Estrada Impeachment Jan. 3, 2001 (PM) Transcripts

JANUARY 3, 2001 (AFTERNOON)
AT 1:58 P.M., THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUSTICE HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR., PRESIDING OFFICER, CALLED THE RESUMPTION OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO ORDER.

THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS (MR. LEONARDO LOPEZ). Please all rise for the entrance of Senator-Judges.

Please remain standing for the entrance of the Honorable Senate President-Judge Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and the Honorable Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE). The trial of the impeachment case against His Excellency, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, is now called to order.

We will be led in prayer by the Honorable Judge Loren Legarda-Leviste.

PRAYER

SEN. LEGARDA-LEVISTE. Mahal naming Panginoon, sa pagpasok ng isang panibagong taon, kami ay lubos pa ring nababalisa at nagdadalamhati dahil sa patuloy na krisis na politikal na umiiral sa aming bansa. Isang krisis na nagdudulot ng pagbagsak ng pambansang ekonomiya at naghahatid ng panganib sa magandang kinabukasang inaasam naming mga mamamayan.

Isang araw bago dumating ang bisperas ng Bagong Taon, malungkot kaming naging saksi sa karumal-dumal at walang konsensyang pagpaslang ng mga inosenteng buhay; isang pagkilos na tunay na hindi maka-tao at hindi maka-Diyos na karapat-dapat lamang ikundina nating lahat.

Ipinagdadasal po namin, aming Panginoon, na ang aming bansa ay mailigtas na sa mga maari pang mangyaring karahasan at sa halip ay kapayapaan na ang mamayani sa aming isip, puso at kaluluwa.

Hinihiling po namin, aming Ama, na gabayan Ninyo kami sa masalimuot na yugto na ito sa aming pambansang kasaysayan. Basbasan Ninyo kami ng Inyong taglay na pag-unawa at diwa habang patuloy kaming umuupo bilang isang Impeachment Court na naatasang duminig at humatol sa paglilitis ng kaso ng Pangulo ng aming bayan.

Humihingi po kami ng kapatawaran at dumudulog kami na amin nang matagpuan ang mailap na katotohanan – katotohanan na siya lamang makapagbibigay ng tunay na kapayapaan at kalayaan sa aming bayan.

Dinggin Ninyo kami, aming Ama. Amen.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Please be seated.

The Sergeant-at-Arms will now make the proclamation.

THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. All persons are commanded to keep silent on pain of imprisonment while the Senate is sitting for the trial on the Articles of Impeachment against Joseph Ejercito Estrada, President of the Philippines.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER (SEN. TATAD). Mr. Chief Justice, upon request of some of the Senator-Judges, I move that we defer consideration of the Journal of the Impeachment Court for December 22, 2000.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Until when?

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Until a later time.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any objection to the motion? There being none, the consideration of the Journal of the Impeachment Court of 22 December 2000 is deferred until a later time.

The Secretary is now directed to call the case.

THE SECRETARY (MR. LUTGARDO BARBO). Impeachment Case No. 001-2000 In The Matter of the Impeachment of His Excellency Joseph Ejercito Estrada, President of the Philippines, for Bribery, Graft and Corruption, Betrayal of Public Trust and Culpable Violation of the Constitution.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice, I now invite the parties to this impeachment trial to enter their appearance.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The parties are hereby directed to enter anew their appearance.

REP. APOSTOL. Same appearance for the prosecution. We are ready, Mr. Chief Justice.

MR. DAZA. For the defense, the same appearances. Ready.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Before we enter into the trial proper, the Presiding Officer would like to make it of record that the Extended Order, the issuance of which was reserved yesterday, was filed by him with the Secretary of the Court this morning with a directive that copies thereof be furnished the Honorable Members of the Court and the heads of the prosecution and defense panels. This Extended Order shall form part of the Journal for today’s trial and shall be annexed thereto.

The Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice, for the trial proper, the defense may call Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson to the witness stand for the cross examination under the same oath under Articles I and II. The principal and assisting examining counsels are Atty. Simeon de Marcelo and Atty. Edcel Lagman under Article I and Atty. Pablito Sanidad and Atty. Arno Sanidad for Article II, and the principal and assisting cross examining counsel are Atty. Estelito Mendoza and Atty. Jose Flaminiano, respectively.

REP. GONZALES. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the pleasure of Prosecutor Gonzales?

REP. GONZALES. Mr. Chief Justice, yesterday, Your Honor made mention of a Reply to the Opposition which was filed by the defense to our Opposition to the Opposition filed by the defense on our previous motions for production of documents, etcetera, subpoena. But as of this time, Mr. Chief Justice, Your Honor mentioned that that is noted, the Opposition the Reply rather, was noted yesterday.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. Because insofar as the issuance of subpoenas duces tecum is concerned, if the parties would recall, the Presiding Officer submitted a draft or a format of the subpoena for the comment or recommendation of the parties and it was only a little late that the Chair was able to receive a copy of the comment from the prosecution.

REP. GONZALES. Yes, Mr. Chief Justice, but the Reply was mentioned by Your Honor as having been noted by the Court.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, it was noted by the Court.

REP. GONZALES. But the prosecution has not received the copy of that Reply as of this time, Mr. Chief Justice.

MR. DAZA. We served a copy. It was during the holidays and because of the distance from Makati…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. By mail?

MR. DAZA. …we mailed it. And on the original of the Reply, we attached the registry receipts for the mailing.

REP. GONZALES. Well, we have not received it, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, anyway, that’s a very simple matter. If the prosecution has an extra

MR. DAZA. We shall provide them a copy.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If the defense has an extra copy…

MR. DAZA. Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. …the defense is directed to furnish this afternoon a copy of the reply to the prosecution.

MR. DAZA. Yes. Before we…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Otherwise, the Clerk of Court, meaning, the Secretary of the Senate, can even provide a xerox copy of the same to the prosecution.

REP. GONZALES. As a matter of fact, Your Honor, I asked the Secretariat last night and they have not received it also.

MR. DAZA. No. We filed and we have the receipt stamp in our copy.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, anyway, we can resolve that afterwards. It’s a procedural matter, which we can easily resolve afterwards.

MR. DAZA. We can work it out between counsel and myself, Mr. Chief Justice.

REP. GONZALES. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We shall now proceed. Call the witness.

REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the pleasure of Prosecutor Apostol?

REP. APOSTOL. May we pray that during the cross examination questions for jueteng should not be mixed with questions on 7171. In other words, questions for Article I should not be mixed with questions on Article II, so that there will be no confusion. But if the defense cannot avoid it, may we request that the questions should be captioned that this is for Article I and this is for Article II.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The request is directed to the defense. What’s the response of the defense?

MR. MENDOZA. The witness gave testimony as regards both Article I and Article II. There are many questions which are common to both.

But apart from that the witness cannot be possibly confused, if Your Honors please, and it does not serve any purpose to say, “This question is for Article I, this question is for Article II.” That is going to delay the proceedings unreasonably. And if the question is anyway objectionable, the prosecution may object and we would have no problem as to whether it is the designated prosecutors on Article I or the designated prosecutors for Article II will rise to object, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is Prosecutor Apostol not prepared to withdraw the request? Otherwise, the Chair will make a ruling.

REP. APOSTOL. With that understanding. In fact, Your Honor, in the initial conference that we had, there were two separate, actually, examination of the witness one for Article I, later on the witness…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You are insisting on your request?

REP. APOSTOL. If possible, Your Honor, so that nobody will be confused.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. No, no, no. Be very specific.

REP. APOSTOL. Yes, we will insist.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If you are going to insist, the Chair rules that that is not necessary. The witness testified first on Article I and was allowed to continue to testify on Article II and, therefore, there should be a continuity of the testimony.

And there was an agreement that the cross examination shall follow only after the direct shall have been finished in both Article I and Article II. Therefore, the cross-examination can lump up together both. So, counsel may proceed on the cross examination.

REP. APOSTOL. Well, we submit.

Another, on the stipulation of facts, Your Honor, there was stipulation of facts on Exhibits “C 3″ to “C 12″ and may I quote:

“PRESIDING OFFICER. I think the easier way will be that the figures represented there are in thousand pesos.

ATTY. MARCELO. Yes, Your Honor.”

It appears that the defense made no comment thereto. May we, therefore, request for an additional stipulation that in order to clarify references to the amounts in the ledgers in Exhibits “C” to “C 12″ and “EE” to “MM”, the amounts therein should be always understood to be in Philippine peso.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Reply from the defense, please.

MR. MENDOZA. I did not quite get the request but is the request to the effect that all amounts in the ledger shall refer to Philippine pesos?

REP. APOSTOL. Yes.

MR. MENDOZA. We so stipulate.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You agree?

MR. MENDOZA. That all the amounts in the ledger refer to Philippine pesos, that is Philippine currency.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That’s already a part of the stipulation.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Nothing else?

REP. APOSTOL. May we request further that we be allowed — the prosecution be allowed to use the projector.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This is now the turn of the defense. It would be the defense presenting making the cross examination. So, there seems to be as yet no basis for the request.

REP. APOSTOL. Well, if needed, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I think that will be the prerogative of the defense, not of the prosecution.

REP. APOSTOL. Now, may we inform the Chief Justice that we were furnished only one set of exhibits for today. I understand that there are two sets of exhibits.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Whose exhibits, defense or prosecution?

REP. APOSTOL. The defense’s exhibit. May we be furnished the second set of exhibits.

MR. MENDOZA. We will furnish the copies of the exhibits before they are officially marked in evidence and utilized in the cross examination of the witness.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Do you have several exhibits…

MR. MENDOZA. We have several exhibits.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. … to consider?

MR. MENDOZA. I must confess, Mr. Chief Justice, actually it was it’s a little difficult to anticipate fully the exhibits and the marking of the exhibits on cross examination because, as one proceeds on cross examination, one cannot fully anticipate the answers of the witness and in what order the exhibits will come. But we will provide counsel for the prosecution all copies of all of the exhibits we have so far marked and if there are any further exhibits, we will mark them early enough and copies furnished the prosecution.

REP. APOSTOL. When? May we know when?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Early enough.

MR. MENDOZA. This afternoon, this afternoon.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The counsel said early enough. It should be done therefore early enough and it simply means immediately after there is a request therefor.

REP. APOSTOL. Well, at least we should know them beforehand so that we will know if there are new exhibits. That is what they were always asking from us.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The defense have made the promise. Let us see if it will be able to comply with the promise and the Court will take appropriate action if it will not.

MR. MENDOZA. It will be a while before we come to those so the prosecution need not be apprehensive.

REP. APOSTOL. We are not apprehensive but we are just trying to follow what the defense was always doing to us.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This is not tit for tat. We should follow the procedure. Call the witness in.

REP. APOSTOL. Well, anyway, we will now call our wit¬ness.

May we reiterate that the examining counsel for the prosecution is Atty. Marcelo, assisting is Atty. Lagman on Article I and on Article II, Atty. Pablo Sanidad and assist¬ing counsel is Atty. Arno Sanidad.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Already noted.

REP. APOSTOL. Subject to the control and supervision of the public prosecutors.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Mr. Witness, you will be on cross examination and you will be testifying under the same oath.

NOTE: (The witness, Mr. Singson nodding his head).

Who will cross examine? Atty. Mendoza or the assist¬ing?

MR. MENDOZA. I will cross examine, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You are now recognized.

MR. MENDOZA. I’ll just put on a microphone.

May I borrow the ledgers Exhibits “EE” to “MM” and “C 1″ to whatever.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Furnish the exhibits to coun¬sel.

MR. MENDOZA. These are all prosecution exhibits, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. The prosecution, there¬fore, is directed to hand over to the defense these exhibits which may be needed for cross examination.

MR. MARCELO. For the record, Your Honor, we are handing Exhibits “EE” to “MM” to the defense counsel, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. You can keep them on the table.

(To Mr. Singson). Mayroon kang kopya nitong affidavit? I am going to read attached to the complaint.

MR. SINGSON. Oho.

MR. MENDOZA. With the permission of the Court.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may now proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Governor, what is your preference? Is your preference for the questions to be propounded in Eng¬lish or in Pilipino?

MR. SINGSON. Pilipino, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pilipino po.

MR. SINGSON. Tagalog po.

MR. MENDOZA. Tagalog po. Napansin ko po na pagdating n’yo rito para mag testigo, maraming abogado kayong kasabay. Ilan po ba ang inyong abogadong kasama rito?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko alam ang bilang, Your Honor. Medyo marami sila, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyan po ba ay ni retain niyong lahat bilang abogado niyong personal?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi naman lahat, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Maaari po bang banggitin ang mga ilan?

MR. SINGSON. Atty. Pablito Sanidad, Arno Sanidad, lahat po nang nandito sa harap, Your Honor, sila hong lahat na nandito nakaupo.

MR. MENDOZA. Si Atty. Marcelo pala po ay personal n’yong abogado, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Ngayon lang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Para dito sa kasong ito?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon din si Atty. Sanidad?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oho. Ngayon, noon pong dito po sa Articles of Impeachment mayroong dalawang affidavit na naka-annex dito, isa petsa Setyember 14, 2000 and another dated September 25. Mayroon po kayong kopya diyan, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. You stated on direct examination that these were prepared with the assistance of lawyers?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Maaari ho bang itanong kung sino ang tumulong sa inyo sa paggawa nitong dalawang affidavit?

MR. SINGSON. Sa opisina ni Atty. Singson, Your Honor. Manuel Singson.

MR. MENDOZA. Sino po ba ang abogado na tumulong sa inyo dito sa paggawa nitong mga affidavit?

