. Dimaandal who identified various official
documents which showed the signature of FPres. Estrada as reading Jose instead of
Joseph(Exhs.X19toR20).[TSNMarch31,2003,pp.4047]
Basedontheforgoingtestimonialanddocumentaryevidence,itisthecontentionof
theProsecutionthatithasestablishedthatFPres.Estradaistherealandbeneficialownerof
EPCIB Savings Account No. 0160625015 and Current Account No. 0110254954 in the
nameofJoseVelarde.
ThetheoryofthedefenseontheJoseVelardeAccount

InattemptingtoprovethattheJoseVelardeaccountwasownedbyJaimeDichaves
andnotbyFPres.Estrada,thedefensepresentedRomualdDyTangandBeatrizBagsitas
theirwitnessesinadditiontoFPres.Estrada.
RomualdDyTangtestifiedthatin1999,hewasconnectedwithEPCIBankasitsSVP
andTreasurer. TheChairman,Mr.GeorgeL.GoreferredMr.DichavestohimbecauseGo
toldhimthatDichaveswantedtoopenacurrentaccountunderanaliasinsteadofhisname.
Mr.Dichavesalsocalledhimupandtoldhimthesame.HeknowsMr.Dichavesbecausethe
wifeofJaimeDichavesisthesisterofhissisterinlaw.Ineffect,thewifeofhisbrotherand
Jaimes wife are sisters. What he knows is Dichaves has a lot of business, substantial
businessandoneofhismajorbusinessesisplasterglass.[TSN,May4,2005,pp.11,15,17,
18]
When he was called by Dichaves over the phone, the latter told him that Mr. Go
referred him to Dy Tang to open an alias account for him. Based on that, Dy Tang told
DichavestopreparealetterforrecordsindicatinghisintentionandDichavessenthimaletter
sayingthatheisopeninganaccountunderthenameJoseVelardeandeverythingshouldbe
soforsafekeeping.[Ibid.p.20]DyTangidentifiedtheletterdatedAugust25,1999(Exh.127
to127B1).[Ibid.pp.2021] TheletterwasgiventohimonthedayDichaveswenttohis
officetogetthesignaturecards.[]HegavethesignaturecardpersonallytoDichavesandhe
didnotseeDichavessignthesignaturecardbecausehewaslateforanappointmentand
bothofthemhadpreparedforsuchappointmentandsoDyTanggavethesignaturecardto
Dichavesandtoldhimtoreturnthesame.[Ibid,p.22]Heopenedtwoaccountsonesavings
andonecurrent.Itwasacomboaccount. Thesignaturecardwasreturnedafterabouta
monthorso,afterafollowupwithhimandafterhefollowedseveralprocedures.[]Bothhe
andBettyBagsitwerejointlyassistingMr.Dichaves.Ms.Bagsithadtoassistbecauseifhe
willbetheonlyoneandhetravelsquiteoften,Mr.Dichaveswillnothaveanybodytoattendto
hisaccount.AtthattimeBettyBagsitwasbasedinthePacificStarbranchinandtheJose
VelardeAccountwasaBinondoAccountwheretheledgersoftheVelardeAccountwerekept.
[Ibid.,pp.2628]Hetestifiedthatallthefixed(time)depositsofDichavesweremovedinthe
branchofBagsitinPacificStar.[]

InhisswornstatementwiththeOmbudsmanonMarch23,2001(Exh.327327C),Dy
TangstatedthathereceivedaletterfromDichavesadvisingthemthatalltransactionforthe
JoseVelardeaccountshouldbecoursedthroughhim.HeinstructedMr.CeferinoAng,Vice
PresidentandManagerofBinondoBranchtocausetheopeningoftheaccount.Heknows
Mr.DichavespersonallybecausehewasreferredbyMr.GeorgeGotohimandbecauseheis
thebrotherinlawofDyTangsbrother. Hewenttotheofficetopickuptheformsforthe
opening of the account sometime in late August 1999. Mr. Jaime Dichaves opened the
accountbutDyTangdoesnotknowifheopeneditforhimselforanotherperson.He
gavethesignaturecardsforDichavestofillup. Theaccomplishedsignaturecardswere
giventohimbyMr.Go.Hewasnotpresentwhenthedepositoraffixedhisspecimen
signatureinthesaidsignaturecardasitwasgiventohimaccomplishedbyMr.Go.
BeatrizL.BagsitcameintoEquitableBankasheadofPacificStarbranchwithrankof
AVPandwhentheyacquiredPCIBankin1999,shewaspromotedto1stVPandthedivision
headwhohandledthearea.[TSN,April13,2005,p.63]
SheretiredfromthebankbecauseofpoliticsinthebankandtheJoseVelardecase
was coming up. She was the one handling the Jose Velarde account which was being
handled also by Mr. Jaime Dichaves. [Ibid. p. 65] The Jose Velarde account started at
BinondoBranch.Itwasopenedthereandwhenhersuperiorstransferredto,theycalledher
to handle the account of Jose Velarde and she was introduced to Mr. Dichaves by their
ExecutiveVicePresident,RomyDyTangforhertohandletheaccountpersonally.[Ibid.p.66]
ThereisnoJoseVelardewhoownsanaccountwiththeirbank.Herbasisforsaying
thatJoseVelardeaccountbelongstoMr.JaimeDichavesisthattherewasaletterthatwas
giventoherthatcamefromMr.DichaveswhentheaccountwasopenedinBinondo.When
theaccountwasopenedinBinondo,shewasnothandlingthemanagementofthesame.
The Jose Velarde account was never transferred to . It was just the handling that was
transferredsometimeinNovember,1999.[Ibid,pp.6870]
Basedontheletter(Exh.127)itwouldappearthattheJoseVelardeaccountbelonged

toJaimeDichavesbecauseitwasMr.JaimeDichaveswhoissuedtheletterstatingthatall
bankingtransactionofJoseVelardeshouldbecoursedtohim.Theletterwasshowntoher
byMr.DyTanginNovember,1999. Shedoesnotremembertheexactdatewhenshewas
toldbyDyTangtohandletheaccountofMr.DichavesinthenameJoseVelarde.Shewas
firstinformedaboutitinDyTangsofficeandafterthattherewasatimewhenDichaveswent
toDyTangsofficeandthatwasthetimeshewasintroducedtoDichaves.ShefirstmetMr.
DichavesinJanuary,2000.AftershewasintroducedtoDichaves,thereweretimeswhenhe
would call her for a transaction and there were times he went to her office. Sometimes
DichaveswilltellherthathewillbesendingsomebodytogettheMCwhichhewantsherto
prepareandsometimeshewouldaskforthebalance.[Ibid,pp.7296]Mr.Dichavescameto
herofficetwiceorthriceonly.OneiswhenhevisitedMr.DyTang,theotheroneiswhenhe
justpassedby,justtochecktheaccountofJoseVelardeandhegaveherinstructionthathe
willbesendingrepresentativetoprepareanMCforhimthatwasaftertheFebruary4,2000
transaction.[TSN,April18,2005,p.59]
ShedoesnotknowifDichaveshasanaccountinherarea,shethinksthereisnone
butshedoesnotknowwithotherbranches. Therecordsshehadaccesstoregardingthe
Jose Velarde Account were the signature card and the copy of the letter. The name
Dichavesdoesnotappearinthesignaturecard.[TSN,April13,2005,p.7684]
Shesawthedebitcreditauthorizationonhertableandshekeptitanddidnotgiveitto
anybody. [Ibid. p. 116] After Clarissa Ocampo was presented at the impeachment
proceedings, Clarissa called her and she told Clarissa Kissa, hindi sa akin galing yong
debit/creditbecauseClarissawasaskingherifshewasatthebankworkingandshetold
ClarissathatthebankwasreallybleedingandshetooktheopportunitytotellherKissa,hindi
saakingalingyon.Saanbagalingyon?.[Ibid.p.118] ShetestifiedthatClarissawasjust
surprisedandaskedhersaanbagalingyon?.Wherediditcomefrom?Sheansweredshe
didntknowbutitdidntcomefromher.ThatsallshetoldClarissa.Afterthattherewasa
followupfromAtty.Curatoaskingherifshedidnotreallyissuetheauthorizationandshetold
himNotalagaeh.Sabiko,hanapinnatinkungsaantalagagaling.Shetestifiedthatlater
on,itwasconfirmedthatitcamefromtheTrustDepartment.[Ibid.p.118119] Shetestified

thatthePrefixNumberforaBinondoAccountwas0110butshecouldnotrememberthe
PrefixNumberforthePacificStarBranch.[Ibid.p.93]Inhercomputation,thecreditstothe
EPCIBJoseVelardeS/ANo.0160625015totaledP2,168,523,085.00excludingcentavosand
creditmemos.[TSN,April18,2005,p.98]
TheCourtfindsthattheFPres.EstradaistherealandbeneficialownerofEPCIB
combo account C/A No. 0110254954 and S/A No. 0160625015 in the name of Jose
Velarde.
TheeyewitnessaccountofProsecutionwitnessClarissaOcampothatshesawFPres.
Estrada signed the name Jose Velarde in the various documents presented to him and
explained to him was undisputed by FPres. Estrada and constitutes direct evidence that
FPres.EstradasignedasJoseVelarde.
Another direct evidence that FPres. Estrada is Jose Velarde is the admission of
FPres.EstradathathesignedasJose Velarde in the documentspresented tohim by
ClarissaOcampo. OneofsuchdocumentswastheDebitCreditAuthority(Exh.E5) which
read: ...my SA/CA No.0160625015 maintained with your branch in the amount of
P500,000,000.00 and credit my Trust Account No. 101780561 representing my initial
contribution.SuchadmissionconstitutesanadmissionthatheandJoseVelardeareoneand
the same person. Being a judicial admission, no proof is required and may be given in
evidenceagainsthim(Rule129,SEC.4;Rule130,SEC.26). Beinganadmissionagainst
interest,itisthebestevidencewhichaffordsthegreatestcertaintyofthefactsindispute.The
rationalefortheruleisbasedonthepresumptionthatnomanwoulddeclareanythingagainst
himself unlesssuch declaration was true. Thus, it isfair to presume thatthe declaration
correspondswiththetruth,anditishisfaultifitdoesnot.[RufinaPatisFactoryvsAlusitain,
434SCRA429]
TheevidenceoftheProsecutionwhichshowedthatBabyOrtalizaatrustedpersonof
FPres. Estrada and who enjoyed the confidence of FPres. Estrada and Loi Ejercito
transactedthevariouspersonalbankaccountsofFPres.EstradaandLoiEjercitoaswellas
the Jose Velarde accounts, also constitutes corroborative evidence that the Jose Velarde

AccountsareownedbyFPres.EstradaandnotbyDichaves,sinceBabyOrtalizahasbeen
entrusted by FPres. Estrada to handle his own personal bank accounts and there is no
evidencethatDichavesandBabyOrtalizaarerelatedinanywaytoeachother.
TheevidenceoftheProsecutionthatthewaspurchasedfromfundscomingfromthe
Jose Velarde accounts is yet another corroborative evidence that proved that the Jose
VelardeaccountsareownedbyFPres.Estrada.Thedocumentsfoundintheshowthatthe
beneficialowneroftheisFPres.EstradaandisusedbyLaarniEnriquezwhoserelationto
FPres.Estradawasneverdenied.
Likewise,theevidenceoftheProsecutionwhichshowedthat three(3)UrbanBank
ManagersChecksfortheamountsofP10,875,749.43,P42,716,554.22andP54,161,496.52
(Exh. I517, I518 and O52), received by JV Ejercito as well as the four (4) Urban Bank
Managers Checks totaling P75,000,000.00 (Exhs. B 152, B154, B156 and B158) were
depositedtoEPCIBS/ANo.0160625015ofJoseVelardeconstitutescorroborativeevidence
that,asbetweenFPres.EstradaandDichaves,itcanbeinferredthatJVEjercito,beingthe
sonofFPres.Estrada,wouldcontributetotheaccountofhisfatherbutnotiftheaccountwere
ownedbyDichavesintheabsenceofproofthatJVEjercitowasunderobligationtodepositto
thesaidaccountifthesamewasownedbyDichaves.
TheevidenceoftheProsecutionthatitwascustomaryforFPres.Estradatosignas
JoseshowsthatFPres.EstradawouldsignasJoseandfurthershowsthat,tothenaked
eye,thesignatureofFPres.EstradaasJoseappearinginthevariousofficialdocuments
signedbyFPres.EstradaissimilartothesignatureofJoseappearinginJoseVelarde.
AstotherelianceoftheDefenseonthetestimoniesofDyTangandBagsittoprove
that the Jose Velarde accounts belong to Jaime Dichaves, We find that such reliance is
misplaced.
DyTangtestifiedthatafterMr.GeorgeGoreferredDichavestohim,hetoldDichaves
topreparealetterforrecordsindicatinghisintentionandDichavessenthimalettersaying
thatheisopeninganaccountunderthenameJoseVelardeandeverythingshouldbesofor

safekeeping.[TSN,May4,2005,p.20]DyTangidentifiedtheletterdatedAugust25,1999.
[Ibid.pp.2021;Exh.127to127B1]
TheLetterofDichavesdatedAugust25,1999readsasfollows:
DearRomy,
MayIrequestthatasavingsaccountandacurrentaccountbeopenedwithyourJuan
LunabranchforJoseVelardec/otheundersigned.
AllotherbankingtransactionsofJoseVelardeshallbecoursedthroughtheundersigned.
Verytrulyyours,

