SENATOR LOI ESTRADA

It has been more than two years since this representation was pilloried before media through accusations so vile and propaganda most vicious. So vile and vicious in fact that this chamber of peers took notice, conducted investigations complete with nationally televised public hearings and just recently, unveiled on this floor a committee report which would give the public the impression that my detractors were somehow right.

The committee report that came out of the hearings conducted by three committees had been signed and sponsored on the floor. The same charges had been investigated in other fora, before the Ombudsman even, and dismissed. The prime witness, Angelo Mawanay, whose forked tongue the Senate committees dignified through public hearings, has since recanted his false testimony, and pointed even to the very powerful spouse of the President of the Republic, as the one who masterminded his false revelations.

I took little notice of such recantation and confession.

But then, recently, I learned that Mawanay's confession about the involvement of the First Gentleman in the demolition job against this representation was, indeed, the truth. Not only because the lawyer who was tasked to take care of Mawanay was indeed a regular fixture in the office inside this building in Makati, a certain Atty. Victor Padilla, but also because during all the time that I was being falsely accused by Victor Corpus, he was also visiting the First Gentleman in the same building.

And sometime in the second week of July 2001, the soldier-turned-NPA-turned-soldier-again, whom civil society recently honored, received a brown envelope containing a huge amount of dollars courtesy of the First Gentleman.

If you may recall, Mr. President, the Secretary of National Defense admitted during the "Question Hour" in this same floor, that public monies were authorized to be used by no less than the commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to finance a fishing expedition sent to Hong Kong and the United States by agents led by Mr. Corpus from June 2 to July 5, 2001. In fact, it was included in a written progress report submitted by a certain Col. Mario F. Chan, team leader of that ISAFP/PNP team sent abroad by Chief ISAFP Corpus dated June 28, 2001 stating among others that "on May 20, 2001, Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the mission to the United States based on the recommendation of Colonel Corpus". It was an expedition that came out with fabulous sums in more than a dozen foreign accounts, which to this date have not been substantiated.

I did not know until recently that apart from these public monies, private money coming from dubious sources had also been given Mr. Corpus.

Neither did I know until recently that another lying witness by the name of Mary Ong, alias Rosebud, had also been a frequent caller of the First Gentleman in his office in Makati.

In fact, this woman was a visitor in the same office on November 28, 2002, one of the First Gentleman's last callers before he accompanied his wife on a state visit to Japan. While he and the President were yet enjoying the hospitality of the Emperor of Japan, back here in the country, Police Superintendent John Campos was gunned down mercilessly in a roadside eatery in Paranaque, during the wee hours of the morning of December 5, 2002.

Less than an hour after the killing took place, Mary Ong's voice was on the airwaves, accusing this representation of having ordered the "silencing" of Superintendent Campos, a wild accusation even the bereaved family of the deceased would not buy.

Yet upon the return of the First Gentleman to the country, who but no less than Mr. Corpus would be his very first caller in the early afternoon of Monday, the ninth of December 2002?

I cannot help but wonder Mr. President what the trio talked about on those two separate occasions, one, just before and the other, immediately after Supt. John Campos was gruesomely murdered. Suffice it to say, Mr. President that as per our own independent investigation, we now have some vital evidence to identify Supt. Campos' murderers and masterminds.

These startling revelations have aroused my curiosity about this office in this building in Makati, and the actuations of the very powerful gentleman who lords over it, in league with lesser mortals who exercise such great power and influence over the life of this nation, be it in politics, or business, or even the judiciary.

Being an investigator for thirty years, I could not resist my instincts to sleuth.

And today, I will share with you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, documented findings about this man and his office in Makati.

There is an Indian proverb, which goes like this:

"Tell me a fact and I will learn.

Tell me a truth and I will believe.

Tell me a story and it will live

forever in my heart"

Let me tell you a fact: Corruption thrives and enjoys incredible and unprecedented growth in the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government. We all heard about the telecommunications scam, the PCSO anomaly, the jueteng scandal, Diosdado P. Macapagal Boulevard, rice smuggling and many more untold stories of corruption and shady deals.

Even The Washington Times agrees. The day after the bombing occurred at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, some three weeks after a confessed terrorist escaped from Camp Crame, it editorialized:

"As a result of al-Ghozi's escape, which is the result of corruption in Mrs. Arroyo's government, the world can expect many more bombings and countless more innocent deaths like yesterday's".

Let me tell you the truth: I have in my possession voluminous documents and written testimonies of witnesses that prove tons of money have been delivered and are being delivered, to a powerful man, I will now fondly call "The Incredible Hulk".