MR. SINGSON. Atty. Manuel Singson, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa dalawang affidavit?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At bago niyo po linagdaan itong dalawang affidavit binasa po ba n’yong mabuti?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pinapatotohanan niyo lahat ng nilalaman dito?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, dito po sa ledger, Exhibit “MM-3”, ito po ay napaka — ilang beses na paulit-ulit na tinatanong sa inyo eh ng mga senador. Ilan pong senador ang nagtanong sa inyo kung ano po ang kahulugan nitong RC, eh sabi ninyo hindi niyo maalala. Mula po noong nagtestigo po kayo mahigit na pong dalawang linggo ang nakalipas, hangga po ba ngayon hindi pa ninyo maalala kung sino si RC?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi niyo po ba napagtanong sa mga katulong n’yong gumawa nitong mga ledger, kung sino kaya ‘yung si RC?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor, dahil kung ano ang ibibigay namin ‘yun ang inililipat nila diyan.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, ang ibig niyong sabihin ang mga katulong n’yo kung ano lamang ang ibinibigay niyong mga data ‘yun din ang nililipat nila sa ledger?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ang kahulugan noon kayo rin ang nagsabi sa kanila na ilagay ‘yung RC dito, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po ba kaya ‘yung testigo niyo ito, ang pangalan Rufo Colayco.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, mayroon po pa akong isang napansin dito eh sa inyong ledger, ito pong Goma. Marami pong beses itong Goma eh lalo na dito sa mga ledger na ginawa bago nakasama niyo si Yolanda Ricaforte. Ang ibig ko pong sabihin ‘yung mga ledgers Exhibit “E” hanggang sa Exhibit “MM”. Mayroon pong lahat ito Goma at mayroon naman sa bandang huli new Goma. Hindi po ba ang Chief, PNP noon ay si General Lastimoso na naging testigo ng prosecution dito?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa wikang Tagalog po, hindi po ba ang ibig sabihin ng Goma, lastiko?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kanya po ba ang ibig n’yong sabihin sa Goma noon ay Lastimoso?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Si Atong Ang ang nagpangalan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. Sino man. Pero ang ibig sabihin nitong Goma dito sa ledger na ito ay Lastimoso, si General Lastimoso na naging testigo sa prosecution, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, meron namang New Goma eh. Sino po ba kaya ‘yong New Goma?

MR. SINGSON. Bagong PNP, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh ano po ang pangalan niya? Hindi po ba n’yo natatandaan?

MR. SINGSON. Laroya o Larroza.

MR. MENDOZA. Larroza.

MR. SINGSON. Larroza yata, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Natatandaan po ba n’yo kung hanggang kailan nanungkulan si Gen. Lastimoso?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oho. Ah hindi…

MR. SINGSON. Sa ledger, nasa ledger.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po n’yo natatandaan din kung kailan nanungkulan si General Larroza?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor, pero nasa ledger lahat.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon po, ang napansin ko po mula po dito sa ledger, Exhibit “C-2″, ito po eh para buwan ng Oktubre na ang akin pong natatandaan 1998, ano po? Tingnan po n’yo ang Exhibit “C-2″.

MR. SINGSON. Itong original na ito ‘yong sa akin?

MR. MENDOZA. Oo, ‘yan po ang… ‘Yon po, exhibit po n’yo ‘yan. ‘Yan po tingnan po n’yong mabuti.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the number of the exhibit, Atty. Mendoza?

MR. MENDOZA. Exhibit “C”. C Charlie 2, Your Honor. “C-2″.

MR. SINGSON. 1999? Kay Yoly Ricaforte ito.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi ko alam. Ah itong “C-2″, panahon na ni Yolanda Ricaforte? Gusto ko lamang pong linawin. Ito po ba, October 1999?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito po sa Exhibit “C-2″ para sa October 1999, wala na pong Goma, napansin po ba n’yo ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito sa November 1999, meron na namang Goma.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero pagkatapos noon, Exhibit “C-4″ mula po sa Disyembre hangga nang sa nakikita ko matapos, year 2000 August, wala nang Goma. Tingnan po ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Saan mag-uumpisa, dito sa ano?

MR. MENDOZA. Oo, hanggang diyan lang.

MR. SINGSON. Wala na, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Uh-huh. Hindi po ba nitong panahon na ito na wala nang Goma ang naging Chief ng PNP si General Lacson?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mukhang medyo nakakataka ng konti, noong panahon ni General Lastimoso, General Larroza, mayroong Goma pero wala na noong naging PNP Chief si General Lacson. Maaari po ba n’yo kayang ipaliwanag kung bakit nagkaganoon?

MR. SINGSON. Dahil po noong panahon ni General Lacson, Your Honor, gusto niya sa PCSO o kaya sa Binggo dahil gusto niya siya ang magbigay sa mga provincial commander at regional commander. Ayaw niya na mapupunta ang loyalty ‘yong mga regional commander at provincial commander sa mga operators.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ang ibig po n’yong sabihin noong panahon ni General Lastimoso, General Larroza, ‘yong ibinibigay, nanggagaling sa inyo, sa jueteng collection, sabi niyo, diretso sa mga PNP, PNP general?

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon pong kumukuha sa opisina, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Yon po rin ay aking pinag iisipan. Mula po noong kayo’y nagtestigo sa Blue Ribbon Committee hanggang noong kayo’y nagtestigo dito, tayo’y nagbakasyon ng kaunti sa Pasko, hindi pa po ba niyo natatandaan kung sino po ba ang kumukuha ng koleksyon ng jueteng para sa PNP?

MR. SINGSON. Noong nagbakasyon po, hindi ‘yon ang iniisip ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon po. Samakatuwid, hindi niyo po mababanggit o dahil hindi niyo natatandaan kung sino man ang kumuha ng anumang koleksyon para sa Goma.

MR. SINGSON. May mga kumukuha, Your Honor. Ang importante kasi rito eh, umabot kay Pangulong Estrada ‘yong mga pera, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Lalung lalo itong listahan ni Ricaforte, Your Honor, pag nagbigay ako kay Pangulong Estrada, kinukumpirma ko na lang kay Yolly Ricaforte.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Yon nga po ang aking napansin. Mukhang ‘yon lamang ang maliwanag sa isipan niyo na ‘yan ay nakarating kay Pangulong Estrada. Pero po, bago makarating kay Pangulong Estrada ay kailangan muna makolekta ‘yan at matanggap, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kung wala po ay wala pong makakarating kay Pangulo.

Ngayon po, sinasabi po niyo, hindi niyo matandaan. ‘Yon po bang pagbibigay niyan o kanino man sa inyo, sino po ba ang namamahala, kayo ba mismo o mayroon kayong mga empleyado na katulong?

MR. SINGSON. May katulong ako sa opisina, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sino po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Si Yolly Ricaforte na binigay ni Pangulong Estrada na siyang auditor niya. At saka tumutulong din sina Emma Lim at saka Mrs. Itchon.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Alam niyo ho, ako po’y nagtatanong lang. Kung maaari, sagutin lang niyo ‘yong tanong, hindi na kailangang dagdagan naman ng higit doon sa tinatanong.

Ngayon po, nabanggit po niyo, sa panahon po ni General Lacson. Sabi niyo, gusto niya, PCSO ano po, at saka, ano po ba ‘yong isa? Bingo 2? Samakatuwid, ‘yong jueteng mawawala na, ‘yong laro, nasa sa pamamahala na ng PCSO, Bingo 2 na ang pamahala ng Pagcor, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yon po dapat pero, si Atong din ang namahala, eh.MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po, hindi po tinatanong kung sino ang namahala. Tinatanong ko lang sa inyo na ‘yon ang parang kagustuhan ni General Lacson, ano po?

Ngayon, samakatuwid

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the answer of the witness?

MR. MENDOZA. Ano po ba, ganoon po ba ang kagustuhan ni General Lacson?

MR. SINGSON. Paki ulit nga, Your Honor?

MR. MENDOZA. Uulitin ko na lang po at baka mas matagal kung ipababasa natin sa stenographer.

Ang ibig po ba niyong sabihin, mula noong nanungkulan si General Lacson, ayaw niya ‘yong dating gawi na kung sinuman na PNP mayroong natatanggap. Gusto niya, magdaan ‘yang larong ‘yan sa PCSO at sa Bingo 2 na nasa kapamahalaan ng Pagcor, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Noong meeting po sa PCSO kasama po si General Mayroon pong isang general na nakipagmeeting kina Secretary Ronnie Zamora, mayroong share ng PNP, Your Honor. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, two and a half percent or three percent. At sila na ang bahala magbigay sa mga PNP.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Pero, ‘yon po bang magiging share ng PNP, kung sa PCSO magdadaan, siyempre nakalista ‘yon, ano po? Tama po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At kung sinuman ang tatanggap, siyempre reresibohan ‘yon. Hindi ibibigay ng PCSO kung walang resibo, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko alam kung reresibohan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A, ganoon po. Pero, di po ba government agency ang PCSO, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Yon namang Pagcor, gobyerno rin ‘yan po, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Gobyerno rin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, samakatuwid, ganoon na nga ang hangarin mula noong si General Lacson siguro si Pangulong Estrada rin ang naglagay diyan ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Pinagalitan nga po noon tungkol sa jueteng.

MR. MENDOZA. Teka kayo, Governor, puwede po bang sagutin lamang iyong may I request the witness to be advised to just answer the question.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness is advised to answer the question only. You can wait for a follow up question or redirect later on.

MR. MENDOZA. Kung mayroon pong kailangang magpaliwanag. Huwag po kayong mag alaala, tatanungin po kayo ng abogado ninyo.

Ngayon po, dito naman po sa mga ledger …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Indicate the number of exhibits.

MR. MENDOZA. It’s just a general question. It applies to all the exhibits, Your Honor.

Dito po sa mga ledger, pareho po sa “C”, at saka iyong mga “EE” ang paliwanag po ninyo itong JIMPOL ang ibig sabihin Jimmy Policarpio ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At ang sabi ninyo ang nagbibigay nito si Bong Pineda?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At hindi naman ninyo nakikitang ibinibigay ni Bong iyan kay Jimmy Policarpio?

MR. SINGSON. Pero kinukumpirma, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Tinatanong ko lang po sa inyo kung nakikita ninyong ibinibigay ni Bong?

MR. SINGSON. Kaya sinasagot ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Nakikita ho ba ninyong ibinibigay ni Bong o hindi? Sagutin lang ninyo ang sagot.

MR. SINGSON. Kinukumpirma po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. Hindi pa po ninyo sinagot, eh. Nakita ba ninyo o hindi ninyo nakita?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko nakita pero kinukumpirma, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. May I request that the witness be asked to answer the question.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness finally answered. Hindi niya nakita.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi ninyo nakita pero tinatanong ninyo kay Jimmy Policarpio. Okay, opo.

Iyon po bang mga dito po sa mga koleksiyon dito sa koleksiyon, mayroon po bang koleksiyon diyan na nanggagaling kay Bong Pineda?

MR. SINGSON. Meron, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Meron. Maaari ho bang magbigay lang kayo ng isang halimbawa. Ipapakita ko po sa inyo itong ledger …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Exhibit number?

MR. MENDOZA. Kung gusto ninyo kayo na ang mamili basta mayroong JIMPOL. Ito na lang kaya, nandito na po ito, eh.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What exhibit are you referring to, Counsel?

MR. MENDOZA. Exhibit “C”, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Still Exhibit “C”.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito po mayroong JIMPOL din, eh. Medyo mahirap yata ito at mga code, eh. Dito na lang po ako papalitan ko na po. I will change the exhibit, one which will be easier to understand.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. From what to what?

MR. MENDOZA. Exhibit “EE”, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show it to the witness.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor. Dito po mayroon ding JIMPOL. Ngayon, dito po mayroong listahan ng koleksiyon para November. 1998 po ba ito? 1998 po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Maaari po bang banggitin lang ninyo iyan kung alam ninyo o natatandaan ninyo kung alin diyan sa koleksiyon na iyan ang nanggaling kay Bong Pineda?

MR. SINGSON. Pangasinan, Your Honor, Isabela, Pampanga, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas at Rizal. Iyon po ang natatandaan ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, Governor, iyan po bang binibigay ni Bong Pinedang iyon, iyon pong mga halagang nandito, iyon na po ang kabuuan ng dapat ibigay, nandidito na iyon?

Ang ibig ko pong sabihin, kung anuman ang dapat niyang ibigay, iyon po ba ang nakatala na dito sa listahan na ito na mayroong markang Exhibit “EE 1″ at “EE 2″?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon lang galing kay Bong Pineda, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, opo. Ngayon, samakatuwid wala siyang binabawas bago niya ibigay sa inyo sa dapat niyang halagang ibigay?

MR. SINGSON. Kay Jimmy Policarpio, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid binabawas na niya iyong 2 million?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, ang ibig ninyong sabihin dito sa koleksiyon na nakalagay dito hindi na nakalagay iyong 2 million?

MR. SINGSON. Sa expenses, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. Dito sa koleksiyon, hindi na nakalagay iyong 2 million?

MR. SINGSON. Koleksiyon iyan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo nga. Hindi kasama na rito?

MR. SINGSON. Dito sa expenses.

MR. MENDOZA. Itinatanong ko po sa inyo kung dito sa listahan ng koleksyon, iyong two million na ibinigay kay Jimmy Policarpio, eh, binawas na o hindi?

MR. SINGSON. Bawas na po, Your Honor, galing diyan…

MR. MENDOZA. Bawas na?

MR. SINGSON. … sa koleksyon.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, palagay natin ang dapat ibigay ni Bong Pineda, three million and a half, ang ibibigay niya sa inyo at ililista n’yo rito, one million three million and a half, eh, two million kay Jimmy Policarpio, one million and a half na lang, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Kung ganoon nga ang halaga, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon, nililiwanag ko lang po. Ngayon po, kung binawas na doon sa koleksyon na ibinibigay n’yo iyong ibinibigay kay Jimmy Policarpio, eh, bakit ibinawas n’yo uli sa expenses, hindi naman pala kasali sa koleksyon. Ang ibig pong sabihin nuon, mukhang na doble iyong bawas nuong para kay Jimmy Policarpio. Hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor. Koleksyon ito, bawas na iyong kay Jimmy Policarpio pero…

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, tama po.

MR. SINGSON. …nakalista rito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Tama po iyon. Pero pagkatapos, ibinawas n’yo uli sa expenses iyong kay Jimmy Policarpio.

MR. SINGSON. Dahil binibilang po, Your Honor, iyong total collection, binabawas din kay Jimmy Policarpio iyong… Sa Accounting, Your Honor, binabawas din iyong kay Policarpio, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Hindi na po bale.

MR. SINGSON. Halimbawa, kung treinta iyong koleksyon, treinta rin ang ilalagay namin minus itong kay Policarpio, Your Honor, para malaman namin iyong buong tutal, opo.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po. Nandiyan na rin lamang iyong sagot ninyo, hindi na po natin uulitin pa iyon.