(sgd)
JaimeDichaves

The Letter of Dichaves does not prove that he is the owner of the Jose Velarde
Account.AssumingexgratiaargumentithattheJoseVelardeAccountisownedbyDichaves,
why did he not deposit the International Exchange Bank Check No. 6000159271 dated
November 5,1999,payable to cash in the amount ofP189,700,000.00 drawn by Eastern
SecuritiesCorporation directly totheJoseVelardeAccount? IfDichavesownedtheJose
VelardeAccount,whydidhetakethecircuitousrouteofdepositingtheInternationalExchange
BankintohisFarEastBankSavingsAccount,thenautotransfertheamounttohisCurrent
Account, then issue his personal check payable to cash for P189,700,000.00 which was
ultimatelydepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount?
It could not be because he did not want evidence to prove that the International
ExchangeBankcheckwasdepositedtohisaccountbecausehe,infact,depositedthatcheck
tohispersonalaccount.
TheonlylogicalconclusionisthatDichavesdidnotwantevidencetoshowthatthe
InternationalExchangeBankcheckofEasternSecuritiesCorporationwasdepositedtothe
JoseVelardeAccountbecausesuchdepositwouldconfirmthatFPres.Estrada,onceproven
toowntheJoseVelardeAccount,receivedtheP189,700,000.00commissionarisingfromthe
purchasebySSSandGSISofBelleShares.
DichavesactofcoveringthepapertrailoftheInternationalExchangeBankcheckof
Eastern Securities Corporation, albeit unsuccessfully, militates against the claim of the

DefensethatDichavesownstheJoseVelardeAccount.
InhisSwornStatementdatedMarch23,2001(Exh.327),DyTangstatedthatJaime
Dichaves opened the account but Dy Tang does not know if he opened it for himself or
anotherperson.HegavethesignaturecardforDichavestofillup.Thesignaturecardwas
returnedafteraboutamonthorso,afterafollowupwithhimandafterhefollowedseveral
procedures.[TSNdatedMay4,2005,p.22]ThesignaturecardwasgiventohimbyGeorge
L.Goalreadyaccomplished. Hewasnotpresentwhenthedepositoraffixedhisspecimen
signatureinthesaidsignaturecardasitwasgiventohimaccomplishedbyGeorgeL.Go.
Inthesignaturecard,itappearsthatitwasopenedonAugust26,1999butitwas
received only on October 7, 1999. Likewise, the signature card bore the signature Jose
Velardethreetimes(Exh.G19,G196).
In his testimony, Dy Tang testified that he doesnt think that it would be Dichaves
signingasJoseVelardebecausewhenMr.DichavescalledhimabouthisdiscussionwithMr.
Gotoopenanaccount,Dichavestoldhimthathewasgoingtoopenanaccountunderan
aliasaccount. [TSN,May4,2005,p.44] NowheredidDyTangtestifythatDichavesisthe
owneroftheJoseVelardeaccount.
Asappearsinthesignaturecard,thesignatureofJoseVelardeisalmostidenticalto
the signature of Jose Velarde appearing on the three (3) copies of the Investment
Management Agreement [Exh. W4 to Y4; TSN November 13, 2002, pp. 7073], two (2)
signaturecards(Exh.Z4toA5)whichhesignedthree(3)times[TSN,November13,2002,pp.
7880]one(1)copyoftheInvestmentGuidelines[Exh.B5;Ibid.pp.8284];two(2)copiesof
theDirectionalLetters[Exh.C5 toD5; Ibid.pp.8789],andone(1)copyofthedebitcredit
authority[Exh.E5;Ibid.pp.9293],whichFPres.EstradasignedasJoseVelardeastestified
byClarissaOcampoandasadmittedbyhim. UnderSection22,Rule132oftheRulesof
Court,thecourtisauthorized,byitself,tomakeacomparisonofthedisputedhandwritingwith
writingsadmittedortreatedasgenuinebythepartyagainstwhomtheevidenceisofferedor
provedtobegenuinetothesatisfactionofthejudge.[Cogtongvs.KyoritsuInternationalEt.

Al.,GRNo.160729,July27,2007]
As regards the testimony of Beatriz Bagsit, her basis for saying that Jose Velarde
accountsbelongstoMr.JaimeDichavesisthattherewasaletterthatwasgiventoherthat
camefromMr.DichaveswhentheaccountswereopenedinBinondo. Whentheaccounts
wereopenedinBinondo,shewasnothandlingthemanagementofthesame.Basedonthe
letter,shetestifiedthatitwouldappearthattheJoseVelardeaccountsbelongedtoJaime
DichavesbecauseitwasMr.JaimeDichaveswhoissuedtheletterstatingthatallbanking
transactionofJoseVelardeshouldbecoursedtohim.[TSN,April13,2005,p.6872]
The testimony of Bagsit does not establish that it is Dichaves who owns the Jose
Velarde accountsas her opinion was basedsimplyon theletter issued by Dichaves. As
againsttheinferencethatDichavesownedtheJoseVelardeaccountsbasedontheletterof
Dichaves,theProsecutionsevidenceshowingthatFPres.EstradasignedasJoseVelardein
thevariousdocumentsgiventohimforsignaturemustbegivenmoreweighttoestablishthe
factthattheJoseVelardeaccountsbelongtoFPres.Estrada.
Moreover,therewasaglaringinconsistencyinthetestimoniesofDefensewitnessDy
TangandBagsitwhenDyTangtestifiedthatallthefixed(time)depositsofDichaveswere
movedinthebranchofBagsitinPacificStar,whileBagsittestifiedthatshedoesnotknowif
Dichaveshasanaccountinherarea,shethinksthereisnonebutshedoesnotknowwith
otherbranches.[TSN,May4,2005.pp.2628;TSN,April13,2005,p.76]
AsregardsthestatementofBagsitthattheDebitCreditauthoritydidnotcomeform
her and that later, it was found to have come from the Trust Department, We find the
testimonyofClarissaOcampothattheDebitCreditAuthoritycamefromBagsitasbeingmore
credible.First,becausethedebitcreditauthoritydealswithS/A0160625015whichisunder
theBankingDepartmentandnottheTrustDepartment;andSecond,becauseastestifiedby
Bagsit,shefoundtheDebitCreditAuthorityonhertableafteritwassignedbutshekeptit
anddidnotgiveittoanybody.TheCourtlikewisenotesthatBagsitwasnotinvolvedwiththe
EPCIBBinondoBranchbutsherememberstheprefixforBinondoaccountsasNo.0110,yet,
shecouldnotremembertheprefixforaccountswiththePacificStarBranchofEPCIBwhich

sheheadedsince1999.

IntheattempttodownplaytheeffectofFPres.EstradasigningasJoseVelardeinthe
DebitCredit Authority, the defense argued that the said debitcredit authority was not
implementedpreciselybecausethesignatureofaccusedEstradadidnotmatchwiththatof
therealJoseVelarde(whoturnedouttobeJaimeDichaves)[DefenseMemorandum,p.251]
andprobablybecausethebankofficersgottorealizethataccusedPresidentEstradawas
notreallytheowneroftheaccount.[Ibid.,p.263]

Besidesbeingspeculative,theargumentsoftheDefensearemereallegationswhich
arenotsupportedbyitsownevidence.
The evidence of the Defense shows that prior to February 4, 2000, the account
balanceofS/A0160625015ofJoseVelardewasP142,763,773.67.(Exh.127O)Therewas
thereforenotenoughfundsintheaccounttotransfertotheTrustAccount.Thus,theDebit
CreditAuthoritycouldnotbeimplemented.
Subsequently,acreditmemoforP506,416,666.66wasissuedinfavorofthesaidJose
VelardeS/A0160625015account.Asperthetestimonyofdefensewitness,BeatrizBagsit,
theamountofP506,416,666.66representedtheprincipalandinterestofapreterminated
placementofS/A0160625015.TheplacementwasnotinthenameofDichavesbutinthe
nameofanaccountnumber,i.e.AccountNo.0160625015andbehindthataccountisJose
Velarde.[TSN,April18,2005,p.37]EventuallytheP500,000,000.00waswithdrawnfromthe
savingsaccountinexchangeforanMCpayabletotrust.[Ibid.pp.30,31]
Consequently,whilethefundingfortheP500,000,000.00didnotcomeviathedebit
creditauthority,nonetheless,thefundingoftheP500,000,000.00camefromS/A016062501
5ofJoseVelarde.

Moreover, the debitcredit authority was not implemented because Bagsit kept the
debitcreditauthorityanddidnotgiveittoanybody.[TSN,April13,2005,p.116]
Neither does the nonimplementation of the DebitCredit Authority which FPres.
EstradasignedasJoseVelardedisprovethefactthatFPres.EstradaadmittedthatS/A0160
625015inthenameofJoseVelardeishisaccountwhenheadmittedaffixinghissignature
ontheDebitCreditAuthorityasJoseVelarde.
Thesocalledinternalarrangementswiththebank,involvedtheuseofS/A0160
625015whichhadbeeninexistencesinceAugust26,1999asthefundingsourceofthe
P500,000,000.00tobeplacedintheTrustaccountforlendingtoGatchalian.Thefactthatthe
P500,000,000.00fundingwasnoteffectedbyadebitcredittransactionbutbyawithdrawalof
P500,000,000.00fromthesaidS/A0160625015provesthatthemoneylenttoGatchalian
wasthepersonalmoneyofFPres.EstradathroughtheJoseVelardeaccountofwhichheis
theowner.AsexplainedbyFPres.Estrada,WilliamGatchalianisabigbusinessman.Isang
malakingnegosyanteatsiyapoaymayaringWellexgroupofcompaniesatsiyarinpoayisa
satumulongsaamingpartidonoongnakaraang1998presidentialelection.[TSN,May24,
2006,p.23]
FPres. Estradafurther testified:Hindilangpodahil doon sainternalarrangement.
HindilangpodahilgustokongtulungansiMr.WilliamGatchaliankundihigitposalahatay
nakitakoangkapakanannoongmahigitnatatlonglibong(3000)empleyadonakungsakaling
hindimapapautangsiMr.WilliamGatchalian,maaringmagsaraangkanyangmgakumpanya
atyongmgataong,mahigittatlonglibong(3,000)empleyadokasamanayongkanilangmga
pamilya ay mawawalan ng trabaho. AT INISIP KO RING NA WALA NAMING (SIC)
GOVERNMENT FUNDS NA INVOLVE KAYA HINDI NA AKO NAGDALAWANG ISIP NA
PIRMAHANKO.[Ibid.p.2627;EmphasisSupplied]
Moreover, as pointed out by the Prosecution, there was no need for the internal
arrangement since the loan to Gatchalian could have been extended by EPCIB directly
consideringthatGatchalianhadputupsufficientcollateralfortheloan.

From the foregoing, the ineluctable conclusion is that the socalled internal
arrangement which allegedly prompted FPres. Estrada to sign the various documents
presentedtohimbyClarissaOcampoisafutileattempttoescapetheconsequenceofhis
admission that he signed as Jose Velarde which leads to the legal and indisputable
conclusionthatFPres.EstradaistheowneroftheJoseVelardeAccounts.
THEDAMAGEANDPREJUDICETOTHEFILIPINOPEOPLE
Asstatedearlier,SSSandGSISusedthefundsbelongingtoitsmillionsofmembersto
buyBelleSharesuponinstructionofFPres.Estradawhobenefitedforhispersonalgainfrom
theP189,700,000.00commissionpaidinconsiderationofthepurchaseoftheBellesharesby
SSSandGSIS.ThemoneypaidbyGSISandSSSfortheBelleSharesarepublicfunds
whichbelongtothemillionsofGSISandSSSmembers. TheamountofP189,700,000.00
depositedtotheJoseVelardeaccountofFPres.Estradaarepublicfundswhichcamefrom
theproceedsofthesalereceivedbySSIManagementthroughEasternSecuritiesfromGSIS
andSSS.TheBillionsofPesosthatcouldhaveotherwisebeenusedtopaybenefitstoSSS
andGSISmembersweredivertedtobuyingBelleSharestocomplywithFPres.Estradas
instructionsinorderthatFPres.EstradacouldreceivehisP187,900,000.00commissiontothe
damageandprejudiceofthemillionsofGSISandSSSmemberswhoweredeprivedofthe
useofsuchfundsandworse,whonowstandtosufferthelossamountingtomillionsofpesos
sincetheBellesharesarepresentlypricedlessthantheiracquisitioncost.[Fromanaverage
priceofP3.14persharetoP0.69pershareasofDecember29,2000(Exh.250J2)and
betweenP0.40toP0.50pershareasofFebruary11,2002]
TheCourtfindsthatFPres.Estradatook advantageofhisofficialposition,authority,
relationship,connectionandinfluencetounjustlyenrichhimselfattheexpenseandtothe
damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines: a) by
instructing, directing and ordering, for his personal gain and benefit, by way of receiving
commission, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) through its President Mr.
FedericoPascualand the SocialSecuritySystem (SSS)through itsPresident,Mr.Carlos
Arellano,topurchasesharesofstockBelleCorporation,asaconsequenceofwhich,during
theperiodOctober13to21,1999GSISbought351,878,000sharesofBelleCorporationand