Money, I understand, keeps him calm and collected, the word collected, in this instance means "to collect".

Now, let me tell you a story: Our story tells of a true-to-life world of corruption, extortion, money laundering, character assassination and betrayal.

For lack of material time, I will only deal today with Chapter One.

Our story begins in this incredible building on 118 Perea Street in Legaspi Village. Next to Malacanang, this is, perhaps, the most powerful place in the country. This building has become the citadel of power abuse, where incredible deals are cooked and sinister schemes plotted.

This is the LTA building - home to "what-are-we-in-power-for" people. This place is a money machine where government deals are hatched and fortunes amassed.

Let me now call the roll, Mr. President.

Ephraim Genuino, Chairman and President of PAGCOR, the gambling monopoly who visits this incredible building regularly, or sends his personal representative, Mr. Ryan Cordeta, to bring in big boxes or big bags.

Edgar C. Manda, General Manager of the international airport, who is likewise chief incorporator of Lualhati Foundation.

Jocelyn Joc-joc Bolante, Undersecretary of Department of Agriculture, who reports regularly at this building either alone or in the company of an Indian rice trader, Mr. Kishore Hemlani.

Hemlani used to be a small garments trader more than a decade ago. He is now the biggest importer of rice, most, if not all of it smuggled from his native India.

Ernest Villareal was Chair of the Public Estates Authority, until a scandal arose from the most expensive boulevard in the universe, named after President Diosdado P. Macapagal.

Rey Nadal, who uses Subic Bay Freeport as the headquarters of his massive import operation of new and slightly used vehicles.

Virgilio Angelo, former General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, since transferred as Administrator of the OWWA which has billions in trust funds, the "pawis ng bagong bayani."

Alfonso Cusi of the Philippine Port Authority.

Atty. Teddy Cruz of the Light Rail Transit Authority.

Ramon Tulfo, certified extortionist masquerading as a columnist.

Alex Magno, political analyst. Dating kagalang-galang. Sayang.

And a lady who I am told, is related to Jarius Bondoc, another media figure, a Ms. Marissa Bondoc.

Ronaldo Puno, prominent political operator.

Atty. Vic Padilla, the handler of Angelo "Ador" Mawanay.

Victor Corpus, erstwhile ISAFP Chief. GMA's favorite.

Mary Ong Gaba a.k.a. Rosebud

One associate justice of the Supreme Court, newly appointed, was a recent visitor sometime in the first week of May 2003, or after the 13-0 decision on the Kuratong Baleleng case in my favor was unbelievably reversed to a 10-4-1 verdict.

Another associate justice is a bit smarter. He meets with "The Incredible Hulk" in another floor of the same building.

LTA Building is the place where criminal minds are given unlimited funds and access to government resources for illegal purposes, where manufactured evidence, concocted stories and blatant lies are orchestrated to demolish whom the Perea gods wish to destroy.

The mantra at LTA is: Keep the money flowing and you keep the Incredible Hulk, Mr. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo continuously calm, and continuously collected…and his gang of operators, con artists and demolition machines continuously well-funded and fearless.

Yes, the Mr. Jose Miguel Arroyo I mentioned is, indeed, the partner-in-everything of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Rather, in almost everything. One of the most profitable partnerships ever…

Senador at Bise-Presidente pa lang si GMA, maganda na ang tubo ng Macapagal at Arroyo partnership. Very, very profitable… for Very Special Outstanding People.

Proofs, I shall present.

Our investigation uncovered that Mr. & Mrs. Jose Miguel Arroyo received at least P321M in "contributions" from supporters and favor seekers.

We have a long list.

Among the donors include The Firm of Carpio, Villaraza & Cruz, which gave P3.5 million;
a Franklin Fuentebella, whose name is the same as the one linked to the Multitel scam, gave P.5 million;

Mr. Lucio Co, the biggest importer of everything from canned goods, dressed chicken to housewares looks like a piker with just P.5M;

Reghis Romero of the Dos Palmas Resort episode, gave P2 Million;

DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez, whose current net worth is only P1.5 Million, but gave P600T. I wonder what his net worth was when he gave his contribution - more than his net worth, maybe?

And the presidential political liaison, Mr. Joey Rufino, gave all of P2 Million.

Out of the P321M that entered the Perea coffers, only P50.2M was spent, as officially submitted to the Comelec by the campaign manager, Mr. Jose Miguel Arroyo.