Ngayon po, ang sabi po ninyo, nagkaroon ng pulong, kasama ninyo si Atong Ang, ng mga jueteng operators. Natatandaan po ba n’yo?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po ako kasama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, hindi ka po kasama?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, sa opisina ni Atong Ang ako ang kasama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo, iyon nga, iyon nga.

MR. SINGSON. Akala ko sa PCSO, eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po. Ang ibig ko pong sabihin, noong nag meeting kayo, nandidito po sa deklarasyon ninyo, eh, ng jueteng operators noong buwan ng Hulyo o Agosto yata iyon, 1998, eh, kinausap ninyo iyong mga jueteng operators. Marami po ba iyong mga jueteng operators na nakausap ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Marami, Your Honor, iyong mga iba natuloy, iyong iba hindi.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po kayang ilan?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko matandaang masyado kung ilan, Your Honor, pero marami rami din dahil iyong iba hindi natuloy, iyong iba natuloy, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero isang beses lamang po kayo nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na pulongin iyong mga jueteng operators na kasama ni Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Iba ibang araw, Your Honor. iyong mga natapos na hindi bumabalik at nagbibigay na lang ng koleksyon.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig ninyong sabihin, nilibot ninyo iyong buong Luzon para kausapin iyong mga jueteng operators?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor, tinawag sa opisina ni Atong Ang.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Ano po ba… Natatandaan kaya n’yo kung ano’ng buwan iyon o ano’ng buwan sa 1998, ang akin pong palagay?

MR. SINGSON. 1998, nag umpisa kami July, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon, ang sabi po ny’o nuong kayo’y pinulong n’yo iyong mga jueteng operators na iyan, eh, ang sabi ni Atong Ang, magbigay kayo ng tres three percent. Tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ano po ba ang pagkakaintindi n’yo duon sa three percent, three percent po ng ano?

MR. SINGSON. Kung ano ang total collection nila sa bawat probinsiya, three percent ang ibinabawas ni Atong Ang, Your Honor, dahil siya ang nakakaalam nuong koleksyon, eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Three percent sa gross, gross na taya?

MR. SINGSON. Gross, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, three percent ng gross. At iyan naman ang ipinaiiral ninyong koleksyon nuong kayo rin ay ang namamahala nuong kayo na ang namahala?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Ngayon, mayroon ho kaya kayong matatandaan na mga jueteng operators na dumalo duon sa pulong na iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Iba iba, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po bang ilan?

MR. SINGSON. Palit palit. Siguro mga more than 10, Your Honor, ang mga kausap namin doon.

MR. MENDOZA. Kayo po, liliwanagin po. Kanina po, sabi n’yo, isang beses lang kayo nagpulong, e. E, bakit po iyong sinasabi ninyo ngayon, iba iba?

MR. MARCELO. Objection, Your Honor, misleading.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi isang araw.

MR. MARCELO. There were several meetings that was testified to by the witness.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection …

MR. MENDOZA. Akala ko, ang dinig ko, ang ibig n’yo pong sabihin, marami pong miting?

MR. SINGSON. Marami, Your Honor. Sa PCSO, iyon ang wala ako roon. Pero kay Atong Ang, nandiyan siya.

MR. MENDOZA. Uulitin po natin. Dito po sa pagmiting n’yo sa mga jueteng operators, ilan po kayong beses, ilan po kayong beses nakipagpulong sa mga jueteng operators na kasama niyo si Atong Ang at kung saan pinagkasunduan na ang ibibigay ay tres porsyento ng gross?

MR. SINGSON. Tuloy tuloy po iyon, Your Honor, July hanggang … bago ipinasa sa akin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito sa …

MR. SINGSON. … opisina.

MR. MENDOZA. … dito sa buong Luzon?

MR. SINGSON. Lahat na, Your Honor, kinakausap…

MR. MENDOZA. Pumupunta kayo ba… pumupunta ho ba kayo probinsiya probinsiya o pinatatawag doon sa opisina ni Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Tinatawag sa opisina ni Atong Ang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A, ganoon. Ngayon, kung ganoon po, pero mayroon po ba kayong mababanggit na mga pangalan ng mga jueteng operators na dumalo doon sa miting na iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong mga listahan na ibinigay ko sa kuwan, Your Honor, sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

MR. MENDOZA. Teka po. E, hindi na po natin titignan iyon at masyado pong makapal iyong records sa Blue Ribbon. Ang tinatanong ko po sa inyo kung mayroon kayong natatandaan ngayon ng mga pangalan ng mga jueteng operators na dumalo doon sa miting na iyon.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the answer of the witness?

MR. SINGSON. Ah…matatandaan ko iyong mga iba, Your Honor, pero hindi ko na alam ang mga pangalan.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig po ba niyong sabihin, e, makikilala n’yo sa mukha pero hindi n’yo matandaan ang pangalan?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong iba, Your Honor. Kasi, ang kausap namin diyan, Your Honor, na madalas, sila Charing Magbuhos; iyong mayor sa Batangas, si Sanchez, Armand Sanchez; Jessie Viceo, ah…. iyon ang mga natatandaan kong pangalan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyong iba, siguro makikilala na lang n’yo sa mukha, ano po? Ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, ako po, e, gusto ko lang malinawan. Doon sa mga miting na iyon, ano po ba ang pinag usapan n’yo maliban doon sa magbibigay ng tres porsyento sa gross?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon lang, Your Honor, iyong 3 percent na ibibigay nila para …

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon lamang po ang pinag usapan n’yo?

MR. SINGSON. Oho.

MR. MENDOZA. E, mga pulong, mabibilis lang siguro, o, puwera lang kung may kainan pa.

MR. SINGSON. Your Honor, pag nag uusap, pinag uusapan, nagtatawaran para hindi sila hulihin.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ang ibig mong sabihin magbibigay sila ng 3 percent para hindi sila hulihin ng PNP?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, noon po bang ilipat sa inyo iyong pamamahala tungkol sa pagkokolekta sa jueteng, mayroon po bang mga ibinigay na record sa inyo si Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. May mga listahan lang, Your Honor, si Atong Ang.

MR. MENDOZA. Listahan ng koleksiyon?

MR. SINGSON. Oho.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon po ba ay naitago pa n’yo o hindi na?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi na, Your Honor. Pero noong ipinasa sa akin, e, kailangan ilagay namin sa record dahil ipinapakita namin sa Pangulong Estrada tuwing nagdi deliver ako ng pera, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon po, di samakatuwid itong mga collections na ito, iyan ang halaga ng tres porsyento sa bawat probinsiya, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Ngayon, ako po’y hindi masyadong magaling sa Arithmetic, e, pero ang akin pong napansin lamang kung bakit itong mga halagang lumalabas na koleksiyon dito sa ledger palaging round numbers. Pagpaumanhin niyo po, hindi ko po alam sa Tagalog ‘yong round numbers. Palagay natin po, one million five hundred, one million four hundred fifty, sa akin po, kung three percent hindi maaaring pare pareho at puro round numbers lahat.

MR. SINGSON. More or less three percent ang kinokolekta, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Palagay natin po ay one million, masasabi po ba ninyo kung one million ang nakalagay dito, kung magkano ang gross na pinagbasihan ng one million?

MR. SINGSON. Kung ano nga ‘yong usapan nila, Your Honor, noon kaya nga nagtatawaran, e. Kung ano ang napagkasunduan noon ‘yon na lang ang lumalabas diyan.

MR. MENDOZA. Palagay ko po hindi po niyo naintindihan ‘yong tanong kanya po ipapaliwanag ko. Kanina po ilan po nating beses inulit ulit na ang ibibigay ng bawat probinsiya three percent ng gross, ano po, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, kung ang lumalabas dito palagay natin nakalagay dito sa Exhibit “EE 2″ Batangas, one million, ‘yon po ang koleksiyon, ano po. one million? Dito po.

MR. SINGSON. Fifteen days, Your Honor, one million.

MR. MENDOZA. Fifteen days. Sorry. Fifteen days po. Ngayon, di po ba ‘yong one million na ‘yon ang ibig sabihin niyan ‘yan ang three percent more or less?

MR. SINGSON. Kung ano ang usapan nga noon nagtatawaran nga, e. Kung ano ang napagkasunduan noon, ‘yon na ang binibigay, kaya tumatawad nga ‘yong mga iba. Pero ang base nila three percent.

MR. MENDOZA. Three percent. Kanya po liniliwanag ko po, e. ‘Yon pong one million, kung one million ang koleksiyon, magkano po ‘yong gross na pinagbasihan kanya naging one million?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi nga ‘yon mismo ang pagbabasihan, e. Kung ano ang napagkayarian ‘yon lang ang koleksiyon. ‘Yon lang ang usapan hindi ‘yong three percent mismo, pero based lang doon sa three percent na koleksiyon. ‘Yon ang narinig kong pinag uusapan noon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid medyo gusto mo bang baguhin ‘yong sagot niyo? Hindi na yata three percent ngayon.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ho, Your Honor, nililito niyo lang ako, e, kaya nililiwanag ko lang, e.

MR. MENDOZA. E, ako po ay… Siguro hindi lang limang beses natin inulit ‘yong three percent tinanong ko pa sa inyo kung three percent ang ano, sabi niyo three percent ng gross. Ngayon, hindi pala three percent. E, ano po ang pinagbasihan nitong koleksiyon na ito kung hindi three percent?

MR. SINGSON. Three percent pa rin, Your Honor, pero hindi eksaktong three percent.

MR. MENDOZA. More or less.

MR. SINGSON. More or less.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, okay.

MR. SINGSON. Kung anong usapan diyan maski na ba limang milyon ang sasabihin nila sasabihin ni Atong Ang ay tatlo lang ito di tatlo ang nasunod.

MR. MENDOZA. E, babalik po ako sa tanong ko kanina. Kung ang nakalagay dito isang milyon, magkano po ‘yong gross?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ako accountant, e.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po. Ang tinatanong… Samakatuwid, hindi n’yo nalalaman kung magkano ang gross collection na pinagbasihan ng mga halagang nandidito sa Exhibits lahat ng ledger na ito. Hindi n’yo alam ang gross.

MR. SINGSON. Tinurn over sa akin ‘yan, Your Honor, at minana ko na ito ganyan lang ang koleksiyon nung sinabi sa akin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ang sabi ninyo hindi na n’yo natatago ‘yong mga minana niyong record kay Atong Ang, e, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong umpisa lang ‘yon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon, pupunta na po tayo sa ibang bagay naman. Sino po ba… Kayo po ba o mga katulong n’yo pumupunta sa mga lalawigan para kolektahin ‘yong mga nandiditong halaga sa listahan o sa ledger o pumupunta ‘yong mga dapat magbayad doon sa opisina niyo para para mag entrega ng pera?

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan pumupunta sa opisina, Your Honor, kung minsan pumupunta kami sa bahay ni Bong Pineda dahil nagpapatulong kami sa kanya, Your Honor, mga koleksyon.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig po ba n’yong sabihin, maliban sa kay Bong Pineda, wala kayong napuntahan na sino mang jueteng operator na kung saan ninyo kinuha ‘yong kanyang koleksyon?

MR. SINGSON. Wala, Your Honor. Natatandaan ko lang kay Bong Pineda at saka sa opisina, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pumunta kayo kay Bong Pineda hindi para kunin ‘yong koleksyong galing kay Bong Pineda pero para magpatulong sa kanyang mangolekta sa iba?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Di, kunin din, Your Honor, ‘yong mga koleksyon kay Mr. Bong Pineda, dahil siya ang tumutulong din sa pagkolek sa koleksyon, Your Honor, sa mga ibang probinsya.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon. Doon naman po sa doon naman sa mga jueteng operators na nagdadala ng pera sa inyo, saan po ba dinadala ‘yan?

MR. SINGSON. Dinadala sa opisina ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Alin pong opisina, ‘yon po bang nasa LCS Building?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Saan po ba ‘yong LCS Building?

MR. SINGSON. San Andres, Your Honor, Manila.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa dito po ba sa South Super Highway iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Malaki po ba ‘yong building na ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Maliit lang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ilan pong storey?

MR. SINGSON. Lima, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Five storey. Matatandaan po ba ninyo kung ilang square meter ‘yong lote kung saan nakatayo ‘yong building?

MR. SINGSON. Siguro mahigit sandaan lang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Matagal na po ba ‘yong building na ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Matagal na ho, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Natatandaan po ba n’yo kung anong taon itinayo ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Lumang building po ‘yon, Your Honor, noong nakuha ko sa bangko ‘yon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pagkatapos ni renovate ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kailan po n’yo renovate renovate? Kailan po niyo na renovate?

MR. SINGSON. Matagal na po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi n’yo po natatandaan ang taon?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong eksaktong date, hindi ko na matandaan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Noon pong tumira si Emma Lim doon, ‘yon.. po ba’y renovated na?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, marami silang tumira doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Lahat ng mga empleyado ko, Your Honor, doon nakatira.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon po, babalik po tayo roon sa pag eentrega ng pera, sino po ba sa opisina niyo ang tumatanggap ng pera galing sa jueteng operators bago po ‘yong Yolanda Ricaforte panahon para maliwanagan natin?

MR. SINGSON. Ako po, Your Honor. Pag wala ako, pinapatago ko kina Emma Lim, Your Honor, sa opisina tapos pinupuntahan ko na kaagad.

MR. MENDOZA. Mas madalas po ba kayo personal ang tumanggap kaysa sa empleyado niyo?

MR. SINGSON. Kadalasan, Your Honor, pag nasa Maynila ako. Pag wala ako, ‘yong mga empleyado ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sino pong empleyado niyo, si Emma Lim po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Emma Lim, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Siya lamang?

MR. SINGSON. At saka kung minsan si Menchu Itchon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Menchu. Pero noong bago nakatulong niyo sa opisina si Menchu at si Emma Lim, mayroon po bang iba pa?

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan, Your Honor, pinapatawag ko na lang sa opisina kung sino’ng nandoon hindi nila binubuksan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon. Samakatuwid, iiwan lamang ‘yong pera, nakabalot, hindi na binubuksan?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pagdala po ng pera…. Teka po, uulitin ko po. Mayroon po ba kayong matatandaan na pangalan ng sinuman sa mga nagdadala ng pera? Palagay natin, dito po marami pong probinsya eh, galing sa Isabela, matatandaan po ba niyo kung sino ang nagdadala ng pera galing sa Isabela?