paidOneBillionOneHundredTwoMillionNineHundredSixtyFiveThousandSixHundred
SevenPesosAndFiftyCentavos(P1,102,965,607.50)whileSSS,onOctober21,1999,bought
249,679,000sharesatthevalueofP784,551,150.00atanaveragepriceofP3.14/share[TSN,
February 14, 2005,p.78]or a combined totalofatleastOne Billion EightHundred Eight
SevenMillionFiveHundredSixteenThousandSevenHundredFiftySevenPesosAndFifty
Centavos(P1,887,516,757.50);b)byacceptingandreceiving,acommissionintheamountof
One Hundred Eighty Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos [P189,700,000.00] as
considerationforthepurchasebyGSISandSSSofthesharesofstockofBelleCorporation
pursuanttohisinstructionswhichamountwasdepositedintheEquitablePCIBankS/A0160
625015undertheaccountnameJoseVelardeofwhichFPres.Estradaisthe realand
beneficialowner;c)bydeprivingthemillionsofmembersofGSISandSSSoftheuseof
publicfundsintheamountofatleastOneBillionEightHundredEightSevenMillionFive
Hundred Sixteen Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Seven Pesos And Fifty Centavos
(P1,887,516,757.50)forpaymentoftheirbenefitsinorderthathecanreceivehiscommission
of One Hundred Eighty Nine Million Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (P189,700,000.00)
whichlikewiseconstitutepublicfundsforhispersonalbenefitandenrichment thuscausing
damageandprejudicetotheFilipinopeopleandtheGovernment.
RE:SUBPARAGRAPHDOFTHE
AMENDEDINFORMATION
_____________________________
(d) by unjustly enriching himself FROM COMMISSIONS, GIFTS,
SHARES, PERCENTAGES, KICKBACKS, OR ANY FORM OF
PECUNIARY BENEFITS, IN CONNIVANCE WITH JOHN DOES AND
JANEDOES,intheamountofMOREORLESSTHREEBILLIONTWO
HNDRED THIRTY THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED FOUR
THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE PESOS AND
SEVENTEENCENTAVOS[P3,233,104,173.17] ANDDEPOSITINGTHE
SAME UNDER HIS ACCOUNT NAME JOSE VELARDE AT THE
EQUITABLEPCIBANK.

Theprosecutionpresentedthefollowingwitnessestoprovetheenormousamountsof
depositstotheJoseVelardeAccountandthepersonwhotransactedwiththebankinrelation
thereto.


TERESA ARRASTIA BARCELONA was the Manager of Equitable PCI Bank in
GreenhillsOrtigas Branch specifically located at the Ground Floor of the along corner
Roosevelt,,MetroManila,whichwaswithinthevicinityofthebusinessandcommercialareas
ofGreenhills.

Witnessthenrelatedandidentifiedtwelve(12)EquitablePCIBankDepositReceipts
(Exhs.I5andM5toW5)datedasfollows:
1.October20,1999;
2.November8,1999;
3.November22,1999;
4.November24,1999;
5.November25,1999;
6.December20,1999;
7.December21,1999;
8.December29,1999;
9.January4,2000;
10.May10,2000;
11.June6,2000;and
12.July25,2000.

ThesedepositreceiptsallegedlyshowvariousdepositsmadetoAccountNo.0160625015
under the Account Name Jose Velarde maintained at the Equitable PCI Bank Binondo
Branch.Thetransactionstothesaidaccountwereallegedlyinterbranchdepositsordeposits
madefromonebranchofEquitablePCIBankforanaccountmaintainedatanotherbranchof
thesaidbank. Theaforementioneddepositreceiptsshowthatthedepositstotheadverted
accountweretransactedattheEquitablePCIBankGreenhillsOrtigasBranch.
In the Equitable PCI Bank Deposit Receipt dated October 20, 1999, there were
allegedlynine(9)checksdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount. Thetotalamountofthe
checksdepositedwasP143,000,000.00.ThetellerwhoprocessedthecheckswasGlyzelyn
Bejec.
IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedNovember8,1999,four(4)checks
weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccountinthetotalamountofP263,292,303.65. The
checksdepositedwereasfollows:aFarEastBankandTrustCo.AranetaBranchCheckwith
CheckNo.3165579amountingtoP189,700,000.00;anHSBCHeadOfficeCheckwithCheck
No.0022012amountingtoP20,000,000.00;aUnionBankHeadOfficeCheckwithCheckNo.
034181amountingtoP10,875,749.43;andanotherUnionBankHeadOfficeCheckwithCheck
No. 034182 amounting to P42,716,554.22. These checks were likewise processed by
GlyzelynBejeconNovember8,1999at4:01p.m.
IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedNovember22,1999,three(3)checks
for the total amount of P40 Million were deposited to the Jose Velarde Account. These
checkswereprocessedbythebankstellerJoanMok.
In the Equitable PCI Bank Deposit Receipt dated November 24, 1999, a check of
P54,161,496.52wasdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.Thecheckwasprocessedbythe
bankstellerLeonoraRoyoonNovember24,1999at9:26a.m.
IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedNovember25,1999,three(3)checks
forthetotalamountofP20,000,000.00weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.These
checkswereprocessedbythebankstellerGlyzelynBejec.

IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedDecember20,1999,three(3)checks
forthetotalamountofP163,500,000.00weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.These
checkswereprocessedbythebankstellerLagrimasClaveriaonDecember20,1999at4:12
p.m.

In the Equitable PCI Bank Deposit Receipt dated December 21, 1999, a check of
P5,000,000.00wasdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.Thecheckwasprocessedbythe
bankstellerGlyzelynBejec.
IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedDecember29,1999,two(2)checks
forthetotalamountofP2,500,000.00weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount. These
checkswereprocessedbythebankstellerGlyzelynBejec.

IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedJanuary4,2000,seven(7)checksfor
the total amount of P70,500,000.00 were deposited to the Jose Velarde Account. These
checkswereprocessedbythebankstellerJoanMokonJanuary4,2000at2:31p.m.

IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedMay10,2000,four(4)checksforthe
totalamountofP23,000,000.00weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.Thesechecks
wereprocessedbythebankstellerJoanMokonMay10,2000at4:30p.m.

IntheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedJune6,2000,two(2)checksforthe
totalamountofP42,945,000.00weredepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount.Thesechecks
wereprocessedbythebankstellerJoanMokonJune6,2000at3:39p.m.
Lastly,intheEquitablePCIBankDepositReceiptdatedJuly25,2000,acheckof

P40,000,000.00wasdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount. Thischeckwasprocessedby
thebankstellerGlyzelynBejeconJuly25,2000at11:43a.m.
It was Baby Ortaliza who personally transacted the abovementioned checks with
whomsheidentifiedinaphotograph(Exh.X5). relatedthatBabyOrtalizawouldhandover
thecheckstobedepositedtogetherwiththeaccountinformationsliporpassbookofJose
Velardetoherandthat,afterthevalidation,wouldhandoveracopyofthedepositreceiptto
BabyOrtaliza.[TSNdatedMay13,2002andTSNdatedMay15,2002]
JOANNE GENEVIE RANIAGA MOK was a Customer Service Assistant Teller of
EquitablePCIBankGreenhillsOrtigasBranchsinceJuly1997. Shereceiveddepositsand
processedwithdrawalsmadewiththebank.
Mokrelatedandidentifiedfour(4)EquitablePCIBankdepositreceiptswhichpertained
tovariouschecksdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccountwithAccountNo.0160625015:
DepositReceiptdatedNovember22,1999(Exh.N5);DepositReceiptdatedJanuary4,2000
(Exh.T5);DepositReceipt(ExhibitU5)datedMay10,2000;andDepositReceipt(ExhibitV5)
datedJune6,2000.Moktestifiedthatshepersonallyprocessedthechecksdepositedtothe
saidaccount.
In the Deposit Receipt dated November 22, 1999, there were three (3) checks
depositedwiththetotalamountofP40Million.IntheDepositReceiptdatedJanuary4,2000,
there were seven (7) checks deposited with the total amount of P70,500,000.00. In the
Deposit Receipt dated May 10, 2000, there were four (4) checks deposited with the total
amountofP23,000,000.00.Lastly,intheDepositReceiptdatedJune6,2000,thereweretwo
(2)checksdepositedwiththetotalamountofP44,945,000.00
Mokfurtherrelatedthatsheprepared3copiesofthedepositreceiptsandthatafter
processingthedepositreceiptsshethrewawaytheAccountInformationslip.[TSNdatedMay
20,2002andTSNdatedOctober28,2002]
GLYZELYN HERMOZURA BEJEC was a Customer Service Assistant Teller of

Equitable PCI Bank GreenhillsOrtigas Branch. She processed deposit and withdrawal
transactionsofthebank.
BejecrelatedandidentifiedthedepositreceiptsofEquitablePCIBank(Exhs.I 5,M5,
P5,R5,S5andW5)whichpertainedtovariouschecksshepersonallyprocessedandcredited
totheJoseVelardeAccountwithAccountNo.0160625015. IntheDepositReceiptdated
November8,1999,thetotalamountofdepositwasP263,292,303.65.IntheDepositReceipt
dated October 20, 1999, there were nine (9) checks deposited in the total amount of
P163,000,000.00. IntheDepositReceiptdatedNovember 25,1999,therewerethree (3)
checks deposited in the total amount of P20,000,000.00. In the Deposit Receipt dated
December21,1999,thetotalamountofdepositwasP5,000,000.00.IntheDepositReceipt
dated December 29, 1999, there were two (2) checks deposited in the total amount of
P2,500,000.00.Lastly,intheDepositReceiptdatedJuly25,2000,acheckwasdepositedin
theamountofP40,000,000.00.
Oncrossexamination,BejectestifiedthattherewereAccountInformationSlipswhen
thecheckswerepresentedbutshealreadythrewawaythesaidslips.Itwasthepolicyofthe
bank to throw away the Account Information Slips when the deposit receipt had been
generated.[TSNdatedMay6,13,and20,2002]
LEONORABACSAFRAROYOwastheCustomerServiceAssistantfornewaccounts
ofEquitablePCIBankGreenhillsOrtigasBranchsinceMarchof1993.Shetestifiedthatshe
wasthetellerwhoprocessedtheDepositReceipt(Exh.O5)datedNovember24,1999and
thatshepreparedthree(3)copiesofthesamesinceitwasaninterbranchcheckdeposit
transaction. ThedepositreceiptshowsthatanUrbanBankHeadOfficeBranchManagers
Check No. 0000037661 dated November 23, 1999 amounting to P54,161,496.52 was
depositedtotheJoseVelardeAccountNo.0160625015maintainedattheEquitablePCI
Bank Binondo Branch. Teresa Barcelona, the branch manager, handed to Royo for
processing the Urban Bank Managers Check as well as the accomplished account
informationslip.[TSNdatedOctober30,2002]


ANTONIO MARTIN SAGRITALO FORTUNO was the Bank Operations Officer of
EquitablePCIBank,PacificStarBranchsinceJanuary28,2002.Thewitnessaverredthathe
handledtheopeningofaccounts;supervisedtheinvestmentsection;theforeigntelegraphic
transferaswellasthedomestictelegraphictransferandthesafekeepingoftherecordsof
deposits;andthetransactionswhichtranspiredintheirbranch.WitnessFortunobroughtwith
himtoCourtthedocumentscontainedinthesubpoenawhichherequestedfromthePCHC.
Thesedocumentsweretheseventeen(17)microfilmcopiesofthechecksthatweredeposited
totheJoseVelardeaccountfromthePCHC;thenine(9)depositslipsordepositreceiptsthat
weredepositedtotheaccountofJoseVelardetogetherwiththefive(5)cashdeposits;and
thedetailedreportoftransfersanddebit,creditmemosortheDRTMfromOctober19,1999to
January24,2000.
Fortunorelatedandidentifiedtheseventeen(17)microfilmcopiesofchecksthatwere
depositedtotheJoseVelardeaccountfromvariousbanksaswellasthedepositreceiptsand
theDRTMs.
Theoriginalofthecheckswereallegedlyreturnedtotheissuingbankafterhaving
been negotiated. The first check deposited to the Jose Velarde account was a cashiers
checkfromPSBankHeadOfficewithCheckNo.000031436amountingtoP20,000,000.00
anddatedOctober18,1999(Exhs.R14;R141;andR142).Fortunonarratedthatthischeck
waspresentedtothetellerofthebankandthenthetellervalidatedthedepositslipwhichwas
attached to the check. The amount of the check was consequently credited to the Jose
VelardeaccountwithanAccountNo.0160625015. Thewitness,however,cannottellwho
purchasedthiscashierscheck. ThesecondcheckdepositedtotheJoseVelardeaccount
wasalsoacashierscheckfromPSBankHeadOfficewithCheckNo.000031437amounting
toP20MillionanddatedOctober18,1999(Exhs.S14;S141;S142;S143;andS144).This
checkallegedlypassedthesameprocedureasthefirstcheckbeforetheamountofthecheck
wascreditedtotheJoseVelardeaccount.ThewitnessfurtherrelatedthattheJoseVelarde
accountwasmaintainedattheBinondoJuanLunabranchandthatthedepositsweremadein

