Jinggoy slams 'wiretap-Ping'

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada accused Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday of using illegal means to link his father, former President Joseph Estrada, to the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito nine years ago.

In a privilege speech, Estrada accused Lacson of wiretapping and also revived the issue of the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case.

Estrada said Lacson, as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), also did nothing to solve the disappearance of Edgar Bentain, the casino employee who purportedly videotaped the former president gambling with his erstwhile adviser Charlie “Atong” Ang.

Estrada claimed Lacson used his power as PNP chief to silence his critics.

Estrada challenged Lacson to file charges in court and prove his allegations in linking the former president to the murders.

“After being accused on national television, I believe the most basic and decent thing to do is for Mr. Lacson to file the necessary charges in the proper court not only to give the accused the opportunity to defend himself, but more importantly to render justice to everyone,” Estrada said.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago also advised Estrada and Lacson to face off before the courts, saying the Senate is not the proper venue to prove the exchange of allegations between Estrada and Lacson.

Malacañang also urged Estrada and Lacson to take their squabble before the courts.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita lamented that the exchange of accusations between the two senators have taken up a lot of the time of the Senate.

“What will come out of this? First of all, will there be legislation that will come out of it? It’s not in aid of legislation so what is it? They just want to reveal something,” Ermita said.

Lacson, however, warned he would never run out of ammunition and would speak up again if the Estradas would accuse him again.

Senator Estrada first denied any involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng, though indirectly.

Lacson revealed in his privilege speech the younger Estrada’s supposed telephone conversations as he purportedly told someone to save him and his mother, former senator Luisa “Loi” Ejercito from the charges.

The younger Estrada said Lacson made wiretapping a “hobby.”

“Assuming that such a conversation really happened, Mr. Lacson, without saying so, must have illegally obtained this through wiretapping. These are stuff that only a diabolical mind such as Mr. Lacson can be capable of doing,” Senator Estrada said.

Estrada said Lacson never mentioned names, including the Cabinet secretary whom he allegedly spoke with to ask for a project after losing P10 million in gambling.

In the same privilege speech, Estrada stressed he had been charged, tried and acquitted of any involvement in jueteng, much more in receiving payola along with another brother, whom Lacson did not identify.

Estrada also said Lacson should be charged for the killing of 11 suspected members of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang.

He also showed a video of the late Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group civilian agent Francisco “Kit” Mateo telling a television reporter that Lacson ordered him to kill Captain Jimmy Victorino, chief of the theft and robbery section of the Western Police District in 1986.

Another killing that Lacson’s henchmen carried out upon his orders was pushing out of an airborne helicopter a woman in her 20s and an eight-year-old girl, Estrada said.

The victims were reportedly the sister and niece of Joey de Leon, leader of the notorious kidnap-for-ransom Red Scorpion Group.

Following Estrada’s privilege speech, Lacson joked before reporters that wiretapping telephone conversations had indeed become indeed his “hobby.”

“No, it’s a joke. I can’t tell you my (source). Maybe later, let’s just wait,” Lacson said.

Motive

Estrada said only Lacson could have the motive to kill Dacer because the publicist was opposed to his appointment as PNP chief.

Estrada cited the letters of Dacer to former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte, the slain publicist’s friend, indicating his apprehensions over Lacson.

Estrada also claimed Sabina Dacer, the slain publicist’s daughter, had testified that her father told them that if anything would happen him, only Lacson would be responsible.

On Tuesday, Sen. Estrada accused Lacson of being behind the killing of Dacer and Corbito, not his father.

Estrada said even former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II identified Lacson as the one behind the murders, pointing to the supposed letters of Dacer to Almonte dated July 27 and Oct. 8 of 1999, which he described as “quite revealing.”

Estrada said the slain publicist’s letters had strongly opposed the appointment of Lacson as PNP chief.

Senator Estrada said this could establish the motive of Lacson to “eliminate” Dacer, which he had the capability to carry out as a police official at that time.

He said Lacson was just extricating himself and putting the blame on his father.

Estrada added it was only from Lacson that he learned that Bentain was abducted on Roxas Boulevard and killed somewhere in Laguna in January of 1999.

He asked how Lacson possibly knew of these details but did not lift a finger to solve the case since the body of Bentain remained missing.

“Before Mr. Lacson delivered his speech (Tuesday), Mr. Bentain was listed as a missing person,” Estrada said.

But Lacson said it was easier said than done. He said Estrada must be able to present facts and other evidence to back up his allegations.

“When I said his father had knowledge (of the killing), I supported it with facts and information. I don’t pay attention because it’s just an outburst. Of course he was hurt because I divulged things about his father,” Lacson said.

“But then, on my part, I want to end this too. But if he does not want to, then I am also game. I still have a lot of ammunitions in my arsenal. I will never run out of ammunition but they can always invent because as I’ve said, I’ve been in this game,” he said.

Lacson said he was not even aware that Dacer was objecting to his appointment as PNP chief. And since he was appointed anyway, there was no more reason for him to kill Dacer, he said.

“There were many who were opposing my appointment. Does that mean I would think ill of all those who objected to my appointment?” Lacson pointed out. –With Marvin Sy