MR. SINGSON. Si Bong Pineda, Your Honor, ang na may koleksyon doon.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero siya po bang personal ang nagdadala ng pera roon?

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh kung hindi siya, mayroon po ba kayong ibang natatandaan na taong nagdadala ng pera doon?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong kapatid niya, Your Honor, si Romy.

MR. MENDOZA. Kapatid. Wala nang iba?

MR. SINGSON. Sa side ni Bong Pineda, Your Honor, silang dalawa lang.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Eh kung hindi kay Bong Pineda, mayroon po ba kayong natatandaan na nagdadala ng pera roon?

MR. SINGSON. Noong umpisa, Your Honor, si Jessie Viceo, bago napunta kay Mayor Jinggoy.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero wala nang iba?

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon din, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sino pa po? Iyon pong nagde-deliver ng pera.

MR. SINGSON. Sila Charing Magbuhos, Your Honor, mayroon ding inuutusan pero tinatawag muna, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Okay. Wala na po kayong natatandaan na iba?

MR. SINGSON. Sa ngayon, Your Honor, wala pa, pero mayroon pa sigurong iba, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo, opo. Ngayon, pagdala po ng pera, ipalagay natin, kayo ang dinatnan sa opisina, iyan po bang perang iyon binibilang ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. By the bundle, Your Honor, binibilang na lang nang husto sa bangko.

MR. MENDOZA. Kadalasan po, ano po ba’ng denominations niyan? Tig-iisang libo, tigpa-P500.00 o tig-iisang daan?

MR. SINGSON. Kadalasan, Your Honor, tig-iisang libo.

MR. MENDOZA. Tig-iisang libo.

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon ding paminsan-minsan, tigli-limang daan.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Iyon pong nagdala, ipalagay natin, lalo na kung empleyado rin ng jueteng operator at nag-entrega sa inyo ng pera, nireresibuhan po ba ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ho, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, di kayo nagbibigay ng resibo sa mga tinatanggap na pera, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, pagkatapos n’yong mabilang iyong pera, iyan po ba’y dadalhin na sa bangko?

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan, Your Honor. Kung minsan, sa opisina ko, Your Honor..

MR. MENDOZA. Itatago muna?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Wala na kayong ibang ginagawa?

MR. SINGSON. Tinatago muna, tapos pagka katapusan or 15 days, more or less, mga ganoon, dinadala ko po sa Malacañang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Tay, kayo ho, iyong pera, bago na… hindi pa tayo nakakaabot sa Malacañang, malayo pa po tayo doon.

MR. SINGSON. Tinatanong n’yo, eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po. Iyon pong pagtanggap n’yo ng pera, sabi n’yo hindi kayo nagre-resibo, eh kayo naman po ba, nililista n’yo iyong mga collection ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Nililista po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. O, nasaan po iyong listahan?

MR. SINGSON. Pagka nililipat na diyan sa malinis, tinatapon na namin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Nililista pagtanggap, pagkatapos, ililipat ninyo dito sa computer printed ledger at tinatapon na ninyo iyong listahan, tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, papaano po kung nagreklamo iyong isang operator, sinabi niya, “Eh, nagbigay na ako, eh.” Sasabihin n’yo, “Hindi pa, eh.” Papaanong lulutasin iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Kaya kung minsan, hindi namin masara iyan, Your Honor, ng katapusan, kung minsan umaabot na madi-delay ng mga isa, dalawang linggo at saka na lang namin malalaman kung hindi na nagbigay iyong isa, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon po. Noon pong nakasama na ninyo si Yolanda Ricaforte, ganoon pa rin po ba iyong sistema ng pagbabayad, pagtatanggap ng pera, ganoon din?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Nililista, pagkatapos, sinasalin dito at iyong listahan na partikular na tinatanggap ay hindi na tinatago iyon sapagkat nasalin na dito sa ledger, tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, sabi po ninyo, idinideposito po ninyo sa bangko, ano po? Iyong iba, tinatago muna sa upisina, tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan, kung minsan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero sa kabuuan ng isang buwan, iyon po bang lahat na collection, ipalagay natin sa kalahating buwan kasi po every 15 days, ano po, iyon po ba’y nililikom iyong dinadala sa bangko at binabangko rin para lahat na koleksiyon ay nababangko lahat, tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi lahat, Your Honor. Nag-iiwan din ako ng cash kasi kung minsan nagpapakuha rin si Pangulong Estrada ng cash, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, eh, alam naman ninyo, ano lang, eh, five million every l5 days samakatuwid, hindi kayo nag-iiwan ng cash ng sobra sa five million, ganoon po ba? Every l5 days?

MR. SINGSON. Nag-iiwan din kung minsan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Saan po bang account ninyo…o bangko idinideposito yung mga koleksiyon na naba-bangko? Sa aking pagkakaintindi, yung kalakihan ay nababangko sapagkat nagtatabi lang kayo ng mga ilan kung kailangan man sa isang buwan. Saan po naba-bangko yan?

MR. SINGSON. Metrobank, Your Honor, personal.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa inyo pong account yan?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR.MENDOZA. At personal ninyong account?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At kayo lang ang puwedeng mag-withdraw doon?

MR.SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Yan po ba’y isang account lamang o marami pong account?

MR. SINGSON. Isa lang ang account ko sa Metrobank. Sa Far East Bank, nakiusap din sa akin yung manager doon, nagdeposito rin ako doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, Governor, ito po’y itatanong ko lang, kung sakali po, eh lalo na kung papayag kayo, titignan natin yung account na yun. Makikita po ba natin doon yung mga idineposito ninyong koleksiyon na nandidito sa ledger?

MR. SINGSON. Yung iba siguro, Your Honor, dahil yung iba idinideposito ko, yung iba hindi.

MR. MENDOZA Yun ho bang mas malaking bahagi eh nadidiposito o hindi?

MR. MARCELO. Objection, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the basis?

MR. MARCELO. It’s misleading, Your Honor. The assumption is that the bigger portion has been deposited, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. I’m precisely asking.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection overruled, witness may answer.

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan idinideposito lahat, kung minsan hindi. Dahil hindi ko alam kung mangangailangan si Pangulong Estrada kaya nagrereserba rin ako.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Eh yung si Pangulo eh hindi naman itinatanong, pero puwede na ring idagdag, kursunada ninyo. Ngayon, yun pong…samakatuwid po eh, maski na tingnan natin yung bank account na saan ninyo idinideposito, hindi natin malalaman talaga kung magkano at kung yung mga koleksiyon, o kung magkano sa koleksiyon ang na-ideposito doon, sapagkat halo-halo na yung pera doon, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At yung mga… yung inyung mga kita sa iba-ibang bagay naman, doon na rin nasasama?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, panalo ko sa mahjong, panalo sa sugal, doon din, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A, bakit, yun po bang principal other income ninyo, yung panalo sa mahjong?

MR. SINGSON. Ha?

MR.MENDOZA. Sabi po ninyo eh, yung ibang kita sabi ko, ang idinagdag ninyo kaagad, yung panalo sa mahjong. Yun po ba ang malaking pinagkakitaan ninyo, yung panalo sa mahjong?

MR. SINGSON. Yun ang naideposito ko sa bangko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A, naideposito. Yung ibang kita ninyo, hindi ninyo idinideposito sa bangko?

MR. SINGSON. Dinideposito rin, Your Honor, yung mga ibang pera.

MR. MENDOZA. Yan po bang account na yan, merong kakabit na checking account?

MR. SINGSON. Meron, Your Honor.

MR.MENDOZA. At kayo rin ang maaaring pumirma sa tseke pag-withdraw?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR.MENDOZA At yung gastos ninyo, personal o sa negosyo, nanggagaling din diyan?

MR.SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, halo-halo na yan, ano po?

MR.SINGSON. Halo-halo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Noon pong nakasama na ninyo si Yolanda Ricarforte, sabi po ninyo, si Yolanda Ricaforte ang nagbukas ng account, ano po? Na kung saan ilalagay itong mga koleksiyon sa jueteng?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Noon pong nandiyan na si Yolanda Ricaforte, yan po bang lahat na koleksiyon sa jueteng ay naideposito doon sa mga account na sa ngalan ni Yolanda Ricaforte?

MR. SINGSON. Noong ipinasa ko sa kanya yung l23 million, Your Honor, nag-open ng account, eh, pagkatapos noon, lahat ng koleksiyon, ibinibigay ko na sa kanya, Your Honor, maliban na lang yung dinadala ko sa Malakanyang.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh natitiyak po ba ninyo yun?

MR. SINGSON. Tiyak ko po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, alam ninyo, ….sandali lamang po. Si Emma Lim po, nagtestigo dito. Eh sabi po ng marami, very impressive yung kanyang deklarasyon. Sinabi po niya, mayroon siyang kinuhang koleksyon kay Mayor Estrada, January 2000, noon ding February 2000, March 17, 2000. Kay Bong Pineda, ganoon din. Pero po sinabi niya, lahat po ‘yan dineposito niya hindi doon sa account na nasa pangalan ni Yolanda Ricaforte pero doon sa account ninyo sa Metrobank.

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po ba totoo ‘yong sinabi ni Emma Lim na ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Totoo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, hindi po ba hindi po koleksyon sa jueteng itong galing kila Mayor Estrada at saka kay Bong Pineda?

MR. SINGSON. Koleksyon sa jueteng ‘yon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh kung koleksyon sa jueteng at sabi ninyo kanina lahat ng koleksyon sa jueteng eh dini deposito sa account ni Yolanda Ricaforte, bakit po ito nagkaganoon, hindi po nadeposito sa account ni Yolanda Ricaforte?

MR. SINGSON. Kung i tse check ‘yong record, ‘yong mga ibang koleksyon dini deposito sa account ko, binabayaran ko rin ng tseke kay Ricaforte, Your Honor, kapag wala siya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Ang ibig ninyong sabihin hindi pala deretso doon sa account ni Yolanda Ricaforte. Papasok muna doon sa account ninyo, pagkatapos gagawa kayo ng tseke na ibibigay ninyo kay Yolanda Ricaforte, ganoon po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi sa lahat ng araw, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi sa lahat. Kanya…

MR. SINGSON. Pero kung ‘yong sinasabi ninyo tungkol kay Jinggoy Estrada, Your Honor, depende kung anong buwan ‘yon.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. ‘Yong tinutukoy ko lang po noong ‘yong buwan na nandiyan na si Yolanda Ricaforte.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi. Para hindi tayo malito sabihin ninyo ‘yong buwan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kanina po sinabi ko, pero hindi na po bale.

Alam ho ninyo, ang pinakakadiin ninyo ay ‘yang si Yolanda Ricaforte eh auditor, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. O, ngayon po at tse tsekin niya kung tama ‘yong koleksyon at kung tama ‘yong expense, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, at sabi ninyo, pagdating kay Presidente tse tsekin din niya, dala dala ninyo ‘yong ledger, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ang aking pong hindi maintindihan papaano ka namang mag au audit kung wala ka namang record na titingnan kung hindi sa ledger lang sapagkat wala naman kayong ibang record na kung saan mo makikita ‘yong tinatanggap ninyong koleksyon araw araw.

MR. SINGSON. Anong buwan, Your Honor?

MR. MENDOZA. O, sa isang buwan. Sabi ninyo kanina pagkakasalin ninyo sa ledger, tinatapon na ninyo ‘yong mga listahan ng koleksyon na dumarating araw araw. Ngayon, kung pong ihaharap sa auditor ‘yong listahan na ito, ‘yong mga ledger, eh papaano niya tse tsekin kung tama ito kung wala namang ibang record? Maaari po ba ninyong ipaliwanag kung papaanong gagampanan ‘yong panunungkulan o pananagutan ni Yolanda Ricaforte bilang auditor?

MR. SINGSON. Ah ‘yong noong ako pa humahawak, Your Honor, ‘yong noong bago malipat ‘yong 123 million, in audit lahat ni Ricaforte ‘yon, Your Honor, at sinabi nga sa akin noon may mali bago ko nilipat.

Ngayon, noong sinabi niya na may mali doon, hindi na namin pinalitan kaya ‘yon ang original, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Teka, noong pong ang ibig ninyong sabihin, ‘yong 123 million, ‘yon ang inilipat ninyo sa kanya noong mag umpisa siya na manungkulan tungkol dito, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi. Hindi, Your Honor, noong nilipat lang.

MR. MENDOZA. Noong nilipat?

MR. SINGSON. Oo. Nag umpisa siya April siguro, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po ba sa Fontainbleau muna siya nag umpisa?

MR. SINGSON. Sabay po ‘yon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig ninyong sabihin mula sa Abril nag umpisa na siya sa jueteng?

MR. SINGSON. Sabay, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sabay.

MR. SINGSON. Noong Fontainbleau, doon din siya sa jueteng, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa akin pong natatandaan ang sinabi ninyo ay ‘yong jueteng pagkatapos na nasara ‘yong Fontainbleau, hindi po ba tama ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, hindi, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon. Ngayon, hindi po bale.

MR. SINGSON. Noong pumasok siya noong Abril in audit na nga niya lahat ito.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon, paki paliwanag lang ninyo kung papaano niyang in audit? ‘Yon po hindi ko maintindihan pa, papano naman niyang in audit. Ano ang tiningnan niya, ano ang pinagbasehan niya sa audit?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong ledger, Your Honor, pag pinapakita ko sa Pangulong Estrada, inuuwi ko sa opisina, inuuwi rin niya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po ‘yon ang tinatanong ko sa inyo, eh. Ang tinatanong ko po sa inyo, ang sabi niyo, noong nakasama na ninyo diyan si Yolanda Ricaforte, in audit niya ‘yong lahat ng nakaraan. Ngayon po, kung ganoon ang ginawa niya, tinatanong ko lang sa inyo papano naman niyang in audit. Ano ang mga tiningnan niyang papeles, dokumento para i audit niya.

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong ledger.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ledger. ‘Yon lang?

MR. SINGSON. Oo, Your Honor, ‘yong ledger.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Opo. O sige po. ‘Yon lang ledger ang tiningnan niya.