thePacificStar.
Thefirstdepositreceipt(Exhs.T14;T141;T142;T143;andT144)wasdatedOctober
19,1999. Thisdepositreceiptallegedlyshowsthatthereweretwo(2)checksdepositedto
theJoseVelardeAccountforthetotalamountofP30,000,000.00,oneforP20Millionandthe
otherforP10Million. Thewitnessspecifiedthatthisdepositreceiptindicatedtheaccount
name Jose Velarde; the branch name as Pacific Star branch; the account number 0160
625015; the date and time of deposit which was on October 19, 1999 at 12:55 in the
afternoon;andthechecksdepositedwhichwerefromtheSecurityBankCorporationMain
Office with Check No. 000363859 for P20,000,000.00 and Check No. 000363858 for
P10,000,000.00.HeaddedthatthechecksweredatedOctober18,1999.
Theseconddepositreceipt(Exhs.U14;U141;U142;U143;andU144)wasalsodated
October 19, 1999. This deposit receipt allegedly shows that there were two (2) checks
deposited to the Jose Velarde Account for the total amount of P30,000,000.00, one for
P20,000,000.00andtheotherforP10,000,000.00. Thewitnessspecifiedthatthisdeposit
receiptcontainedtheaccountnameJoseVelarde;thebranchnameasPacificStarbranch;
theaccountnumber0160625015;thedateandtimeofdepositwhichwasonOctober19,
1999 at 12:53 in the afternoon; and the checks deposited, the first check was from the
SecurityBankCorporationMainOfficewithCheckNo.000363857forP20,000,000.00,and
theothercheckwasfromPSBHeadOfficewithCheckNo.0000031438forP10,000,000.00.
ThesechecksweredatedOctober18,1999.
Thethirddepositreceipt (ExhibitsV14;V141;V142;V143;andV144) waslikewise
datedOctober19,1999.Thisdepositreceiptallegedlyshowsthatthereweretwo(2)checks
deposited to the Jose Velarde Account for the total amount of P50,000,000.00, one for
P20,000,000.00andtheotherforP30,000,000.00. WitnessFortunoidentifiedtheaccount
nameasJoseVelarde;thebranchnameasPacificStarbranch;theaccountnumber0160
625015; the date and time of deposit which was on October 19, 1999 at 12:49 in the
afternoon;andthechecksdeposited,thefirstcheckwasfromtheGlobalBankHeadOffice
with Check No. 0000107383 for P30,000,000.00, and the other check was also from the

GlobalBankHeadOfficewithCheckNo.00017385forP20,000,000.00.Thesecheckswere
bothdatedOctober18,1999.
Thefourthdepositreceipt (ExhibitsW14;W141;andW142)wasdatedNovember3,
1999. This deposit receipt allegedly shows that a check deposit was made to the Jose
VelardeAccountforP5,000,000.00. WitnessFortunoidentifiedtheaccountnameasJose
Velarde;thebranchnameasPacificStarbranch;theaccountnumber0160625015;thedate
andtimeofdepositwhichwasonNovember3,1999at11:03inthemorning;andthecheck
depositedwhichwasfromWestmontBankinAyalaAvenuewithCheckNo.000187472for
P5,000,000.00.ThesaidcheckwasdatedOctober26,1999.
Thefifthdepositreceipt(ExhibitsX14;X141;andX142)wasalsodatedNovember3,
1999. This deposit receipt allegedly shows that a check deposit was made to the Jose
VelardeAccountforP5,000,000.00.Theparticularsofthisdepositreceiptwerethesameas
thefourthdepositreceiptexceptforthetimeofdeposit,whichwasat11:04inthemorning,
andthecheckdepositedwhichwasfromWestmontBankinwithCheckNo.000187471for
P5,000,000.00.ThesaidcheckwaslikewisedatedOctober26,1999.
Thesixthdepositreceipt(Exhs.Y14;Y141;andY142)wasdatedDecember17,1999.
This deposit receiptallegedlyshows thata checkdepositwas made tothe Jose Velarde
AccountforP50,000,000.00.ThecheckdepositedwasallegedlyfromEquitablePCIBankin
DivisoriaM.DeSantosbranchwithCheckNo.0783236forP50,000,000.00.
The seventh deposit receipt (Exhs. Z14; Z141; Z142; Z143; and Z144) was dated
January 11, 2000. This deposit receipt allegedly shows that there were two (2) checks
deposited to the Jose Velarde Account for the total amount of P26,325,055.65, one for
P20,000,000.00 and the other for P6,325,055.65. Witness Fortuno identified the account
nameasJoseVelarde;thebranchnameasPacificStarbranch;theaccountnumber0160
625015; the date and time of deposit which was on January 11, 2000 at 12:39 in the
afternoon;andthechecksdeposited,thefirstcheckwasfromEquitablePCIBankinDivisoria
M.DeSantosbranchwithCheckNo.0111795117forP20Million,andtheothercheckwas

from Bank of Commerce in Port Area with Check No. 0030474 for P6,325,055.65. The
EquitablePCIBankcheckwasdatedJanuary6,2000whiletheBankofCommercecheck
wasdatedJanuary11,2000.
Theeightdepositreceipt(Exh.A15)wasdatedJanuary19,2000.Thisdepositreceipt
with an account information slip (Exh. A151) allegedly shows that a cash deposit of
P25,000,000.00wasmadetotheJoseVelardeAccount. WitnessFortunotestifiedthatthe
accountnameJoseVelardeaswellastheaccountnumberwerespecifiedintheaccount
informationslip.
Last for the deposit receipt (Exh. B15) was dated January 24, 2000. This deposit
receiptallegedlyshowsthattherewerefour(4)checksdepositedtotheJoseVelardeAccount
for the total amount of P75,000,000.00. The account name Jose Velarde as well as the
accountnumberwerespecifiedinanaccountinformationslip(Exh.B151)forthisdeposit
receipt.Thefour(4)checksdeposited(Exhs.B152;B153;B154;B155;B156;B157;B158;
andB159)wereallegedlymanagerschecksfromtheheadofficeofUrbanBankandalldated
January18,2000. WitnessFortunotestifiedthatthefirstcheckwithCheckNo.00039976
wasforP2,000,000.00;thesecondcheckwithCheckNo.00039975wasforP70,000,000.00;
thethirdcheckwithCheckNo.00039978wasforP1,000,000.00;andthefourthcheckwith
CheckNo.00039977wasforP2,000,000.00.
FortunocontinuedonhisdirectexaminationandtestifiedastotheDetailedReportof
TransfersandCreditMemorandums(DRTM)datedOctober19,1999;DRTMdatedNovember
3,1999;DRTMdatedDecember15,1999;DRTMdatedDecember17,1999;DRTMdated
January11,2000;DRTMdatedJanuary19,2000;andDRTMdatedJanuary24,2000.The
witnessexplainedthattheseDRTMreflectstheinterbranchtransactionswhichweredoneat
theEquitablePCIBankPacificStarbranch.TheseDRTMallegedlyshowthesummaryofthe
transactionsmadeparticularlytotheJoseVelardeAccountwithAccountNo.0160625015.
ThewitnesstestifiedthattheDRTMdatedDecember15,1999(Exhs.C15andC151)
reflectsthesummaryoffour(4)cashdepositstotheJoseVelardeAccount. Thefirstcash

depositwasforP25,900,000.00;thesecondcashdepositwasforP37,126,467.83;thethird
cashdepositwasforP38,325,629.67;andthefourthcashdepositwasforP43,647,902.50.
TheDRTMdatedOctober19,1999(Exhs.D15 andD151)reflectsthesummaryoffour(4)
depositstotheJoseVelardeAccount.ThefirstdepositwasforP30,000,000.00;thesecond
depositwasforP30,000,000.00;thethirddepositwasforP40,000,000.00;andthefourth
deposit was for P50,000,000.00. The total amount of deposits for October 19, 1999 was
P150,000,000.00. TheDRTMdatedNovember3,1999(Exhs.E15 andE151)reflectsthe
summary of two (2) check deposits to the Jose Velarde Account. Each of these check
depositswasforP5,000,000.00forthetotalamountofP10,000,000.00. TheDRTMdated
December17,1999(Exhs.F15andF151)reflectsadeposittotheJoseVerlardeAccountfor
P50,000,000.00. The DRTM dated January 11, 2000 (Exhs. G15 and G151) reflects the
summary of two (2) deposits to the Jose Velarde account for the total amount of
P26,325,055.65. ThefirstdepositwasforP20,000,000.00andtheseconddepositwasfor
P6,325,055.65. TheDRTMdatedJanuary19,2000(Exhs.H15 andH151)showsacash
deposittotheJoseVelardeAccountforP25,000,000.00.Lastly,theDRTMdatedJanuary24,
2000 (Exhs. I15 and I151) reflects a check deposit to the Jose Velarde Account for
P75,000,000.00.
Fortunoclaimedthattheheadofthebranchofthebankatthetimetheforegoing
depositsweremadewasBeatrizBagsit.Headdedthatthetotalamountofcashandcheck
deposits for the period of October 19, 1999 to January 24, 2000 aggregated to
P481,325,055.65.
On cross examination, Fortuno clarified that the Equitable PCI Bank Pacific Star
branch had no specimen signatures of Jose Velarde. He also admitted that he had no
personalknowledgeonanymatterrelatingtotheJoseVerladeAccountnordoesheknowthe
personswhomadethecashandcheckdeposits. Hetestifiedthatnoneofthenamesof
FPres.EstradaandJinggoyEstradaappearinthedepositslipsorchecksheexhibitedand
identified.[TSNdatedNovember25,2002andTSNdatedNovember27,2002]

MICHELLETTE SOLIDUM LEGASPI was the Branch Head of Equitable PCI Bank
GreenhillsVirraMallBranchonDecember19,1997untilJuly26,2002.Thebranchwasnear
NorthGreenhillsSubdivision,.Itwaslessthan100metersawayfromtheBuchanangateor
perpendiculartoofthesubdivision.wasoneofthestreetsofwheretheresidenceofformer
PresidentEstradawaslocated.[TSNdatedDecember2,2002,pp.3948]
TheVirraMallBranchwasmergedwiththeGreenhillsShoppingCenterBranchonJuly
26, 2002. All the bank records and documents of the branch were forwarded to the
warehouseoftheheadoffice.
LegaspibroughtaCertification(ExhibitT15)datedNovember27,2002,accomplished
andexecutedbyJudyL.Go,VicePresidentandBranchHead,JuanLunaBinondoCenter,
Equitable PCI Bank which certified that Savings Account No. 0160625015 and Current
AccountNo.0110254954werebothunderthenameofJoseVelarde.[Ibid,pp.4956]
Legaspithenidentifiedseven(7)ElectronicClearingSystemsReportswithattached
documentswhichweremicrofilmcopiesofcertainchecks.SheexplainedthattheElectronic
Clearing systems Report was the summary of all checks received and processed at
GreenhillsVirraMallBranchandthensenttoPCHCforclearing.Themicrofilmcopiesofthe
checkssupportedthesummaryoftheElectronicClearingsystemsReport. Thedocuments
werehandedovertoLegaspibytheirLegalDepartment.
The Electronic Clearing Systems Report showed the batch sent by the branch to
PCHCforclearing.Thereportboretheroutingnumberofthebranchandtheidentificationof
thechecksthatweresenttothePhilippineClearingHouseCorporation(PCHC).
FortheSeptember10,1999Report(ExhibitU15,withsubmarkings),ten(10)checks
wereprocessedbythebranch. ThemicrofilmcopiesofthechecksboretheAccountNo.
0160625015 which meant that the checks were deposited to the said account. Legaspi
explainedthattheaccountnumberwasfoundatthebackofthechecks. Thebackofthe
microfilmchecksalsoboreacertificationfromthePCHCthattheitemwasaphotocopyofthe
originalclearingdocumentprocessedbyPCHC.

