Singson points finger at Estrada’s sons

Provincial Governor Luis Singson revealed that he paid off President Joseph Estrada's sons and some others, dragging them into the crisis that has gripped the country. In November 1999, he said he gave $ 20,000 (P 1 million) to the president's son Jinggoy Ejercito, mayor of suburban San Juan, and to another son Jude Ejercito, anamount of $ 40,000 (P 2 million). The two were not listed as recipients of gambling payoffs. A certain Jimpol, identified as Jimmy Policarpio, legislative-executive liaison officer, was listed as a regular recipient of $40,000 (P 2 million) a month.

A certain 'Goma' (rubber band), identified as acting Police Chief Gen. Roberto Lastimoso, has had a $60,000 (P 3 million) monthly allotment. "But he never got them although some people got the money for him," said Singson. The list included delivery of 'goodwill money' to Senators Teresita Oreta and John Osmena, at (P 1 million) each, said Singson, adding this was requested by Estrada when the latter won mahjong aboard the presidential yacht in Cebu, central Philippines in April 1999. The prosecution asked the two to testify as witnesses. The senate leadership compelled them earlier to turn over the money to the national treasury.

Meanwhile, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile complained that the ledger did not have the right computation of the amount received and disbursed, adding the inaccuracies could make the ledger null and void when presented as evidence in court. Estrada's appointed accountant Yolanda Ricaforte made the entries in the ledger, said Singson, adding his assessment of a (P 30 to P 35 million) monthly collection from gambling lords was also correct.

In an affidavit made by Singson on September 14, Singson said apart from the monthly remittance of protection money to Estrada, the latter had accumulated $2.46 million (P 123 million) from the total collection of jueteng money. In the same affidavit, Singson said: "On or about the first week of August, 1999, Estrada instructed me to transfer the accumulated deposits in my account, to Yolanda Ricaforte, I complied with his instruction and turned over the accumulated deposits amounting to$2.46 million (P 123 million) to Mrs Ricaforte, who in turn deposited the same to various accounts in Equitable Bank."

Noting what happened next, Singson said: "Sometime this year, the president instructed Yolanda to transfer $ 4.049 (P 200 million) to his account but with specific instruction to transfer the same amount to different accounts before finally depositing it to a designated account of his choice.