Ngayon, hindi po ba itong ledger na ito, napaliwanag na rin niyo na noong ditong mga ledger na bago si Yolanda Ricaforte, itong mga Exhibit “EE” tama ‘no hanggang “MM”, ito ginagawa ng mga empleyado niyo, kayo ang nagsasabi kung ano’ng ilalagay dito, ano po? Tama po ba ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Uh huh. Kung ano man ang sabihin niyo, ‘yon ang ilalagay.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Uh huh. Noon namang nandiyan na si Yolanda Ricaforte, si Yolanda Ricaforte ganoon din. Kung ano ang sabihin niyo, ‘yon din ang ilalagay niya.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, itong mga ledger na ito, ito ay kayo ang mayroong principal na pananagutan, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Noong ibinigay ko ‘yong 123 million, kinopya na ni Ricaforte ‘yan at nag umpisa siya sa bagong ledger, ‘yong kadugtong.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon po, ‘yong 123 million ay ilang beses na niyo po inulit ‘yan, eh. Sa natatandaan ko po, ‘yong 123 million ibinigay ninyo ng cash, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor, tseke ‘yong iba.

MR. MENDOZA. Ito po ang sabi niyo dito sa affidavit ninyo, eh, paragraph 5, ano po. Tingnan po, niyo, mayroon po kayong ledger, eh.

MR. SINGSON. Ano’ng…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Has it been marked already, that affidavit?

MR. MENDOZA. On or about the first week of August 1999 May I beg your pardon?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Has it been marked in evidence?

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honor, these are annexes to the complaint. They were not…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Ah, to the complaints itself.

MR. MENDOZA. …. in the Articles of Impeachment These are Annexes “A” and “B” of the Articles of Impeachment. Ang sabi po rito, babasahin ko po, “On or about the first week of August 1999, President Estrada instructed me to transfer the accumulated deposits in my account to Yolanda Ricaforte. I complied with his instructions and turned over the accumulated deposits amounting to 123 million to Mrs. Ricaforte who, in turn, deposited the same to various accounts in Equitable Bank.”

Ngayon po, ito po ang aking tanong: Noon pong sinabi niyong “accumulated deposits”, ang ibig sabihin niyan, naka deposit ito sa account ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi. Kasama na ‘yong mga expenses sa casino ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Teka kayo. Ang tinatanong ko lamang sa inyo kung ano ang ibig niyong sabihin dito sa inyong affidavits. Ang sabi ninyo kanina, binasa ninyong mabuti ito at lahat na nandidito ay totoo. Ngayon po, dito, ginamit ninyo ‘yong pangungusap na “accumulated deposits.” Ang akin pong pagkakaintindi sa “deposits” ay deposits sa bangko. Hindi po ba? Tama po ba ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. O, samakatuwid, ‘yong sinabi niyong “accumulated deposits,” accumulated deposits sa bangko.

MR. SINGSON. Sasagutin ko?

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Ang sinabi ko sa abogado ko, Your Honor, itong 123 million, ito ang kabuuan pati na ang gastos sa Fontainbleau Casino ni Pangulong Estrada. Ito ang sinulat ng abogado ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, hindi masyadong wasto o tama iyong nakasulat dito sapagkat wala naman pong nakalagay ditong Fontainbleau eh. Ang nakalagay ditong maliwanag, kung babasahin po ninyo, ang aking pagkakaintindi lang, itong sinasabi mong accumulated deposits amounting to 123 million to Mrs. Ricaforte who in turn deposited the same to various accounts. Eh cash iyon, idi-deposito mo lang, isasalin mo lang. Mukhang hindi tama ito, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Kaya nga sinasabi ko, Your Honor, iyong totoo.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Ang umabot lahat ito, 123 million, kay Pangulong Estrada.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po natin pinag-uusapan si Pangulong Estrada. Nililiwanag lang po natin itong affidavit ninyo sapagkat sabi ninyo kanina, totoo lahat ang nandidito. Nililinaw ko lang po. Ito po ba ay tama o hindi tama o nagkamali?

MR. SINGSON. Tama po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon po. Pero …

MR. SINGSON. Iba lang po ang pagkakaintindi ninyo.

MR. MENDOZA. … ang sabi ni Yolanda Ricaforte, ang tinanggap niya sa inyo mahigit na 17 million lang at iyon ang idineposito?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor, panglito ninyo lang siguro ninyo iyon, nandito iyong accounting eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. Sabi ninyo kasi, “who in turn deposited the same to various accounts in Equitable Bank.” Ngayon, iyon pong mga account ni Yolanda Ricaforte, nandidiyan na po, nakaibidensiya na, mayroon nang — dinala na dito ng bangko iyan. Doon sa initial deposits niya, wala naman akong nakitang 123 million. Nakita mo, 17.2 million lang eh. Ang ibig ninyong sabihin, hindi totoo na idineposito niya itong 123 million?

MR. SINGSON. Totoo, Your Honor. Hindi ninyo nababanggit diyan iyong 70 million na tseke ni Gatchalian, inutang niya iyong … iyong 62 million galing sa jueteng naging 70 million. Kumita si Pangulong Estrada walong milyon doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po natin pinag-uusapan iyon. Pinag-uusapan lang natin …

MR. SINGSON. Gusto ninyo i-explain ko para ma …

MR. MENDOZA. … iyong affidavit ninyo.

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we allow the witness to answer? He wants to explain something.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s that, what’s that, Atty. Sanidad?

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we allow the witness to answer, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Now, the witness can answer the …

MR. SANIDAD (P). He has been cut off.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Just answer the question.

MR. MENDOZA. The witness should just answer the question.

MR. SANIDAD (P). He was in the process of answering when he was cut-off, Your Honor, that’s why he cannot complete the answer.

MR. MENDOZA. The witness has the habit of also always adding the name of President Estrada. I am not complaining anymore but anyway, the Senator-Judges hear how the witness answers and that is a matter of record.

MR. SANIDAD (P). In fact, as part of his answer, he wanted to refer to a document but he was cut off.

MR. MENDOZA. All right, ngayon po…

MR. SINGSON. Sasagutin ko po, Your Honor, iyong 123 million.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po eh, sa akin po, maliwanag naman ang kahulugan nitong affidavit, binibigyan ko nga kayo ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag.

MR. SINGSON. So naniniwala na kayo?

MR. MENDOZA. Hayaan ninyo ho, tatanungin kayo ng abogado ninyo mamaya kung kailangan ipaliwanag ito.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The public is requested again to preserve order and to keep quiet, subject to the proclamation of the Sergeant-at-Arms and it will be strictly enforced.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon po bang lahat na deposito ng net, iyon pong net na po ito, collections, sinubukan po ba ninyong sumahin iyan? Itong lahat ng net collections sa ledger, eh sinubukan na ho ba ninyong sumahin iyan o hindi pa?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oh, magkano po ang total ng mga collections, net collections mula noong — dito sa kabuuan ng ledger na ito? Mayroon po ba kayong kuwenta?

MR. SINGSON. Tignan ko, Your Honor. Ang gross collection …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Make special reference to the exhibit number, Mr. Witness, for the record.

MR. MARCELO. Your Honor, the witness is just referring to his own computation.

MR. SINGSON. Iyong gross collection, iyong sa jueteng, Your Honor, five hundred forty-two million, five hundred forty-one. Iyong napunta sa Pangulong Estrada …

MR. MENDOZA. Eh hindi po, excuse me …

MR. SINGSON. Siya po ang starring dito kaya kailangan banggitin ko para maintindihan ninyo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh sige po, sige po.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let the witness finish the answer.

MR. SINGSON. Itong napunta kay Pangulong Estrada, hundred ninety million, three hundred thousand, iyong cash na dini-deliver ko every fifteen days. Maliban dito, Your Honor, mayroon pang naiwan sa bangko na P200 million, iyong napunta kay Atty. Serapio na abogado ni Pangulong Estrada, iyong trusted in Pangulong Estrada, nasa kanya iyong 200 million.

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honor…

MR. SINGSON. Narito po lahat iyon, Your Honor.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor, please.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Atty. Sanidad.

MR. SANIDAD (P). The witness made reference to two documents not previously marked as exhibits but as answers to the question.

May we pray that the documents he used to answer that question be now marked into evidence as evidence for the prosecution.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. As evidence for the prosecution. What would be the marking?

Refer to your list. The prosecution should be ready with a list of its own exhibits, so immediately we can proceed with the marking.

MR. SANIDAD (P). I will apologize for that, Your Honor. We were not the last counsels who made the markings. Six “N”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s that?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Six “N”, Your Honor. “NNNNNN” as in Naga.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Sextuplet N.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor. For the document for the first document referred to by the witness.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let it be so marked.

MR. SANIDAD (P). And the document consists of two pages, the second page be marked as “NNNNNN 1″.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let it be so marked.

MR. SANIDAD (P). And the sum total of the gross as indicated by him in the amount of five hundred forty two million five hundred forty one…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Be marked as…

MR. SANIDAD (P). …be marked as Exhibit “NNNNNN 1″. I will apologize. This is only one page, Your Honor. So, it’s the figure that will be…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You do not know the previous marking.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Instead it will be used to mark the total, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So, you don’t have a second page?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Not for this document, Your Honor. It is the second document that consists of two pages.

May we have it marked as “MMMMMM”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. “O” already.

MR. SANIDAD (P). “OOOOOO”. The second page as “OOOOOO 1″ and the sum total be marked as “OOOOOO 2″.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let them be so marked accordingly.

“OOOOOO 2″ appears on the second page which had been marked as “OOOOOO 1″.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor please.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Why don’t you make it as “000000 0 1 A” for easy reference?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor. May we change the marking we stated and adopt the one suggested by the Honorable Court?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Granted.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

MR. SANIDAD (P). It looks like this is a situation we have not previously foreseen where documents would be marked in the course of the cross examination. May we seek guidance as to whether we should have this reproduced and furnished copies to the defense and also to the Members of the Court and when, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You must and you can have the reproduction done during the regular break and after the regular break, to distribute copies thereof to the Members of the Court including the Presiding Officer. But in the meantime, since it is part of the cross examination, the same may be the subject of the cross examination.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Thank you, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. For my purpose, Your Honor, it will suffice it if I am shown the exhibits…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may.

MR. MENDOZA. … and I can continue to cross examine.

Dito po sa exhibit… Ilan na ito? Ano ang tawag dito? Anim pong “N” eh.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Sextuplet.

MR. MENDOZA. Sextuplet. Hindi ko po alam sa Tagalog ‘yon.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And the other one is sextuplet…

MR. MENDOZA. Sextuplet. Six “N”. Anim na “N” po.

Eto po, sabi n’yo, monthly summary of gross collections pero hindi po ‘yan ang aking tinutukoy eh. Ang tinutukoy ko po kung… iyong meron kayong summary ng net collections sapagkat po iyong net, iyon po ang binabangko, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Ang pagkaintindi ko, Your Honor, ito ang net collections, itong naka record.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, kasi po ang title nito gross. Ang ibig po ba ninyong sabihin ito ang net at tanggal na ang expenses?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi pa. Hindi pa.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon nga po. Iyon po ang aking tinatanong o tinutukoy, iyong net, iyong… Dahil po ang gusto nating malaman kung magkano ang dapat na ibangko.

MR. SINGSON. Wala sa akin, Your Honor, iyong net.

MR. MENDOZA. Kung wala po kayong kwenta, hindi po bale. Sabihin lamang ninyo na hindi pa ninyo… wala kayong kwenta sa net para… Pwede naman pong gawin pagkatapos ng bista dahil po iyong exhibits nandiyan naman eh.

Wala po kayong kwenta noong net ano po, kaya hindi po ninyo maaaring masabi kung magkano ang halaga na dapat na ibangko at para makita natin kung iyong nailagay sa bangko tama o hindi.

MR. SINGSON. Iyong nailagay sa bangko ni Yolanda Ricaforte, Your Honor, iyong 123 million ang… Nandito po ang accounting, 123 million, Your Honor. Iyong 34,640,000 na postdated check, itong tsekeng ito, iyon ang ipinasa sa Fontana, Your Honor. Tapos…

MR. MENDOZA. Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo, Governor, hindi ko po tinatanong iyong 123 million eh.

MR. SINGSON. Tinanong ko muna, Your Honor, sabi mo…

MR. MENDOZA. Tinatanong ko lamang po kung meron kayong kwenta, iyong total po na net collections.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Nevertheless…

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig ko pong sabihin, eto po.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the objection?

MR. SANIDAD (P). No. Nevertheless, Your Honor, the witness has referred to a document…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are you objecting or not?

MR. SANIDAD (P). We are asking that the document be marked, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What document are you referring to now, counsel?

MR. SANIDAD (P). The one read by the witness into the records.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Has it not been marked in evidence?

MR. SANIDAD (P). No, this is a new document, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Produced by the witness himself or by the defense?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Produced by the witness himself.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then you can request for the marking later on.

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we make that reservation then, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honor please, I suggested to the witness that perhaps the document he produced is not responsive to the question because it is a document which details the 123 million. I am not referring to the 123 million.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I see.

MR. MENDOZA. I’m only asking him whether he has computed the total amount represented by the net collections as reflected in all the ledgers.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness should answer the question categorically.

MR. MENDOZA. Kayo po ba sinuma na ninyong lahat na halaga na nandidito sa ledger na lumalabas sa net collection, net collections. Iyon pong gross tapos tinanggal po iyong expenses. Meron po ba kayong pagsusuma?

MR. SINGSON. Ang tinotal ko lang, Your Honor, iyong napunta sa Pangulong Estrada, iyong monthly or every 15 days, 190 million plus iyong 216 na galing kay Ricaforte amounting to 400 million plus na napunta sa Pangulong Estrada. Pero ang total collection ng gross is 500 plus, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi na po natin uulitin iyon sapagkat hindi naman po ‘yan ang tinatanong eh.

Ngayon po…

MR. SINGSON. Ang net na napunta…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are you insisting on an answer?

MR. MENDOZA. The answer is not responsive. So since I have asked this question a number of times already, I will not persist on eliciting an answer from the witness.

MR. SINGSON. Ang net, Your Honor, na napunta sa Pangulong Estrada is 400 million plus.

MR. MENDOZA. Wala na pong tanong.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. There is no question yet.