Thefollowingmicrofilmcopieswerepresented: AlliedBankCheckNo.00080546for
P10,000,000.00; Check No. 0080566 for P10,000,000.00; Check No. 0080548 for
P10,000,000.00; Check No. 0080542 for P10,000,000.00; Check No. 0080543 for
P10,000,000.00; Check No 0084547 for P5,000,000.00; Check No. 0080544 for
P5,000,000.00; Westmont bank Ayala Branch Check No. 000181135 for P5,000,000.00;
MetrobankCheckNo.0091780568forP5,000,000.00;FarEastBankCheckNo.3165562for
P20,000,000.00withJaimeDichavezorAbbieDichavezasaccountholder.
Attached to the report was a document entitled Detailed Report of Transfer and/or
CreditandDebitmemo(U1512)ofGreenhills,VirraMallBranchasofSeptember10,1999.
Onthereport,aninterbranchtransactiononSeptember10,1999wasmadeforAccountNo
0160625015forP90,000,000.00. ThereportwassecuredbythebanksLegalDepartment
pursuanttothesubpoena.
For the September 30, 1999 Electronic Clearing Systems Report (Exhibit V15, with
submarkings),twochecksweredepositedtoAccountNo0160625011.ThesewereEquitable
Bank Binondo Branch Check No. 0811277 for P8,300,000.00 and Allied Bank Check No.
0080550forP20,000,000.00.ThedorsalsideoftheEquitablecheckboretheaccountname
JoseVelardeandAccountNo.0160625011.
Anotherattacheddocumentwasthetransactionjournallogreport(ExhibitV154)which
showedthetwodeposits.ReflectedonthejournallogwastheamountP995,371.66indicating
thelastbalanceoftheAccountasofSeptember29,1999.AlateDepositTransactionsReport
oftheBranchasofSeptember30,1999reflectedthatthetwochecksdepositedwerelate
deposittransactionssothattheywereconsideredthefollowingdaytransactions.ADetailed
ReportofTransfer and/or MemoofGreenhills, Virra Mall datedSeptember 30,1999 also
reflectedthetwochecks.
The third Electronic Clearing Systems Report (Exhibit W15, with sub markings)
presentedwasdatedOctober6,1999. Thedetailscontainedthefollowing: EquitableBank
ManagerscheckintheamountofP300,000,000.00depositedtoAccountNo.0160625015.

ThejournallogreportedtheP300,000,000.00depositonOctober5,1999.Adetailedreport
of Transfer Memo (Exhibit W154) of the branch dated October 6, 1999 showed that a
P300,000,000.00checkdeposittoAccountNo.0160625015.
The next Electronic Clearing Systems Report (Exhibit X15, with sub markings) was
datedNovember26,1999andshowedthatthreecheckswereprocessedbythebranch.
These checks were: Equitable Bank Check No. 0811579 for P20,000,000.00, Check No.
0811580forP20,000,000.00andCheckNo.0811582forP60,000,000.00.Thedorsalportions
ofthechecksboretheaccountnumber016025015wherethechecksweredeposited.The
DetailedReportofTransactionMemo(ExhibitX155)datedNovember26,1999alsoshowed
thesethreetransactions.Sincethechecksweredepositedbeyondtheclearingcutofftime,
thelatedeposittransactionsreport(ExhibitX156)wasalsopresented.
The Electronic Clearing Systems Report (Exhibit Y15, with sub markings) dated
November29,1999showedaWestmontBankcheckNo.0000187474depositforP25Million
whichagainstboretheaccountNo.0160625015.AdetailedReportTransferMemo(Exhibit
Y153)waspresentedtoshowthisinterbranchtransaction.Thelatetransactionreportdated
November29fortheP25,000,000.00checkdepositwasalsopresented.[Ibid,pp.51137]
ElectronicClearingSystemReport(ExhibitZ15,withsubmarkings)datedDecember1,
1999showedaMetrobankMagdalenaCenterCheckNo.035400forP53,000,000.00. The
detailedreporttransfer(ExhibitZ153)reflectedthattheP53,000,000.00checkwasdeposited
toAccountNo.0160625015.
ThelastElectronicClearingSystemsReport(ExhibitA16,withsubmarkings)dated
December 2, 1999 showed that Equitable PCI Binondo Branch Check No. 0811596 for
P50,000,000.00,CheckNo.0811597forP50,000,000.00andAlliedbankCheckNo.0176625
forP20,000,000.00wereprocessed. Attachedweretwotransactionjournals(ExhibitA165)
datedDecember1,1999showingtheseinterbranchtransactions.
Legaspiexplainedthattheywereunabletoproducethedepositslipsrepresentingthe

interbranch deposits made to the account of Jose Velarde because all the documents
pertainingtotheVirraMallbranchwereforwardedtothewarehouse. Theywerestillinthe
process of retrieving the other documents pertaining to the deposit slips. [TSN dated
December4,2000,pp.1123]
LegaspitestifiedthatthetransactionsweremadebyBabyOrtalizawhomsheidentified
inaphotograph(ExhtX5).[Ibid,pp.2430]
Oncrossexamination,Legaspitestifiedthatshewascertainthatthedepositreceipts
wereactuallyaccomplishedandsawBabyOrtalizaseveraltimestransactingatthebranch.
[Ibid,pp.3134]
MELISSAPORTOPASCUALwasabanktellerofEquitablePCIBankGreenhillsVirra
MallBranchfromApril1,1999toJanuaryof2002. Sheprocessedcashdeposits,check
depositdeposits,withdrawalsandencashmentduringthattime.
Thewitnessthenrelatedandidentifiedmicrofilmcopiesofcheckswhichsheclaimed
thatshepersonallyprocessedforinterbranchdeposits.Thesecheckswere:EquitablePCI
BankCheck(Exh.V152andsubmarkings)No.0811277datedSeptember26,1999withthe
amountofP80,300,000.00;AlliedBankCheck(Exh.V153andsubmarkings)No.0080550
datedSeptember15,1999withtheamountofP20,000,000.00;EquitablePCIBankCheck
(Exh.W152andsubmarkings)No.0241001331datedSeptember13,1999withtheamountof
P300,000,000.00; Equitable PCI Bank Check (Exh. X152 and submarkings) No. 0811579
datedNovember23,1999withtheamountofP20,000,000.00;EquitablePCIBankCheck
(Exh.X153andsubmarkings)No.0811580datedNovember23,1999withtheamountof
P20,000,000.00;EquitablePCIBankCheck(Exh.X154andsubmarkings)No.0811582dated
November23,1999withtheamountofP60,000,000.00;WestmontBankCheck(Exh.Y 152
and submarkings) No. 0000187474 dated November 27, 1999 with the amount of
P25,000,000.00;andAlliedBankCheck(Exh.A164andsubmarkings)No.0176625dated
December1,1999withtheamountofP20,000,000.00.

TheforegoingchecksweredepositedbyBabyOrtalizatotheJoseVelardeAccount
with Account No. 0160625015 which was maintained at Equitable PCI Bank Binondo
Branch.PascualdescribedthephysicalappearanceofBabyOrtalizaandidentifiedherina
photograph(Exh.X5).
Tocorroborateherclaimthatshepersonallyprocessedtheaforementionedchecks,
witnessPascualfurtherrelatedandidentifiedtheElectronicClearingSystemReport(Exhs.
U15toZ153)datedNovember26,1999;theElectronicClearingSystemReportdatedOctober
6,1999;theJournalReportdatedOctober5,1999;theElectronicClearingSystemReport
datedSeptember30,1999;theElectronicClearingSystemReportdatedNovember29,1999;
the Electronic Clearing System Report dated December 2, 1999; and the Journal Report
datedDecember1,1999.[TSNdatedDecember9,2002]
LAMBERTOBAJACANFONSO(DelFonso)wastheAssistantVicePresidentand
DepartmentHeadoftheBranchMonitoringandAdministrationDepartmentofEquitablePCI
Banksince1997.
DelFonsoidentifiedthebankstatementsrelativetotheJoseVelardeSavingsAccount
No.0160625015fortheperiodbeginningAugust1,1999toNovember30,2000(Exhs.D19
toD1913,inclusiveofsubmarkings)andtoCurrentAccountNo.0110254954fortheperiod
beginningAugust1,1999toOctober31,2000(Exhs.E 19toE1914).AstoSavingsAccount
No.0160625015,hetestifiedthattheaccountwasclosedonNovember13,2000(Exh.D19
13).AstoCurrentAccountNo.0110254954,witnessDelFonsoidentifiedatransactionfor
October6,1999(Exh.E192)foranautomatictransferoftheamountofP29,304,219.69from
thesavingsaccount. Onthesameday,therewasanInwardCheckdepositamountingto
P142million.Fortheothermonths,therewereeitherminimaltransactionsornoneatall.
WithrespecttotheaccountholderJoseVelarde,DelFonsotestifiedthathehadno
addressindicatedintheaccountsasthesameweresimplyc/oEBCorcareofEquitable
BankingCorporationthroughitsHeadOfficeinBinondo,.Heclarifiedthatthiswasallowed
asaspecialarrangement,althoughhedidnotknowandneitherhadhemetJoseVelarde.

[TSNdatedJanuary22,2003]

RENE COLIN DACIO GRAY was head of the Cash Department of Urban Bank
sometime on January 2000. He presented and identified a Managers Check No. 43222
datedJanuary17,2000(Exh.W19)issuedbyUrbanBankGreenhillsBranchwhichtotalled
SeventyFiveMillionPesos(P75,000,000.00).GrayrelatedthattheChairmanofUrbanBank,
ArsenioBartolome,askedhimtodividethischeckintofour(4)checksUrbanBankCheck
Nos.39975,39976,39977and39978(Exhs.B152,B154B156B158)alldatedJanuary18,
2000.[TSN,March31,2003,pp.831]
AURORA CHUMACERA BALDOZ (Baldoz) was the VicePresident of the
ReceivershipandLiquidationGroup2ofthePhilippineDepositInsuranceCorporation(PDIC)
sinceMarch24,1994. Assuch,sheactuallyadministeredthereceivership,takeoverand
liquidation of banks that the Monetary Board orders for closure. She testified that she
becamefamiliarwithUrbanBankbecauseitwashergroupthatimplementedthetakeoverof
thesaidbankonApril26,2000.
BaldozpresentedandidentifieddocumentsrelativetoAccountNo.858(Exh.M19)of
theUrbanBank,particularly,theLetterofAuthoritydatedNovember23,1999(Exh.I19);Letter
ofAuthoritydatedJanuary29,2000(Exh.J19);LetterofAuthoritydatedApril24,2000(Exh.
K19); as well as Urban Bank Check No. 052093 dated April 24, 2000 in the amount of
P107,191,780.85, and a Signature Card of Savings Account No. 0116173459 (Exh. L 19).
BaldozfurtheridentifiedaCertification(Exh.N19)thatsheissuedtothefactthatasreceiverof
Urban Bank,PDIC found nobankrecordsshowinganyaccount underthe name ofJose
Velarde,JosephE.Estrada,LaarniEnriquez,GuiaGomez,RowenaLopez,PeachyOsorio,
JoyMelendrez,KevinorKelvinGarcia,727,737,747,757,and777.Shefurthercertified(Exh.
N192)thatAccountsA/C858andT/A858didnotappearintheRegistryofDepositsof
UrbanBankandwerenotpartofthedepositliabilitiesofthesaidbank.[TSNdatedMarch24,
2003]

MARIEROSEANCHETACLAUDIO(Claudio)wastheVicePresidentofUrbanBank
andtheManagerofUrbanBankSanJuanBranch.Shewaspartoftheseniormanagement
ofUrbanBank,particularlyitsbusinessdevelopmentcommitteewhichhandledthebusiness
aspectofthebank.Asareamanager,shewasinchargeofsupervisingfour(4)branchesof
Urban Bank. On the other hand, as branch manager, she handled the accounts of the
Greenhillsbranchclientsintermsofdeposits,loansandotherproductsanditwasinthe
courseofherdutiesassuchthatshebecamefamiliarwithTrustAccountNo.858orSpecial
PrivateAccountNo.(SPAN)858.
ClaudiotestifiedthatitwasArsenioBartolome,thentheChairmanofUrbanBank,who
asked her to open Trust Account No. 858 and to accept a deposit of Ten Million Pesos
(P10,000,000.00). The deposit was accordingly processed based on Trading Order No.
776313(Exh.Q19)datedJanuary6,1999.Shecametoknowthattheowneroftheaccount
wasJosephVictorEjercitowhenshewasaskedtotakeholdofaTrustAgreement(Exh.R19)
fromtheHeadOfficeabouttwo(2)tothree(3)weeksaftersheacceptedthecash.Claudio
further testified that the Head Office gave it to her to be given in turn to the client for
signature.Sheaddedthatshepersonallydeliveredthedocumentalongwithasignaturecard
totheofficeofJosephVictorEjercito. Afewweeksaftersheleftthedocumentsitinhis
office,shecamebackandpickedthemupandgavethembacktotherHeadOffice.Shealso
testifiedthatshewasfamiliarwiththesignatureofJosephVictorEjercitobecausehewasa
clientofthebank.
AlsoinconnectionwithTrustAccountNo.858,Claudiohandledtheacceptanceofall
depositstothesaidaccountthroughTradingOrders.Thus,shebecamefamiliarwithTrading
OrderNo.035006A(Exh.S19)datedJanuary27,1999intheamountofFiftyMillionPesos
(P50,000,000.00). Foreffectingwithdrawalsfromthesaidaccount,Claudioexplainedthat
tradingorders,managerschecksandlettersofauthoritieswererequired. Sheaddedthat
she was familiar with some withdrawals, particularly those covered by Trading Order No.
060851(Exh.T19)datedSeptember30,1999intheamountofFortyTwoMillionPesosThree
Hundred Sixty Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety Nine Pesos and Seventeen Centavos

(P42,360,899.17)andwithmaturityvalueofFortyMillionSevenHundredSixteenThousand
Five Hundred Fifty Four Pesos and Twenty Two Centavos (P42,716,554.22) (Exh. T192),
which she approved and which wascovered by ManagersCheck No. 0000034182 dated
November8,1999(Exh.I518).
Claudio also identified a withdrawal from the account through Trading Order No.
804490(Exh.U19)withdealdateNovember5,1999withamaturityvalueofTenMillionEight
HundredSeventyFiveThousandSevenHundredFortyNinePesosandFortyThreeCentavos
(P10,875,749.43)coveredbyUrbanBankManagersCheckNo.34181(Exh.I 517)thatwas
processedbybranchaccountantAileenTiongsonandwhichsheapproved. Lastly,Claudio
identifiedTradingOrderNo.808554(Exh.V19)withanetmaturityvalueofFiftyFourMillion
OneHundredSixtyOneThousandFourHundredNinetySixPesosandFiftyTwoCentavos
covered by Urban Bank Managers Check No. 0000037661 (Exh. O5 with submarkings).
Witness Claudio verified that she gave thethree(3) managers checks for withdrawalsto
JosephVictorEjercito.[TSNdatedMarch26,2003]
MA.AILEENCANDELARIATIONGSON (Tiongson)wastheBranchAccountantof
UrbanBankSanJuanBranchfromDecember18,1999toMarch,2000. Amongherduties
wastoensurethatalltransactionsofthebankandallpoliciesinthebranchwereproperly
implemented. Her duties also included checking trading orders prepared by the account
officerfortraditionalandnontraditionalproducts,facilitatingtheissuanceofcertificatesof
deposits, and processing the issuance of managers checks for withdrawal transactions.
Tiongson clarified that nontraditional products included trust products or investment
placementsundertrustagreements.
TiongsontestifiedthatshewasfamiliarwithAccountNo.858becausesheprocessed
someofthetransactionsoftheclientliketheissuanceofmanagerscheck.Sheaddedthat
shewasfamiliarwithManagersCheckBearingNo.43222(Exh.W19)datedJanuary17,2000
intheamountofP75Millionpayabletocash. Sheaddedthatthesourceofthemanagers
checkwasthepreterminatedplacementofAccountNo.858.Withrespecttothesaidcheck,

Tiongsontestifiedthattheplacingofpayabletocashinamanagerscheckisnotaregular
procedureinthebankbecauseamanagerscheckshouldbepayabletoaspecifiedperson.
[TSNdatedApril2,2003]
GUILLERMOARAZABRIONES(Briones)wastheDeputyReceiver/Liquidatorofthe
PhilippineDepositInsuranceCorporation(PDIC)assignedtoUrbanBankatthetimeitwas
underreceivership.
BrionestestifiedthatasDeputyReceiver,hetookchargeofalltheassetsandaffairsof
thebankandalsoactedascustodianofthesaidrecords.Insuchcapacity,hecameacross
AccountNo.858ashewasinstructedbyPDICVicePresidentAuroraBaldoztolookfor
documents pertaining thereto. He collated the documents and consequently prepared an
inventorylist(Exh.V20V204).Brionesidentifiedandverifiedthefollowingentriestherein:
(1)entryA2asreferringtoTradingOrderNo.020385(Exh.T 19)datedJanuary29,1999;(2)
entryA21referringtoManagersCheckNo.43222datedJanuary17,2000intheamountof
seventyfive million pesos (P75,000,000.00) (Exh. W19); (3) entry B3 referring to Trading
OrderNo.035006datedJanuary27,1999(Exh.S19);(4)entryB25referringtoTradingOrder
No.808554datedNovember22,1999(Exh.V19);(5)entryC22andC23referringtoTrading
OrderNo.060851datedSeptember30,1991(Exh.P19);(6)entryD34referringtoTrading
Order No. 804490 dated November 5, 1999 (Exh. B203); and entries E3, E4, and E5
referringtolettersofauthoritydatedNovember23,1999(Exh.I19),January17,2000(Exh.
J19), and April 24, 2000 (Exh. K19). After collating the documents, he submitted them to
AuroraBaldoz.[TSNdatedApril9,2003]
EMMANUELENRIQUEZBARCENAwastheAssistantVicePresidentforOperations
ofthePCHCduringthetimematerialinthesecases. HeassistedtheVicePresidentfor
Operations, Arturo M. De Castro, in supervising the check processing operations of the
corporation; he made sure that the checks delivered by the banks were credited to the
clearingaccountwiththeBangkoSentralngPilipinas(BSP)andcorrespondinglydebitedto
the accounts of the drawee banks; and he was also responsible for the accuracy of the

reports generated and furnished to the clearing participants and BSP to the delivery of
checksbythebanks. Thewitnessrelatedthattheclearingparticipantsarethecommercial
andthriftbankmembersofthecorporationwithauthorityfromtheBSPtoacceptdemand
depositsandparticipateintheclearingoperations. Thesebankssendlocalcheckstothe
clearinghousebybatchesandtheclearinghousereceivethesechecksandfeedthesamein
a reader sorter which capture the drawee banks information. Thereafter, the checks are
sprayedwithatracerbondandmicrofilmedtoidentifythesourceofthecheck.Thechecks
arethentalliedagainstthebatchcontrolticketandthenetresults,knownastheclearing
summaryreport,arereportedtotheBSPtoserveasbasisfordebitingorcreditingthe
clearingaccountofthebankconcerned.
ThewitnessthenrelatedandidentifiedseveralcheckswhichweresenttoPCHCand
undergonetheclearingprocess.HewasparticularwiththesignaturesofArturoDeCastro,
theVicePresidentofPCHC,FranciscoGementiza,theMicrofilmCustodianofPCHC,and
EdgarGamboa,theAssistantoftheMicrofilmCustodianofPCHC.ThesecheckswereAllied
BankCheckNo.0176610withtheamountofP5Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.0176611with
theamountofP10Million;WestmontBankCheckNo.0187473withtheamountofP25Million;
UrbanBankCheckNo.037661datedNovember23,1999withtheamountofP54,161,496.52;
FarEastBankGiftCheckwiththeamountofP500,000.00;AlliedBankCheckNo.0176621
withtheamountofP10Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.0176620datedDecember20,1999
withtheamountofP10Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.0176622datedDecember20,1999
withtheamountofP5Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.0176619datedDecember20,1999with
the amount of P5 Million; UCPB Check No. 018706 dated December 28, 1999 with the
amountofP20Million;UCPBCheckNo.018707datedDecember28,1999withtheamount
ofP20Million;FEBTCCheckNo.0580312datedMay8,2000withtheamountofP3Million;
AlliedBankCheckNo.0209702datedMay2,2000withtheamountofP10Million;Allied
Bank Check No. 0209706 dated May2, 2000 with the amount ofP5 Million;Allied Bank
CheckNo.0209703datedMay2,2000withtheamountofP5Million;MetrobankCheckNo.
0830000304datedJune3,2000withtheamountofP22,945,000.00;MetrobankCheckNo.
3010003358 dated June 6, 2000 with the amount of P20 Million; Asian Bank Check No.
0022012 dated November 5, 1999 with the amount of 20 Million; Urban BankCheck No.

034181datedNovember8,1999withtheamountofP10,875,749.43;UrbanBankCheckNo.
034182datedNovember8,1999withtheamountofP42,716,554.22;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0176604datedSeptember30,1999withtheamountofP10Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0176601datedSeptember30,1999withtheamountofP10Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0176602datedSeptember30,1999withtheamountofP10Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0176605datedSeptember30,1999withtheamountofP10Million;MetrobankCheckNo.
0660139670datedOctober18,1999withtheamountofP30Million;MetrobankCheckNo.
0660139681datedOctober18,1999withtheamountofP13Million;MetrobankCheckNo.
0732114979datedOctober15,1999withtheamountofP10Million;GlobalBankCheckNo.
0107387datedOctober18,1999withtheamountofP25Million;GlobalBankCheckNo.
0107388 dated October 18, 1999 with the amount of P25 Million; Metrobank Check No.
0385384datedNovember24,1999withtheamountofP10Million;MetrobankCheckNo.
0385385datedNovember24,1999withtheamountofP5Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0176615datedNovember24,1999withtheamountofP5Million;EquitablePCIBankCheck
No.0783278datedDecember17,1999withtheamountofP160Million;EquitablePCIBank
CheckNo.0783284datedDecember20,1999withtheamountofP2Million;EquitablePCI
BankCheckNo.0783282datedDecember20,1999withtheamountofP1.5Million;Allied
BankCheckNo.080519datedDecember20,1999withtheamountofP5Million;Equitable
PCI Bank Check No. 006975 dated December 24, 1999 with the amount of P1.5 Million;
WestmontBankCheckNo.0189619datedDecember23,1999;PSBankCheckNo.031436
datedOctober18,1999withtheamountofP20Million;PSBankCheckNo.031437dated
October18,1999withtheamountofP20Million;SecurityBankCheckNo.0363859dated
October18,1999withtheamountofP20Million;SecurityBankCheckNo.0363858dated
October18,1999withtheamountofP10Million;SecurityBankCheckNo.0363857dated
October18,1999withtheamountofP20Million;PSBankCheckNo.031438datedOctober
18,1999withtheamountofP10Million;GlobalBankCheckNo.0107385datedOctober18,
1999withtheamountofP20Million;GlobalBankCheckNo.0107383datedOctober18,1999
withtheamountofP30Million;WestmontBankCheckNo.0187472datedOctober26,1999
withtheamountofP5Million;WestmontBankCheckNo.0187471datedOctober26,1999
withtheamountofP5Million.

WitnessBarcenathenrelatedandidentifiedintheforegoingmannerEquitablePCI
BankCheckNo.0783236datedDecember17,1999withtheamountofP50Million;Equitable
PCIBankCheckNo.0111795117datedJanuary6,2000withtheamountofP20Million;Bank
ofCommerceCheckNo.0030474datedJanuary10,2000withtheamountofP6,925,055.65;
UrbanBankCheckNo.039975datedJanuary18,2000withtheamountofP70Million;Urban
BankCheckNo.039976datedJanuary18,2000withtheamountofP2Million;UrbanBank
CheckNo.039977datedJanuary18,2000withtheamountofP2Million;UrbanBankCheck
No.039978datedJanuary18,2000withtheamountofP1Million;AlliedBankCheckNo.
0080566 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P10 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080454 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P10 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080548 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P10 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080542 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P10 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080543 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P10 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080547 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P5 Million; Allied Bank Check No.
0080544datedAugust31,1999withtheamountofP5Million;WestmontBankCheckNo.
00181135 dated August 31, 1999 with the amount of P5 Million; Metrobank Check No.
0091780568datedSeptember1,1999withtheamountofP5Million;andFBTCCheckNo.
3165582datedSeptember8,1999withtheamountofP20Million.
In another set of documentary evidence for the prosecution, the witness similarly
relatedandidentifiedEquitablePCIBankCheckNo.0811277datedSeptember26,1999with
theamountofP8,300,000.00;AlliedBankCheckNo.0080550datedSeptember15,1999
withtheamountofP20Million;EquitablePCIBankCheckNo.001331datedSeptember30,
1999 with the amount of P300 Million; Equitable PCI Bank Check No. 0811579 dated
November23,1999withtheamountofP20Million;EquitableBankCheckNo.0811580dated
November23,1999withtheamountofP20Million;EquitablePCIBankCheckNo.0811582
datedNovember23,1999withtheamountofP60Million;WestmontBankCheckNo.0187474
datedNovember27,1999withtheamountofP25Million;MetrobankCheckNo.0385400
datedNovember29,1999withtheamountofP53Million;EquitablePCIBankCheckNo.
0811596datedDecember15,1999withtheamountofP50Million;EquitablePCIBankCheck
No.0811597datedDecember1,1999withtheamountofP50Million;andAlliedBankCheck