MR. SINGSON. Akala ko hindi ninyo pa naintindihan eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, papakita ko po muli sa inyo itong mga ledger na tinatawag, exhibits ano, po. Pakisabi nga po, kung diyan sa mga ledger na iyan, ilan pong beses nabanggit iyong pangalan ni Malou? Para hindi po kayo mahirapan. Ang akin pong pagkakatanda, kompirmahin na lang ninyo kung tama po ako, isang beses lang po, Exhibit “II 4″. Tingnan po ninyo iyong “II 4″.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show the Exhibit “II 4″ to the witness.

MR. MARCELO. May we ask that the witness be given time to go over every page of the exhibits.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, yes. All the time, all the time.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is only “II 4″. Assist the witness in looking for that “II 4″ so we can expedite the proceeding.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Have you found “II 4″?

MR. SANIDAD (P). The witness wants to make sure, Your Honor, so he wants to go through all the pages.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. But the question is very specific. Exhibit “II 4″.

MR. SANIDAD (P). But it was premised on that there is only one, that may be misleading, Your Honor, if we find other entries, Your Honor.

MR. SINGSON. Ito po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Okay. The witness is going through all of the exhibits which represent the ledgers, Your Honors.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness may do that. Take your time.

MR. SINGSON. Dalawa, Your Honor. Isa sa March 23…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What exhibit number, Mr. Witness?

MR. SINGSON. “II”, Your Honor…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Dash what?

MR. SINGSON. Dash one, dash A ah, dash two, dash four “II 4″, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And the other one?

MR. SINGSON. The other one is “C 2 F”.

MR. MENDOZA. Wala na po?

MR. SINGSON. Wala na po akong nakita, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito po sa “C 2 F”, eh, October 6, ano po? Tama po ba iyon? Ang nakalagay po sa entrada babasahin ko po “10/06″

MR. SINGSON. Okay.

MR. MENDOZA. Tapos MA/AS, tapos, ano hong ibig sabihin noon?

MR. SINGSON. Asiong Salonga.

MR. MENDOZA. Ha?

MR. SINGSON. Asiong Salonga.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi. Itong A, A, itong hindi po. Letter A MAL. Ano po bang ibig sabihin nuong MA?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ako sigurado, Your Honor, dito. Maaring Malacañang or Malou dahil hindi kumpleto iyong nakalagay na Malou eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, oo. Samakatuwid dito sa…

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ako sigurado dito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. …entradang C…

MR. SINGSON. Two hundred thousand lang ito, Your Honor. Ito maliwanag…

MR. MENDOZA. Sandali lang.

MR. SINGSON. …itong Malou…

MR. MENDOZA. O, sige.

MR. SINGSON. Five million.

MR. MENDOZA. Sige po. Samakatuwid dito sa Exhibit “C2 F”, hindi ninyo sigurado iyan, maaari iyong MA Malacañang, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Maaari po, Your Honor, dahil si Yolanda Ricaforte ang nagsulat nito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Ngayon pero itong “II 4″, ito babasahin ko, nakalagay five million, tapos 3/23, tapos C/o, tapos pangalang Malou. Ito yung Malou, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Maliwanag na Malou. Ngayon, noon po kayo eh nagdeklara sa Blue Ribbon Committee natatandaan po ba ninyo kayo eh naging testigo sa Blue Ribbon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ilang beses, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po I hope the judges have their copies of the , ah, wala? Well, if Your Honor please…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Would you now be…

MR. MENDOZA. I do not know whether…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. … making reference to the transcript of the stenographic notes taken during the proceedings of the Blue Ribbon Committee…

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. …when the witness took the stand?

MR. MENDOZA. I have to refer to it but…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. How many questions, more or less, would you have. So…

MR. MENDOZA. At the present time, I’m looking at the watch. It’s nearly breaktime. So, if the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The point of the Presiding Officer is if you have many questions regarding the testimony of the witness…

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. …before the Blue Ribbon Committee, then probably we can do it later…

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. …together at the same time, so we would have time to produce the transcripts which were earlier distributed to the members of the Court.

MR. MENDOZA. If the Court will allow me, maybe if we can have a break and then we can continue after the break. And I would request the members of the Senator-Judges and the prosecution to have available their copies of the Blue Ribbon Committee transcript.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Presiding Officer sees the Majority Leader rising from his seat. What is the pleasure of the Majority Leader?

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice, pursuant to this request of the defense — if the prosecution is in agreement — I believe we can have a 20-minute break. It’s close to the 3:45 agreed first break, anyway.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any objection from the prosecution?

MR. MARCELO. No objection, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. No objection.

MR. MENDOZA. May I make it of record that all the exhibits with the prosecution kindly made available to the defense are now on the podium before the defense.

MR. SANIDAD (P). You’re still going to use them, sir? Or can we can give them back to the custodian?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Probably, the exhibits…

MR. MENDOZA. At the pleasure of the prosecution, they are their exhibits and I leave it at their discretion on what they will do with them…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The exhibits were produced by you?

MR. SANIDAD (P). No, Your Honor. They were in the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. In the custody of the Clerk?

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we ask the Clerk to take back custody of the documents.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. In the meantime, during the break, the original of the exhibits should be kept in the custody of the Clerk – rather, the Secretary of the Senate.

MR. MARCELO. For the record, Your Honor, we are turning over to the Secretary of the Honorable Senate Exhibit “C” up to “C-12,” Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. By the way, for the record, the Secretary of the Senate may also be called as the Clerk of the Impeachment Court.

VOICE. Thank you, Your Honor, for the clarification.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So, the trial is suspended for 20 minutes.

THE TRIAL WAS SUSPENDED AT 3:42 PM.

THE TRIAL WAS RESUMED AT 4:10 P.M.

THE SERGEANT AT ARMS. Please all rise for the entrance of the Honorable Senate President Judge Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and the Honorable Presiding Officer, Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Trial is resumed.

MR. DAZA. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Atty. Daza.

MR. DAZA. This is just briefly to inform the Court and the Presiding Officer that during the break, I personally hand delivered to Congressman Raul Gonzales, a copy of the reply that we filed on December 27.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you very much. I hope Prosecutor Gonzales will make a manifestation.

MR. SANIDAD (A). Prosecutor Gonzales is on his way, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Where are the copies for the members of the Court?

MR. SANIDAD (A). Your Honor please, it will be distributed shortly. They are just bringing it over, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are the parties ready now?

Atty. Mendoza you may proceed with the cross examination?

MR. MENDOZA. May we request that the ledgers which were used earlier be made available again?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Before the Counsel will proceed, we had markings earlier of three exhibits of the additional exhibits for the prosecution, the “N” and “O”, sextuplets.

MR. MARCELO. “NNNNNN” and “OOOOOO”, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We will change it from sextuplet to sextuple.

MR. MARCELO. Thank you, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We have so many “plets” already.

Counsel may now proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Thank you, Your Honor.

Kanina pong bago mag break eh tinukoy natin itong Exhibit “II 4″ na kung saan ang entrada “5 million 3/23 care of Malou.” Noon po kayo ay nagbigay ng deklarasyon sa Blue Ribbon Committee noon pong October 11, 2000, page 35 …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Page 35. Okay. Of Volume 1 for the … For the information of the members of the Court that page is found on Volume 1 of the transcripts distributed to the Members of the Court.

MR. MENDOZA. Stenographer CPMendoza.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The page is …

MR. MENDOZA. Page 35, Your Honor. The new paging at the bottom of the page.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. October 11, p.m. or…?

MR. MENDOZA. 2:37 p.m.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. 2:47 p.m.

MR. MENDOZA. 2:37 p.m.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. 2:37. Hold on for a little while.

MR. MENDOZA. May I now proceed, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. 2:37 p.m. Page…?

MR. MENDOZA. Page 35, Your Honor.

MR. MARCELO. I think the paging is based on time and I can’t remember…

MR. MENDOZA. I am looking at the certified copy, and there are consecutive pagings appearing at the right bottom corner of the pages.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This is printed number 035. That is the page you are referring to?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This particular page is actually page 10 of the transcript?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And what appears would only be …

MR. MENDOZA. Very short questions and answers.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. … a very, very yes.

MR. MENDOZA. May I now proceed, Your Honor?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may now proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito po sa trancript sa Blue Ribbon noong kayo ay nagdeklara noong Oktubre 11, 2000, kayo ay tinanong ni Senator Roco, ganito po ang tanong. Iyon pong tinutukoy ay ito rin pong ledger, eh. Sabi po niya: “Senator Roco. Care of Malou. Ano ang gustong sabihin niyan?”

“Mr. Singson. Nagkataon nandoon si Malou noon. So ikini care of namin Malou. Pero kasi noon minsan iniiwan ko na lang doon sa opisina ni Presidente kung may kausap siya sa labas.”

Natatandaan po ba na iyan ay sinabi ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MARCELO. Your Honor, before the witness answers may we ask that the particular page of the transcript be shown to the witness, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show the particular page of the transcript to the witness.

MR. SINGSON. Ah, yes, Your Honor. Iyong…para po maintindihan po lahat Your, kadalasan po…

MR. MENDOZA. Teka po, itinatanong ko lang sa inyo kung natatandaan ninyong sinabi n’yo iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, sa akin pong pagkakaintindi dito sa sagot nito, kayo po ang nagdala nuong pera doon at iki nare na lamang n’yo kay Malou. Hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Ang pagkaalam ko noon, Your Honor, noong sinagot ko iyan, Your Honor, iyon ang pagkaalam ko.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. At isang beses lang po iyon, ano po? Ano po ang ibig n’yong sabihin na “Noong sinabi ko iyan, iyan po ang pagkaalam ko”.

Ang ibig ho ba ninyong sabihin ay iba na ngayon ang inyong pagkaalam?

MR. SINGSON. Noong natapos iyong hearing, Your Honor, sa Senate Committee, ipinaalala sa akin ni Emma Lim na minsan nagdeliver siya sa Malacañang, Your Honor.

Doon ako nag refer sa records, nakita ko nga na nasa Vigan ako noong araw, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid, noong nagdeklara kayo sa Blue Ribbon, eh, ang inyong ipinahayag sa Senado, eh, kayo mismo ang nagdeliver noong pera kay Malou. Pero pagkatapos, ngayon, ang sinasabi n’yo mukhang hindi tama iyon at hindi kayo ang nagdala, si Emma Lim, gayon po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Nagkamali ako, Your Honor, noong ipinaalala, Your Honor. Iyon ang pag akala ko dahil kadalasan po ako ang nagdadala, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mukhang mahalagang bagay iyan, ano po? Hindi po ba si Emma Lim, kasama na nga n’yong pumupunta sa Blue Ribbon.

MR. SINGSON. Kaya nga ipinaalala, Your Honor, nuong matapos akong mag deklara, ipinaalala niya na minsan nag deliver siya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon, hindi n’yo naalala maski na nakita ninyo si Emma Lim doon sa Blue Ribbon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ho, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Wala na kaya kayong pagkakamali sa deklarasyon ninyo maliban diyan?

MR. SINGSON. Palagay ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon na lang?

MR. SINGSON. Ewan ko. Titingnan natin, Your Honor, kung mayroon pa.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po. Tayo po ay humahanap lamang ng liwanag, eh.

Kanina po nasabi n’yo nagkaroon ng pulong sa PCSO, ano po, sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Alam ho ba n’yo kung ano ang pinag usapan doon?

MR. SINGSON. Tungkol sa jueteng, Your Honor, ililipat sana roon sa PCSO, kasama si General Zubia, naalala ko na, General Zubia.

MR. MENDOZA. Ano ang magiging laro?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, PCSO ho ang magpapatakbo, Your Honor, pero nagkataon na nag object ang Congress, kaya hindi itinuloy, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon po ba iyong “Small Town Lottery”, kagaya noong panahon ni Presidente Aquino?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, iyon…

MR. SINGSON. Kung iyon ang ipapatupad sa PCSO.

MR. MENDOZA. Kung iyon ay ipapatupad, ang lagay magiging kumpitensya rin sa jueteng, mawawala ang jueteng, iiral iyong Small Town Lottery, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero, hindi natuloy iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kanya sinubukan ibang paraan naman, itong Bingo 2?

MR. SINGSON. “Pick 2″ muna, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, “Pick 2.” Ano po ba iyong “Pick 2″? Iyon po ba ay sa pamamahala ng Pagcor iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Ganoon po ang usapan noon, gagamitin lang Pagcor, pero hindi Pagcor. Kaya iyong nangyari, nagpatakbo po si Atong Ang na walang kontrata at hindi Pagcor po ang nagpatakbo.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po natin itinatanong sa inyo kung sino ang magpapatakbo, eh, itinatanong ko lang sa po sa inyo kung naiintindihan ninyo, ano po ba iyong “Pick 2″ na laro?

MR. SINGSON. Kaya nga itinutuloy ko, Your Honor, para maintindihan n’yo rin.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi ko ho hanggang ngayon naintindihan, eh, sapagkat ang sinasabi n’yo si Atong Ang, eh. Ang itinatanong ko, ano po ba iyong larong “Pick 2″, may bola po ba iyan? Tatlumpong numero po ba iyan? Pitumpong numero po ba iyan? Iyon po ang ibig ko sabihin.

MR. SINGSON. Iyong “Pick 2″, Your Honor, parang jueteng din, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Samakatuwid, ang sinusubukan din, humahanap ng paraan na kung papaano magiging legal iyong jueteng, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Maganda po sana kung naging legal, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Iyon po ang intensiyon ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Pero hindi ho natuloy, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi natuloy. Bakit po hindi natuloy, alam po ba n’yo?

MR. SINGSON. Dahil si Atong Ang ang nagpatakbo, Your Honor, hindi Pagcor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid iyong… Pero ang magpapatakbo ng “Pick 2″ sa ilalim ng Pagcor, kung hindi, hindi magiging legal, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Ngayon, itong “Bingo 2 ball”, Pagcor din iyan?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon ang dapat, pero si Atong Ang ang nagpatakbo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ang lagay, e, …

MR. SINGSON. Consultant lang dapat si Atong pero siya ang nagpatakbo.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang tinututulan n’yo roon, iyong pagpapatakbo ni Atong Ang. Tinututulan ho ba n’yo ang Bingo 2 Ball?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor. Si Atong Ang tinututulan ko dahil napupunta sa kanya. Hindi naman sa Pagcor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po kayong diagram, eh. Puwede po bang makita iyong exhibit n’yo na diagram?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Has it been marked in evidence?