No.0176625datedDecember1,1999withtheamountofP20Million.
WitnessBarcenacontinuedonhisdirectexaminationandrelatedandidentifiedFEBTC
CheckNo.3165579datedNovember8,1999withtheamountofP189,700,000.00;BPIFamily
BankCheckNo.0006623datedJuly25,2000withtheamountofP40Million;EquitablePCI
BankCheckNo.0742099datedAugust15,1999withtheamountofP10Million;Metrobank
CheckNo.0091780523datedAugust15,1999withtheamountofP31Million;Metrobank
CheckNo.0385379datedAugust19,1999withtheamountofP20Million;MetrobankCheck
No.0830416015datedJuly29,2000withtheamountofP22Million;andAlliedBankCheck
No.0080549datedAugust25,1999withtheamountofP20Million.
Lastly,thewitnessthenpresentedandidentifiedaDetailListdatedNovember9,1999
ofPCHCwhichcontainedalistingofincomingchecksoftheparticipatingbankinGreater
ManilaArea.
Oncrossexamination,witnessBarcenaclarifiedthatthechecksforwardedtoPCHC
pertainedtochecksthatwerenotyetactedbythedraweebankastowhetherthesamewere
honoredordishonored.[TSNdatedJanuary13,2003;TSNdatedJanuary15,2003;andTSN
datedJanuary20,2003]
EVIDENCEFORTHEDEFENSE
ThedefensepresentedBEATRIZLEGASPIBAGSIT,theVicePresidentandDivision
HeadintheAreaofEquitablePCIBank,andROMUALDDYTANG,TreasurerandExecutive
VicePresidentofEquitablePCIBank.Thegistsoftheirtestimonieswerealreadydiscussedin
relationtosubparagraph(c)above.FPres.Estradaalsodeniedonthewitnessstandthathe
ownedtheJoseVelardeaccount.
FINDINGSOFFACT
Re:Subparagraph(d)oftheAmendedInformation
Toreiterate,thecrimeofplunderiscommittedthroughacombinationorseriesofovert
orcriminalacts[orpredicateacts]describedinSection1(d)ofR.A.No.7080asamended.
The prosecution presented overwhelming evidence that there were numerous deposits of

astoundinglylargesumsofmoneyintotheJoseVelardeaccount.However,theprosecution
failedtoprovethepredicateact/sasdefinedunderSection1(d)ofR.A.No.7080through
which thesaiddepositscould havebeenacquired or amassed,except forthe amountof
P189,700,000.00,representingillegalcommissionsfromthesalesofBellesharesandthe
moneycollectedfromillegalgambling.Itisnotpersetheaccumulationofwealthwhichis
proscribedbytheAntiPlunderLaw.TheacquisitionofwealthofnotlessthanP50,000,000.00
mustbelinkedtothecommissionofovertorcriminalactsfallingwithintheambitofthesaid
law.AllthattheprosecutionhassucceededinshowingisthattheJoseVelardeaccountisthe
repositoryorreceptacleofvastwealthbelongingtoFPres.Estrada.
RULINGOFTHECOURT
ONTHECHARGEOFPLUNDER
ElementsoftheOffenseofPlunder
HavingreachedtheforegoingFindingsofFactafterameticulousandlaboriousstudy
ofthevoluminoustestimonialanddocumentaryevidenceofboththeprosecutionandthe
defenseonthefour(4)subparagraphsoftheAmendedInformation,theCourtisnowcalled
upontoapplytheAntiPlunderLawtothefactsofthiscase.Theaccusedarechargedwith
plunderasdefinedandpenalizedunderRepublicActNo.7080,asamended,entitledAnAct
DefiningAndPenalizingTheCrimeOfPlunder,AsAmended(July12,1991). Particularly,
Section2ofthesaidlawprovidesasfollows:
Section2. DefinitionoftheCrimeofPlunder;Penalties.Anypublicofficer
who,byhimselforinconnivancewithmembersofhisfamily,relativesbyaffinityor
consanguinity, business associates, subordinates or other persons, amasses,
accumulates or acquires ill gottenwealth through a combination or series of overt
criminalactsasdescribedinSection1(d)hereofintheaggregateamountortotalvalue
ofatleastFiftyMillionPesos(P50,000,000.00)shallbeguiltyofthecrimeofplunder
andshallbepunishedby reclusion perpetua todeath. Anypersonwhoparticipated
withthesaidpublicofficerinthecommissionofanoffensecontributingtothecrimeof
plundershalllikewisebepunishedforsuchoffense.Intheimpositionofpenalties,the
degreeofparticipationandtheattendanceofmitigatingandextenuatingcircumstances,
asprovidedbytheRevisedPenalCode,shallbeconsideredbythecourt.TheCourt
shalldeclareanyandillgottenwealthandtheirinterestsandotherincomesandassets
includingthepropertiesand shareofstocksderivedfrom thedepositorinvestment
thereofforfeitedinthefavoroftheState.(Astothepenalty,thissectionisamendedby

RepublicActNo.9346prohibitingtheimpositionofthedeathpenaltyinthe.RA9346
wassignedintolawon.Inviewofitsprovisions,thepenaltyforthecrimeofplunderis
now reclusion perpetua pursuant to Section 2 (a) of RA 9346. In addition, the
convictedpersonshallbeeligibleforparoleunderAct.No.4103,otherwiseknownas
theIndeterminateSentenceLaw,asamended.)

Section1(d)ofthesamestatutecitedinSection2abovereads:
d)Illgottenwealthmeansanyasset,property,businessenterpriseor

materialpossessionofanypersonwithinthepurviewofSectionTwo(2)hereof,
acquired by him directly or in directly through dummies, nominees, agents,
subordinatesand/orbusinessassociatesbyanycombinationorseriesofthe
followingmeansorsimilarschemes:
1)Throughmisappropriation,conversation,misuse,ormalversationof
publicfundsorraidsonthepublictreasury;
2) By receiving, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share,
percentage,kickbacksoranyotherformofpecuniarybenefitfromanyperson
and/orentityinconnectionwithanygovernmentcontractorprojectorbyreason
oftheofficeorpositionofthepublicofficerconcerned;
3) By the illegal or fraudulent conveyance or disposition of asset
belongingtotheNationalGovernment oranyofitssubdivision,agenciesor
instrumentalities or governmentowned or controlled corporations and their
subsidiaries;

4)Byobtaining,receivingoracceptingdirectlyorindirectlyanysharesof
stock,equityoranyotherformofinterestorparticipationincludingpromisesof
futureemploymentinanybusinessenterpriseorundertaking;
5)Byestablishingagricultural,industrialorcommercialmonopoliesor
othercombinationsand/orimplementationofdecreesandordersintendedto
benefitparticularpersonsorspecialinterests;or
6)Bytakingundueadvantageofofficialposition,authority,relationship,
connectionorinfluencetounjustlyenrichhimselforthemselvesattheexpense
andtothedamageandprejudiceoftheFilipinopeopleandtheRepublicofthe.

RANo.7080,asamended,enunciatesaruleofevidenceinSection4thereofwhichis
quotedhereunder:

Section4.RuleofEvidence.Forpurposeofestablishingthecrimeof
plunder,itshallnotbenecessarytoproveeachandeverycriminalactdoneby
theaccusedinfurtheranceoftheschemeorconspiracytoamass,accumulate
oracquireillgottenwealth,itbeingsufficienttoestablishbeyondreasonable
doubtapatternofovertorcriminalactsindicativeoftheoverallunlawfulscheme
orconspiracy.

ThecaseofJosephEjercitoEstradav.Sandiganbayan(G.R.No.148560,promulgated
November 19, 2001), which upheld this Courts Resolution dated July 9, 2001 denying

accused Former President Estradas Motion to Quash the information in this case,
enumeratestheelementsofthecrimeofplunder,asfollows:
(1) That the offender is a public officer who acts by himself or in
connivance with membersof hisfamily, relativesby affinityor consanguinity,
businessassociates,subordinatesorotherpersons;
(2) That he amassed, accumulated or acquired illgotten wealth
throughacombinationorseriesofthefollowingovertorcriminalactsdescribed
inSection1(d)ofR.A.No.7080asamended;and

(3) Thattheaggregateamountortotalvalueoftheillgottenwealth
amassed,accumulatedoracquiredisatleastP50,000,000.00.

ThetermsCombinationandSerieswerelikewisedefinedintheabovecitedcaseas
follows:

ThuswhenthePlunderLawspeaksofcombination,itisreferringtoat
leasttwo(2)actsfallingunderdifferentcategoriesofenumerationprovidedin
Sec.1,par.(d),e.g.,raidsonthepublictreasuryinSec.1,par.(d),subpar.(1),
andfraudulentconveyanceofassetsbelongings totheNationalGovernment
underSec.1,par.(d),subpar.(3).

Ontheotherhand,toconstituteaseries,there mustbetwo (2)or


more overt or criminal acts falling under the same category of enumeration
foundinSec.1,par.(d),say,misappropriation,malversationandraidsonthe
publictreasury,allofwhichfallunderSec.1,par.(d),subpar.(1).Verily,hadthe
legislature intended a technical or distinctive meaning for combination and
series,itwouldhavetakengreaterpainsinspecificallyprovidingforitinthe
law.(emphasissupplied)

TheChargesintheAmendedInformation
inRelationtoAccused
TheimportofthechargesintheAmendedInformationwascarefullydiscussedbythe
HonorableSupremeCourtinthecaseofJoseJinggoyEstradavs.Sandiganbayan[G.R.No.
148965,February26,2003,377SCRA538,553556],aspennedbynowtheHonorableChief

JusticeReynatoS.Puno,inthiswise:
For better focus, there is a need to examine again the allegations of the
AmendedInformationvisvistheprovisionsofR.A.No.7080.
TheAmendedInformation,initsfirsttwoparagraphs,chargespetitionerandhis
othercoaccusedwiththecrimeofplunder.Thefirstparagraphnamesalltheaccused,
whilethesecondparagraphdescribesingeneralhowplunderwascommittedandlays
downmostoftheelementsofthecrimeitself.Subparagraphs(a)to(d)describein
detailthepredicateactsthatconstitutethecrimeandnameinparticulartheco
conspiratorsofformerPresidentEstradaineachpredicateact. Thepredicate
actsallegedinthesaidfoursubparagraphscorrespondtotheitemsenumerated
inSection1(d)ofR.A.No.7080. Subparagraph(a)allegedthepredicateactof
receiving, on several instances, money from illegal gambling, in consideration of
tolerationorprotectionofillegalgambling,andexpresslynamespetitionerasoneof
thosewhoconspiredwithformerPresidentEstradaincommittingtheoffense. This
predicateactcorrespondswiththeoffensedescribedinitem[2]oftheenumerationin
Section 1 (d) of R.A. No. 7080. Subparagraph (b) alleged the predicate act of
diverting, receiving or misappropriating a portion of the tobacco excise tax share
allocatedforthe,whichactistheoffensedescribedinitem[1]intheenumerationin
Section1(d)ofthelaw. Thissubparagraphdoesnotmentionpetitionerbutinstead
names other conspirators of the former President. Subparagraph (c) alleged two
predicateactsthatoforderingtheGovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS)and
theSocialSecuritySystem(SSS)topurchasesharesofstockofBelleCorporation,and
collecting or receiving commissions from such purchase from the Belle Corporation
whichbecamepartofthedepositintheJoseVelardeaccountattheEquitablePCI
Bank.Thesetwopredicateactsfallunderitems[2]and[3]intheenumerationofR.A.
No.7080,andwasallegedlycommitted by theformerPresident inconnivancewith
JohnDoesandJaneDoes.Finally,subparagraph(d)allegedthepredicateactthatthe
former President unjustly enriched himself from commissions, gifts, kickbacks, in
connivancewithJohnDoesandJaneDoes,anddepositedthesameunderhisaccount
nameJoseVelardeattheEquitablePCIBank.Thisactcorrespondstotheoffense
underitem[6]intheenumerationofSection1(d)ofR.A.No.7080.
FromtheforegoingallegationsoftheAmendedInformation,itisclearthatallthe
accusednamedinsubparagraphs(a)to(d),thrutheirindividualacts,conspiredwith
formerPresident Estrada toenablethelattertoamass,accumulateoracquireill
gotten wealth in the aggregate amount of P4,097,804,173.17. As the Amended
Information is worded, however, it is not certain whether the accused in sub
paragraphs(a)to(d) conspiredwitheachother toenabletheformerPresidentto
amassthesubjectillgottenwealth. Inlightofthislackofclarity,petitionercannotbe
penalized for the conspiracy entered into by the other accused with the former
PresidentasrelatedinthesecondparagraphoftheAmendedInformationinrelationto
itssubparagraphs(b)to(d).Weholdthatpetitionercanbeheldaccountableonlyfor
the predicate acts he allegedly committed as related in subparagraph (a) of the
Amended Information which were allegedly done in conspiracy with the former
Presidentwhosedesign wastoamass illgottenwealthamountingtomorethan P4
billion.
Wehastentoadd,however,thattherespondentOmbudsmancannotbefaulted
forincludingthepredicateactsallegedinsubparagraphs(a)to(d)oftheAmended

Informationinone,andnotinfour,separateInformations.AstudyofthehistoryofR.A.
No.7080willshowthatthelawwascraftedtoavoidthemischiefandfollyoffiling
multipleinformations.TheAntiPlunderLawwasenactedintheaftermathoftheMarcos
regimewherechargesofillgottenwealthwerefiledagainstformerPresidentMarcos
andhisallegedcronies.Governmentprosecutorsfoundnoappropriatelawtodealwith
hemultitudeandmagnitudeoftheactsallegedlycommittedbytheformerPresidentto
acquireillegalwealth.Theyalsofoundoutthatunderthethenexistinglawssuchasthe
AntiGraftandCorruptPracticesAct,theRevisedPenalCodeandotherspeciallaws,
theactsinvolveddifferenttransactions,differenttimeanddifferentpersonalities.Every
transactionconstitutedaseparatecrimeandrequiredaseparatecaseandtheoverall
conspiracyhad to be broken down into several criminal and graft charges. The
preparationofmultipleInformationswasaleglnightmarebuteventually,thirtynine(39)
separateandindependentcaseswerefiledagainstpracticallythesameaccusedbefore
theSandiganbayan.R.A.No.7080ortheAntiPlunderLawwasenactedpreciselyto
addressthisproceduralproblem.ThisispellucidintheExplanatoryNotetoSenateBill
No.733
xxxxxxxxx
...Inthecaseatbar,thedifferentaccusedandtheirdifferentcriminalactshavea
commonalityto help the former President amass, accumulate or acquire illgotten
wealth. Subparagraphs (a) to (d) in theAmended Information alleged thedifferent
participationofeachaccusedintheconspiracy. The gravamenoftheconspiracy
charge,therefore,is not thateachaccusedagreedtoreceiveprotectionmoneyfrom
illegalgambling,thateachmisappropriatedaportionofthetobaccoexcisetax,that
eachaccusedorderedtheGSISandSSStopurchasesharesofBelleCorporationand
receive commissions from such sale, nor that each unjustly enriched himself from
commissions,giftsandkickbacks;rather,itisthateachofthem,bytheirindividual
acts,agreedtoparticipate,directlyorindirectly,intheamassing,accumulation
andacquisitionofillgottenwealthofand/orforformerPresidentEstrada.
In the American jurisdiction, the presence of several accused in multiple
conspiracies commonly involves two structures: (1) the socalled wheel or circle
conspiracy,inwhichthereisasinglepersonorgroup(thehub)dealingindividually
withtwoormoreotherpersonsorgroups(thespokes);and(2)thechainconspiracy,
usually involving the distribution of narcotics or other contraband, in which there is
successivecommunicationandcooperationinmuchthesamewayaswithlegitimate
business operations between manufacturer and wholesaler, then wholesaler and
retailer,andthenretailerandconsumer.
FromareadingoftheAmendedInformation,thecaseatbarappearssimilartoa
wheelconspiracy. ThehubisformerPresidentEstradawhilethespokesareallthe
accused, and the rim that encloses the spokes is the common goal in the overall
conspiracy,i.e.,theamassing,accumulationandacquisitionofillgottenwealth.