MR. MARCELO. The exhibit is Exhibit “KKK”, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show it to the witness.

MR. MARCELO. Your Honor, the Clerk of this Court handed it…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, what’s your manifestation, Atty. Marcelo?

MR. MARCELO. The Clerk of this Honorable Court has handed to this representation the original Exhibit “K” and we are handing it now to the adverse counsel.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Make it of record.

MR. MENDOZA. Kayo po ba ang gumawa nitong Exhibit “KKK”?

MR. SINGSON. Nagpatulong po ako, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Dito po sa Exhibit “KKK”… teka po, I withdraw that. Sino po ang naging katulong n’yo sa paggawa nito?

MR. SINGSON. Sa bahay, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo nga po. Puwede po ba n’yong banggitin ang pangalan ng naging katulong ninyo?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the answer of the witness?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor. Iniisip ko iyong pangalan, Your Honor. Ginawa namin sa bahay ito, Your Honor. Nagpatulong ako, Your Honor. Sa pamangkin ko, Your Honor, nagpatulong ako dito. At saka iba pa, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ano po ang pangalan ng pamangkin ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Shiela Mendoza, Your Honor. Hindi n’yo kamag anak. (Laughter).

MR. MENDOZA. Marami pong Mendoza, eh. Mukhang masipag iyong aking mga ninuno.

Ngayon po, si… Mrs. po ba iyon o Miss Mendoza?

MR. SINGSON. Mrs., Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mrs. Mendoza. Siya po ba ay nagtratrabaho sa Pagcor?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Maliban sa kanya, mayroon pa po ba kayong naging katulong?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, iyong anak ko, Your Honor, dahil pinakuha ko siya ng lisensiya sa Abra, Your Honor, para makuha namin lahat ng records sa Bingo 2 Ball.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po ba kayong kopya ng mga records na pinag basehan ninyo ito?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong meeting nila Atong Ang noon doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid, pumunta po ba kayo sa Pagcor para itanong sa Pagcor? Ano ba iyong kontrata ninyo kung mayroon man tungkol dito sa operator ng mga Bingo 2 Ball?

MR. SINGSON. Sa mga pumunta po, Your Honor, wala raw kontrata.

MR. MENDOZA. Walang kontrata?

MR. SINGSON. Si Atong lang ang nagdi decide, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. E, di samakatuwid, itong Exhibit “KKK” na ito, ang pinag basehan ninyo, iyong narinig n’yo na kontrata ni Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. At saka sa Senado, Your Honor, noong nag testify si Atong Ang. Heto iyong mga deklarasyon niya, Your Honor. Minimum of 50 million per day or 1.5 billion a month.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, itong pinag basehan ninyo nitong Exhibit “KKK”…

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. … hindi naman official records ng Pagcor iyan, kung hindi iyong narinig n’yo na sinabi n’yo na sinabi ni Atong Ang at iyong mga deklarasyon doon sa Blue Ribbon Committee, ganoon po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Ginagamit lang ang Pagcor, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po tinatanong ko po sa inyo iyan. Ang tinatanong ko po sa inyo, iyong pinag basehan ninyo dito sa Exhibit “KKK.”

MR. SINGSON. Kaya nga, ang sagot ko, Your Honor, ginagamit lang ang Pagcor, nag base kami doon kay Atong Ang dahil ginagamit lang niya ang Pagcor.

MR. MENDOZA. E, isang beses pa po. Ang gusto ko pong itinatanong, gusto ko lang linawin. Alam ho ninyo, ang akin pong pagkakaintindi, kung gagawa ng isang diagram na ganito, mayroong mga baha bahagi kung sino man 23 percent diyan, 77 percent diyan, 5 percent diyan, 6 percent diyan mayroon kang tinitignan na kontrata na pagba basehan mo sa paggagawa ng pagbabahagi ng 100 percent. Iyun po ang hinahanap ko, kasi po, sa akin po, hindi masyado yata magiging makahulugan ito kung hindi natin makikita iyong pinagbasehan ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Deklarasyon po sa Blue Ribbon Committee po ito, Your Honor. So, naka record sa Blue Ribbon Committee, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid, kayo binasa n’yo ang record ng Blue Ribbon Committee at iyon ang pinagbasehan n’yo ng paggagawa nito?

MR. SINGSON. Narinig po namin.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, narinig n’yo. Samakatuwid, iyong narinig n’yo ang pinagbasehan nitong Exhibit “KKK”, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the answer of the witness?

MR. MENDOZA. Ano po ang sagot niyo?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Kayo po ba’y naiintindihan n’yo ‘yong larong jueteng?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po kayo nakakataya pa diyan?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi pa, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. E, lalo naman siguro kayong hindi pa naging operator, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Doon po sa Ilocos Sur, hindi po ba nagkaroon ng jueteng diyan sa buong panahon na kayo ay naging gobernador o congressman, wala pong jueteng sa Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon, Your Honor, kalakasan lang itong panahon na ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Malakas siguro noon sabi n’yo. ‘Yon po ang sabi n’yo. Pero noon pong panahon ni Pangulong Ramos, wala po bang jueteng sa Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon din, Your Honor, pahintu hinto, Your Honor, at saka hindi ganito kalakas, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sino po ba ang operator ng jueteng sa Ilocos Sur sa panahon ni Pangulong Estrada?

MR. SINGSON. Ang kolektor doon, Your Honor, ‘yong kapatid ko po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindo ko po tinatanong ‘yong kolektor, ‘yon pong operator.

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong mga kolektor sila ho ang namamahala sa mga operator.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, samakatuwid ‘yong sinasabi n’yong kolektor ‘yon na rin ang operator?

MR. SINGSON. Sila ang kolektor, sila ho ang namamahala sa mga operators, Your Honor. Hindi ko alam kung sila operator o mayroon silang operator. Sila ang kolektor doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Kung maitatanong ko, ano po ba ang pangalan nu’ng kapatid n’yo na kolektor o operator sa jueteng sa Ilocos Sur sa panahon ng Pangulong Estrada?

MR. SINGSON. Bonito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ha?

MR. SINGSON. Bonito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Bonito po. Kayo po ay wala namang bahagi doon?

MR. SINGSON. Wala po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid si Bonito Singson ay nag e entrega sa inyo ng koleksiyon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Natatandaan po ba n’yo kung magkano ang ine entrega niya buwan buwan?

MR. SINGSON. Sa record po, Your Honor, nasa ledger.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang nakalagay Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa inyo po bang personal ibinibigay ‘yong koleksiyon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, sa opisina, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Wala po kayong ideya kung hindi natin titingnan ang ledger kung mga magkano kaya ang koleksiyon sa Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Noong umpisa, Your Honor, maliit lang. Noong tumagal naging three million a month, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Tumaas?

MR. SINGSON. Tumaas, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, noon pong isang session ng Senado noong kayo’y nagtestigo, si Senator Judge Biazon yata, kung maaalala ko, siya ang nagtanong sa inyo kung ano ang ibig sabihin nitong mga “X” nasa Exhibit “C 6″, “C 7″, “C 8″, “C 9″, “10″, “11″, hanggang pong “12″. Pero ito namang mga “X” hindi naman makikita roon sa ibang exhibits, ano po. Ang akin pong pagkakatanda hindi n’yo napaliwanag kung ano ang ibig sabihin “X”. Maaari po bang ipaliwanag n’yo ngayon?

MR. SINGSON. Ito pong exhibit na ito, Your Honor, ito na po ‘yong listahan ni Ricaforte, Your Honor. Ang tsine tsek ko lang noon ‘yong nakokolekta niya at saka ‘yong napupunta sa Pangulong Estrada, tapos bahala na sila ni Presidente, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Di po ba sabi niyo kanina, e, kung ano ang dinidikta n’yo ‘yon ang sinusulat ni Yolanda Ricaforte? At noon namang nakaraan na session ang sinabi naman ninyo “Under my direct supervision.” E, ngayon, ang ibig ho ba niyong sabihin ay iba naman?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi naman. Tama lang.

MR. MENDOZA. Tama ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong pag uusapan natin ‘yong amount, ‘yon ang tsine tsek ko, Your Honor, ‘yong “X” hindi ko na natsi tsek kung ano ‘yong “X”.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, sa madaling salita ganoon man at nagkaroon ng “X” ito at kayo ay tinitingnan naman ninyo ito kayo rin naman ang nagsasabi kung anong entrada dito, hindi ninyo mapaliwanag kung bakit mayroong “X” dito?

MR. SINGSON. Ang noong nasa kanya na ito, Your Honor, ang tinitingnan ko na lang ‘yong mga total para alam kong sabihin sa Pangulo Estrada, Your Honor. Tuwing nagde deliver ako roon, sinasabi ko lang ‘yong koleksyon ng buwan buwan, tapos na kay Yolanda Ricaforte na ‘yong record.

‘Yon ang sinasabi ko, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, bilang nakaharap sa atin, Exhibit “C”, at sub exhibit submarkings, Exhibit “E” hanggang “MM”, mukhang ito ang mga original? Ito po ba ang original?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, ang sabi ninyo eh nag fax sa iyo sa inyo si Yolanda Ricaforte, ano po ba ang ipinaks (fax) sa inyo, noong bandang Septiembre ho ba ‘yon, 2000?

MR. SINGSON. Pinaks (fax) po lahat, Your Honor. Hindi ko na inantay pero nai fax po lahat, wala pa sa akin itong original. Noong naghanap ako, Your Honor, nakita ko itong original.

MR. MENDOZA. Doon sa inyo nakatago?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Lahat ito?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi. ‘Yong accounting ng doon nag umpisa hanggang doon sa 123 million, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Alin pong exhibit?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, November to July 1999, Your Honor. Ito po ‘yong original na naiwan, Your Honor, at in audit na ni Ricaforte ito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, ‘yon po ang sabi n’yo. Pero ito po namang original nitong Exhibit “C” hanggang “C 12″, sino po ang nagtago nito?

MR. SINGSON. Ah inuuwi na ni Yolanda Ricaforte, Your Honor. Pati kopya nito, Your Honor, pati ‘yong original, kinopya niya, naiwan sa akin ito, Your Honor.

So, mayroon siyang kopya. Pinapakita ko ito kay Pangulong Estrada, inuuwi na rin ni Yolanda Ricaforte.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon po.

Noon pong magkaroon ng Bingo-2, ang tinutulan lamang po ba ninyo na hindi kayo ay naibigay, sabi niyo, sa kalaban ninyo, ganoon po ba, ‘yong sa Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Hindi ako tutol sa Bingo-2 Balls, ‘yon lang pagbigay sa kalaban ko dahil mapapahiya po ako roon, Your Honor, ‘yong sinabi ko sa kanya.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero samakatuwid ang ibig ninyong sabihin maganda po ‘yong plano na magkaroon ng Bingo-2 at sapagkat sa pamamagitan noon mawawala ‘yong jueteng, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor, kung tama sana ang pag implement.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Pero na implement mali, eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Si Atong Ang ang nagpatakbo, hindi naman Pagcor eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, ‘yong pag i implement pero ‘yong ideya maganda, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Maganda, Your Honor, pero ‘yong napag usapan namin na mapupunta kay Pangulong Estrada at saka sa pagpatakbo ni Atong Ang, ‘yon ang hindi tama.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon po.

MR. SINGSON. Maganda sana kung Pagcor, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Natuwa kayo kasi hindi na kayo mangongolekta, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, huwag lang ibigay sa kalaban ko dahil mapapahiya ako, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Mayroon ba kayong kilalang alam na Mendoza rin eh, Shiela Mendoza sa Ilocos Sur, na sabi ‘yon ang nagpapaandar din ng jueteng?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Operator din doon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po. Ang pagkaalam ko hindi po operator, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ano ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Pamangkin ko ‘yon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah walang kaalaman sa jueteng? Hindi po bale.

At siguro magpahinga muna tayo rito sa jueteng, pumunta tayo sa ibang bagay, ano po?

Pakitingnan po nga n’yo muli ‘yong isang affidavit ninyo, ‘yong tungkol naman dito sa 7171 para maalaala ninyo?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Is that an annex to the Articles of Impeachment?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor. I believe it is Annex “B.”

Anyway, if Your Honors please, I am going to refer to exhibits… documents marked as Exhibits “9” to “9-U”. There are copies now. May I request that the copies be distributed to the Senator-Judges.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let copies of the exhibits be distributed.

MR. SANIDAD (P). The prosecution has not been furnished a copy, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. The prosecution –I understand they were furnished, but they can be furnished again.

While the copies are being distributed, may I ask other questions not related to the exhibits, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Pakitignan po n’yo iyong affidavit ninyo uli dated September 25. Hindi po, iyong isa po. Pakitignan po iyong paragraph 8. Iyan po ba, tama po ba iyan?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Noon pong kayo ay… Ang ibig po ba ninyong sabihin noong pumunta kayo ni Atong Ang doon sa bahay ni Presidente sa Polk Street, mayroon kayong dalang 130 million cash.

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po ang sinabi ni Atong Ang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, hindi po n’yo alam personal na nagdala kayo ng 130 million. Sinabi lang n’yo rito sa affidavit na nagdala kayo ng 130 million cash sapagkat iyan ang sinabi sa inyo ni Atong Ang, ganoon po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, kung hindi totoo pala iyong sinabi ni Atong Ang, wala palang nadalang pera doon sa Polk Street, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Alam ko mayroon, Your Honor, dahil inantay nga namin, Your Honor, eh. Nagpalit sila sa bangko. Matagal naming inantay sa bahay ng nanay niya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sinasabi n’yo iyong totoo sapagkat naniwala kayo kay Atong Ang, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po ang ginagawa namin noon, Your Honor, inaantay na lang namin iyong pera, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon ba?