ThroughoutthetrialbeforethisCourt,theprosecutionstaskwas
to establish,with the required burden of proof, the commission of the
crime of plunder by the principal accused former President Joseph
EjercitoEstradainconspiracywithhiscoaccusedduringtheperiodfrom
June, 1998 to January, 2001 by willfully, unlawfully and criminally

amassing,accumulatingandacquiringbyhimselfdirectlyorindirectlyill
gotten wealth in the aggregate amount of Four Billion Ninety Seven
MillionEightHundredFourThousandOneHundredSeventyThreePesos
andSeventeenCentavos(P4,097,804,173.17),moreorlessandthereby
unjustly enriching himself or themselves at the expense and to the
damage of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines,
through ANY OR A COMBINATION OR A SERIES OF OVERT
CRIMINAL ACTS, OR SIMILAR SCHEMES OR MEANS described in
paragraphs(a)to(d)intheAmendedInformation.
Afterathoroughevaluationoftheestablishedfacts,weholdthattheprosecutionhas
provenbeyondreasonabledoubttheelementsofplunderasfollows:
(a) The principal accused Joseph Ejercito Estrada, at the time of the
commissionoftheactschargedintheAmendedInformationwasthePresident
oftheRepublicofthe;
(b)HeactedinconnivancewiththenGovernorLuisChavitSingson,
whowasgrantedimmunityfromsuitbytheOfficeoftheOmbudsman,andwith
theparticipationofotherpersonsnamedbyprosecutionwitnessesinthecourse
ofthetrialofthiscase,inamassing,accumulatingandacquiringillgottenwealth
asfollows:
(i) by a series of acts of receiving bimonthly collections
from jueteng, a form of illegal gambling, during the period
beginning November 1998 to August 2000 in the aggregate
amountofFiveHundredFortyFiveMillionhTwoHundredNinety
One Thousand Pesos (P545,291,000.00), Two Hundred Million
Pesos (P200,000,000.00) of which was deposited in the Erap
MuslimYouthFoundation;and
(ii)bya seriesconsistingoftwo(2)actsoforderingthe
GSIS and the SSS to purchase shares of stock of Belle
Corporationandcollectingorreceivingcommissionfromthesales
ofBelleSharesintheamountofOneHundredEightyNineMillion

Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (P189,700,000.00) which was


depositedintheJoseVelardeaccount.
InJoseJinggoyE.Estradav.Sandiganbayan(G.R.No.148965,February26,2002,
377SCRA538,549)theSupremeCourtruledasfollows:
Contrary to petitioners posture, the allegation is that he received or
collectedmoneyfromillegalgambling"onseveralinstances.Thephraseon
severalinstancesmeansthepetitionercommittedthepredicateactinseries.To
insistthattheAmendedInformationchargedthepetitionerwiththecommission
ofonlyoneactoroffensedespitethephraseseveralinstancesistoindulgein
atwisted,nay,pretzelinterpretation.
Inthesamecase(JoseJinggoyE.Estradav.Sandiganbayan,supra.),itwasheld:
Subparagraph (c) alleged two predicate actsthat of ordering the
GovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS)andtheSocialSecuritySystem
(SSS) to purchase shares of stock of Belle Corporation, and collecting or
receiving commissions from such purchase from Belle Corporation which
becamepartofthedepositintheJoseVelardeaccountattheEquitablePCI
Bank. These two predicate acts fall under items [2] and [3] in the
enumerationofR.A.No.7080,andwasallegedlycommittedbytheformer
President in connivance with John Does and Jane Does. (emphasis
supplied)
ThisCourtfindsthattheprosecutionfailedtoprove,beyondreasonabledoubt,who
amongtheaccusedbenefitedfromthemisappropriationoftheexcisetaxshareofIlocosSur
andinwhatamounts,aschargedsubparagraphb.Theprosecutionlikewisefailedtooffer
evidenceontheallegedillegalsourcesofthenumerousdepositsintheJoseVelardeaccount
whichbelongstoFPres.Estrada,exceptforthecommissionreceivedfromthesaleofBelle
sharestoGSISandSSSandthemoneycollectedfromillegalgambling.TheAntiPlunder
Law requiresthe prosecution to prove the seriesor combination ofovertor criminal acts
through which illgotten wealth deposited in the Jose Velarde account was amassed,
accumulatedoracquired.Theprosecutionfailedtodischargethisburdenofproof.
However,thetwodifferentseriesofpredicateactsoutlinedabove(particularly,first,the
regularandmethodicalacquisitionofillgottenwealththroughcollectionsfromillegalgambling
and second, the receipt of unlawful commissions from the sales of Belle shares twice),
whethertakenseparatelyorindependentlyoftheotherorincombinationwitheachother,
unquestionablyconstitutethecrimeofplunderasdefinedbySection2,inrelationtoSection
1(d)ofRA7080asamended.

ThecaseofEstradav.Sandiganbayan(G.R.No.148560,)ruled:
xxxAsSenatePresidentSalongaexplained,ofthereare150constitutive
crimes charged,itis notnecessarytoprovebeyondreasonable doubtallof
them.Ifapatterncanbeshownbyprovingforexample,10criminalacts,then
thatwouldbesufficienttosecureconviction.
The State isthereby enabled bythisdevice to deal with several acts
constituting separate crimes as just one crime of plunder by allowing their
prosecution by means of a single information because there is a common
purpose for committing them, namely, that of amassing, accumulating or
acquiring wealth through such overt or criminal acts. The pattern is the
organizingprinciplethatdefineswhatotherwisewouldbediscreetcriminalacts
intothesinglecrimeofplunder.(369SCRA394,475476)
Apatternwasestablishedbythecarefullyplannedsystemofjuetengmoneycollection
onaregularbimonthlybasisfromthedfferentprovincesnationwidetoenrichFPres.Estrada
with the connivance and/or participation of Gov. Singson, Yolanda Ricaforte, Emma Lim,
CarmencitaItchon,SPO2Artates,JamisSingsonandotherjuetengcollectorsreferredtoin
the Amended Information as John Does and Jane Does. The Court notes that Gov.
Singson in the course of his testimony mentioned certain persons who collected jueteng
moneyasidefromhimselfandhisemployees;namely,AntonPrieto,BonitoSingson,Bong
Pineda,CharingMagbuhos,Celsode,JesseViceo,RomyPamatmatandacertainSanchez
ofBatangas.Asproven,thecollectionsinseveralinstancesfromillegalgamblingmoney
went way beyond the minimum of P50,000,000.00 set by the AntiPlunder Law. These
repeatedcollectionsofjuetengmoneyfromNovember1998toAugust2000wouldfallwithin
thepurviewofaseriesofillegalactsconstitutingplunder.Thesaidseriesofacts,onitsown,
wouldhavebeensufficienttoconvicttheprincipalaccused,FPres.Estrada.However,this
CourtalsofindsthatFPres.Estradaiscriminallyliableforplunderforreceivingcommissions
fromthepurchaseofBelleSharesbytheGSISandbytheSSSingraveabuseofhispower
ontwo(2)separateoccasionsaschargedinsubparagraph(b)oftheAmendedInformation.
Clearly,thereceiptofthesecommissionsontwo(2)occasionslikewisemeetsthedefinitionof
aseriesoftwo(2)similarunlawfulactsemployingthesameschemetoaccumulateillgotten
wealth.
Itisunnecessarytoindulgeinanexpositionofwhetherthetwoseriesofactsfalling
undersubparagraphs(a)and(c)oftheAmendedInformation,proveninthecourseofthe
trial could have amounted to two (2) counts of plunder. It would be a purely academic

exercise,astheaccusedcannotbeconvictedoftwooffensesortwocountsofplunderonthe
basisofasingleInformation,clearlycharginghimofonlyonecountofplunder,becausethat
wouldviolatehisconstitutionalrightstodueprocess,giventheseverityofthecrimecharged
inthiscase.
Thepredicateactsallegedinsubparagraphs(a)and(c)oftheAmendedInformation,
whichformedtwo(2)separateseriesofactsofadifferentnature,werelinkedbythefactthat
theywereplainlygearedtowardsacommongoalwhichwastheaccumulationofillgotten
wealthforFPres.Estradaandthattheysharedapatternoracommonmethodofcommission
whichwastheabuseormisuseofthehighauthorityorpowerofthePresidency.(v.Hiverly,
437F3d752)
In sum, the Court finds that prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt the
commissionbytheprincipalaccusedformerPresidentJosephEjercitoEstradaofthecrimeof
plunder but not so in the case of former Mayor Jose Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward
Serapio.
WHEREFORE,inviewofalltheforegoing,judgmentisherebyrenderedinCriminal
Case No. 26558 finding the accused, Former PresidentJoseph Ejercito Estrada, GUILTY
beyondreasonabledoubtofthecrimeofPLUNDERdefinedinandpenalizedbyRepublicAct
No. 7080, as amended. On the other hand, for failure of the prosecution to prove and
establishtheirguiltbeyondreasonabledoubt,theCourtfindstheaccusedJoseJinggoy
EstradaandAtty.EdwardS.SerapioNOTGUILTYofthecrimeofplunder,andaccordingly,
theCourtherebyorderstheirACQUITTAL.
The penalty imposable for the crime of plunder under Republic Act No. 7080, as
amended by Republic Act No. 7659, is Reclusion Perpetua to Death. There being no
aggravating or mitigating circumstances, however, the lesser penalty shall be applied in
accordance with Article 63 of the Revised Penal Code. Accordingly, accused Former
President Joseph Ejercito Estrada is hereby sentenced to suffer the penalty of Reclusion
Perpetua andtheaccessorypenaltiesofcivilinterdictionduringtheperiodofsentenceand
perpetualabsolutedisqualification.
TheperiodwithinwhichaccusedFormerPresidentJosephEjercitoEstradahasbeen

underdetentionshallbecreditedtohiminfullaslongasheagreesvoluntarilyinwritingto
abidebythesamedisciplinaryrulesimposeduponconvictedprisoners.
Moreover,inaccordancewithSection2ofRepublicActNo.7080,asamendedby
RepublicActNo.7659,theCourtherebydeclarestheforfeitureinfavorofthegovernmentof
thefollowing:
(1) The total amount of Five Hundred Forty Two Million Seven
Hundred Ninety One Thousand Pesos (P545,291,000.00), with interest and
income earned, inclusive of the amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos
(P200,000,000.00), deposited in the name and account of the Erap Muslim
YouthFoundation.

(2) The amount of One Hundred Eighty Nine Million Pesos


(P189,000,000.00),inclusiveofinterestsandincomeearned, depositedinthe
JoseVelardeaccount.

(3) The real propertyconsisting of a house and lot dubbed as


locatedat#,NewManila,.
The cash bonds posted by accused Jose Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward S.
Serapio are hereby ordered cancelled and released to the said accused or their duly
authorized representatives upon presentation of the original receipt evidencing payment
thereof and subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures. Likewise, the hold
departureordersissuedagainstthesaidaccusedareherebyrecalledanddeclaredfunctus
oficio.
SOORDERED.
SGD.
TERESITAJ.LEONARDODECASTRO
PresidingJustice

Chairperson
SGD.SGD.
FRANCISCOH.VILLARUZ,JR.DIOSDADOM.PERALTA
AssociateJusticeAssociateJustice
ATTESTATION
IattestthattheconclusionsintheaboveDecisionwerereachedinconsultationbefore
thecasewasassignedtothewriteroftheopinionoftheCourtsDivision.
SGD.
TERESITAJ.LEONARDODECASTRO
PresidingJustice
Chairperson
CERTIFICATION
PursuanttoArticleVIII,Section13,oftheConstitution,andtheDivisionChairmans
Attestation,itisherebycertifiedthattheconclusionsintheaboveDecisionwerereachedin
consultationbeforethecasewasassignedtothewriteroftheopinionoftheCourtsDivision.
SGD.
TERESITAJ.LEONARDODECASTRO
PresidingJustice

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