MR. SINGSON. Alam ko na na pera iyong inaantay namin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Hindi ko na po uulitin pero hanggang ngayon po, naliliwanagan ko na na ang sabi ninyo ay kayo, dito sa affidavit at siguro sa deklarasyon na rin n’yo, na nagdala ng 130 million cash sapagkat sinabi sa inyo ni Atong Ang, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po ang usapan, Your Honor, at saka alam ko, Your Honor, dahil iyong tseke na trinansfer sa account ng mga sinabi niyang pangalan ay 130 million, Your Honor, at inantay na lang nating mai-cash iyon, dadalhin na natin kay Pangulong Estrada, sabi niya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Iyon po ang sabi doon sa… Pero, iyon pong bangko, hindi pa po iyon ang Polk Street, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor, pero dinala namin sa Polk Street, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, nagkaroon po ng pera …uulitin ko po. Magtatanong muna po ako ng iba. Ito pong Republic Act 7l7l na kayo ang author, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ayon sa batas, ang principal beneficiary niyan, ang tatanggap ng pera sa kung anumang amount/halaga ang dapat ipamigay diyan sa mga probinsiya, eh ang probinsiya lamang, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, eh ‘yan, panahon ni Presidente Ramos, nagkaroon ng circular, hindi lamang sa probinsiya ibinibigay yung pera, pero kinakailangan magkaroon ng bahagi ang congressional district at saka munisipyo, ano po ba, ‘di po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, kaya kayo eh, medyo nagreklamo sapagkat kayo bilang gobernador, yung pondo controlled ninyo kung sa probinsiya lang. Pero kung may bahagi ang congressional district at mga munisipyo, meron nang partisipasyon ang mga congressman at saka mayor, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Wala po akong objection doon, Your Honor, sa mga munisipyo, sa congressman lang, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, sa congressman. Pero ang gusto ninyo, sa probinsiya, kayo na ang magbibigay sa munisipyo, kung sakali?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor. Maski sa munisipyo, dahil sa munisipyo, meron silang mga konsehal, sa probinsiya, meron kaming mga board member na magtse-check. While yung congressman hindi na ma-check. Para bang dagdag na lang sa …. pork barrel nila, Your Honor, kaya hindi dapat.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ayon sa batas, ang legally entitled lang, province lang.

MR. SINGSON. Yun ang original, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, kayo po ay …may I borrow your exhibit? The request of Governor Singson for allotment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Turn over the requested exhibits to the defense. Do you have the exhibits now?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Not yet, Your Honor, we are trying to locate it.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Probably, you are referring to Exhibit “OOO”?

MR. SANIDAD (P). I think it’s the letter with the marginal note to Secretary Diokno.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That’s the one, with the marginal note. Look for “OOO”. Do you have it now?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show it to Atty. Mendoza.

MR. MENDOZA. Ipinapakita ko po sa inyo itong Exhibit “OOO”. Noon po kayo’y nag-request, ang action ni Presidente Estrada eh, naglagay ng…. Sa kaniyang sulat, sa itaas ng sulat, ang sinasabi ay ganito po:

“03 Aug ‘98

To: Secretary Ben Diokno

Please see if you can accommodate request of Governor Singson.”

Ito po yung pirma niya, tama po ba yun?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ito po lamang ang ginawa ni Presidente, ano po? Ipinadala ito sa Budget?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pagkatapos nga nitong sulat na ito, nag-release ng 200 million?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, pagkatapos na matanggap ‘yong pera sa probinsiya… Perhaps, I am addressing the prosecution, maybe we can return the ledgers so that the table of the witness would not be cluttered with other papers.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You will not need anymore the ledgers?

MR. MENDOZA. Most likely not, Your Honor, but…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Have them have these exhibits returned to the…

MR. MENDOZA. We make of record that they are the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. … Secretary.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, mayroon po kaming minarkahan bilang Exhibit “9″, ito po kopya…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Before that, Atty. Mendoza, have the exhibits been returned already to the Secretary?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Can we have the acknowledgment by the Secretary?

THE SENATE SECRETARY. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you. Atty. Mendoza, you may now proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po kaming minarkahan na Exhibit “9″. Ito po ay kopya ng isang cash advance for 170 million, natatandaan po ba ninyo na mayroong cash advance na ganito, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon po, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At mayroon pong pangalan Luis “Chavit” Singson, Governor, at sa itaas noon mayroon pong pirma.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pirma po ninyo ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, dito po, nakalagay dito, “To cash advance the amount of P170 million only for partial payment of the equipment for the flue curing barn and redrying plant.” Napansin po ninyo ‘yon ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, kayo ay kumuha ng cash advance na 170 million para bayaran, partial payment bilang ng equipment for the flue curing barn and redrying plant. Tama po ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At ‘yan, ang nangyari diyan bago ‘yon nagkaroon ng sangguniang resolution. Ito po ang kopya, Exhibit “9 A”, natatandaan po ninyo?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Exhibit “9 A”?

MR. MENDOZA. “9 A”, Your Honor.

MR. SINGSON. Tama. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. May I make it of record that the witness apparently has copies and he is comparing them with his own copies.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. His own copy?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

Tama?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At sang ayon doon nagkaroon din ng resolution, ng ordinansiya, inaprobahan din, pareho din?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ito po ay Exhibit “9 B” at “9 C”.

Ngayon…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What is the answer of the witness?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Tama po.

Dito naman po sa Exhibit “9 D”, ito naman ang Obligation of Allotment, 170 million…

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. … at mayroong lumalabas na pirma “Luis Chavit Singson”, ano po? Tama rin po ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pagkatapos noon, mayroon din pong tseke sapagkat ‘yon ang naging base niyan for 170 million payable kay Luis “Chavit” Singson. Ito po ay Exhibit “9 E”.

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor. Ito ‘yong na cancel, Your Honor. Napalitan na ‘yan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, hindi po natuloy ito?

MR. SINGSON. Natuloy po ‘yan, Your Honor, nagbago ‘yong mga pangalan.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ibig n’yong sabihin gumawa ng bagong tseke?

MR. SINGSON. Nasa bangko na, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ‘yong 170…

MR. SINGSON. Ito, ang gusto noon, i cash ko ito, Your Honor, kaya dito na nag umpisa ‘yong special operation para kay Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, ‘yong 130 million na pupunta sa kaniya.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Pero ang ibig kong sabihin, ‘yong 170 million na withdraw ito, nakuha.

MR. SINGSON. Nakuha, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. ‘Yon lang po ang gusto kong itanong.

Ngayon, mayroon din pong authorization, itong Exhibit “9 F” na binibigyan n’yong authorization itong si Maricar Paz at Marina Atendido. Ito po’y pirma rin po ba ninyo ang nandidito?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oh. Ngayon po, pagkatapos noon, nagkaroon naman po ng purchase request na Exhibit “9 G” naman. Ito, lumalabas po dito na, dated August 28, 1998, na magpapabili kayo ng 50 nodules of flue curing barns at ito aprubado rin po ninyo. Tama po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Uh huh.

We have marked an Exhibit “9 H”, Your Honors, but apparently it is a copy only of Exhibit “9 G”. But, anyway, we will leave it as is.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. “9-H”?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor. We will not correct it anymore so as not to confuse. We will just make the appropriate manifestation later.

Pagkatapos po noong purchase request, nagkaroon ng purchase order, ano po, Exhibit “9 I” at ito’y purchase order, noon din pong parehong pilot modular flue curing barns. Hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Ito na nag umpisa ‘yong pagtatakip namin, Your Honor, dahil ang utos sa amin ni Pangulong Estrada takpan muna ‘yan, Your Honor. Gawaan ng paraan.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero ito po’y naaprubahan po niyo ito?

MR. SINGSON. Naaprubahan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ngayon, pagkatapos po I’m sorry, Your Honor, we have another duplication, Exhibit “9 J”, it’s also actually a duplicate of Exhibit “9 I”.

Ngayon, mayroon din po rito official receipt, Exhibit “9 K” na official receipt ng NS International…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Excuse me. Excuse me, Counsel. Atty. Mendoza, did you say that Exhibit “9 I” is the same as Exhibit “9 J”? It is a duplication?

MR. MENDOZA. No, Your Honor. Exhibit “9 J” is the same as Exhibit “9 I” item, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. ” I”.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

Ngayon po, pinapakita ko po sa inyo itong Exhibit “9 K” naman, official receipt, province of Ilocos Sur, 170 million ng NS International Link. Ito po ba’y nabanggit n’yong resibo?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Ito na po ‘yong pinangtakip namin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo nga. Pero dito, ang lumalabas dito sa resibo nagbayad ang Ilocos Sur ng 170 million.

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. …. hindi naman totoo ‘yon.

MR. SINGSON. Napunta kay Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, ang 130 million.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Yon po ang sabi ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi. ‘Yon po ang totoo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Pero tingnan po muna natin itong mga dokumento, ano po. Sapagkat ‘yong nasa dokumento po, tinatanggap ninyong lahat, eh. Kaya ito po, hindi maaaring hindi totoo ito. Nasa papel po, eh.

Ngayon po, pagkatapos po noon, nitong lahat na ito, may purchase request, may purchase order, mayroon naman pong acceptance of delivery, at pagkatapos may certificate of acceptance din, Exhibit “9 L”. ‘Yan pong certificate of acceptance ay lumalabas pinirmahan din ninyo po.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ang ipinapakita rito sa papel at sa dokumento na ‘yong mga flue curing barn ba ‘yon, eh, ano man ‘yong equipment ay hindi naman nabili, na deliver at tinanggap ng probinsiya. Ganoon po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor. Parte ng pagtatakip namin, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ano man po ang dahilan. Pero ‘yan po ang nasasabi ng dokumento.

I am sorry, Your Honor, but there had been several duplications. I think when they were xeroxing, they just kept on marking.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That was the observation of the Presiding Officer earlier. If you are now referring to another duplication of the numbering, do you refer to Exhibit “9-M” and “9-L”?

MR. MENDOZA. “9-N” and “9-M” are duplicates.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Duplication?

MR. MENDOZA. I apologize, Your Honor, but …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. No, no, you will notice some kind of difference. Look at the entry above the date September 9, 1998 in Exhibit “9-L” and the entry to the right side under the date September 9, 1998 in Exhibit “9-M”.

MR. MENDOZA. We really don’t see the difference, Your Honor, but the basic …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And also the entry in the left hand bottomside of “9-L” in stamp mark which is not reproduced in “9-M”.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, yes, it’s just the stamped part but the text is the same, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The same?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Nevermind.

MR. MENDOZA. I do not remember whether I have asked the witness whether he confirms that this is the certificate of acceptance, totoo po ito?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You can ask the question if you like.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At pagkatapos po nito, nagkaroon naman ng certificate of inspection. Pinapahayag nito iyong natanggap, in-inspect na rin ng mga nanunungkulan sa Treasurer’s Office, governor’s representative, di po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, parte na lahat iyong cover-up ito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Exhibit “9-N”, “9-N”. I am really sorry, Your Honor, but there had been duplications of exhibits that were marked.

Ngayon po, kayo po ba eh, kung nilalagdaan ninyo ang isang dokumento, binibigyan naman ninyo siguro ng halaga iyong paglalagda ninyo sa dokumento, di po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, pero ito iyong utos na ni Pangulong Estrada na pagtakpan muna namin, Your Honor, kaya ko nagawa lahat ito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Alam ho ninyo, iyong karamihan ng tanong tungkol dito sa bagay-bagay na ito, ang nagtanong iyong mga prosecution eh, at tinanggap ninyo na pagka-cash advance ninyo. Pero hindi po ba ninyo alam na ayon sa batas, ang mayroong pananagutan sa nag-cash advance eh iyong tumanggap ng cash advance?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At hindi po ba ipinaliwanag sa inyo ng mga abogado ninyo bago kayo tinanong kung kayo nga ay pinag-cash advance, na kung ang isang government official ka-cash advance at pagkatapos hindi ginamit iyong perang iyon para doon sa nauukol na proyekto, eh iyon eh malversation?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor, dahil from Day 1, sinabi ko na may kasalanan ako, Your Honor, dahil sa pagtatakip namin sa Pangulong Estrada dahil napunta sa kanya iyong pera, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Sa katotohanan po, hindi po ba naipaliwanag sa inyo na kung ang malversation eh ang halaga ay higit sa limampung milyon, eh plunder iyon at ang punishment o penalty reclusion perpetua to death. Iyon po ba hindi naipaliwanag sa inyo?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor, alam ko rin iyon at napunta nga kay Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, hindi naman napunta sa akin eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, alam po ninyong lahat na itong mga dokumento ngayon nilagdaan ninyo, ina-identify ninyo, eh palsipikado lahat ito?

MR. SINGSON. Dahil sa Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh iyon po ang sabi ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po ang totoo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Oo. Ngayon po, napaliwanag din po ba sa inyo na iyong utos na illegal hindi maaaring maging dahilan na ang isang public officer walang pagkakasala?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po ako nagdadahilan, Your Honor. Kako nga, payag akong makulong basta kasama iyong pinakamalaking kasalanan.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Kaya lang siguro kung matatanggal si Pangulo, magkakaroon ng bagong Pangulo, maaari naman siguro kayong mabigyan ng pardon, ano po?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Speculative, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness may answer.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko rin alam, Your Honor, kung mabibigyan ako ng pardon. Baka hindi rin.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero po hindi po ba pagkatapos ninyong mag expose, ano po, eh parang niyakap na kayo ng opposition, kayo ay naging bayani na at kayo ay nandodoon na sa EDSA, kayo ay naging guest speaker na sa mga Rotary Club, at kayo na ang pinapalakpakan ng maraming mamamayan, hindi po ba?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Objection, Your Honor, that’s immaterial.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the basis? What’s the basis? Immaterial?

MR. SANIDAD (P). That’s immaterial.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Overruled. The witness may answer.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko po akalain, Your Honor, na may tutulong, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon po.

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we know if counsel is finished with Exhibits “9″ to…

MR. MENDOZA. Not yet.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Just wait, he is on cross examination.

MR. SANIDAD (P). That’s why I was asking, Your Honor, because we would like to adopt them as exhibits for the prosecution.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then you can do that later. You will have the time for that.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor.

Your Honor, while there is a lull, may I make a manifestation.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. A manifestation?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor, please.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Related to the…

MR. SANIDAD (P). To what is going on. The exhibits. Because we keep getting…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the manifestation?

MR. SANIDAD (P). …exhibits by installment, Your Honor, during the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yeah, yeah. State your manifestation.

MR. SANIDAD (P). We would like to make it of record that yesterday, we were indeed given copies of documents which now appear as Exhibits “9″ to “10 B”.

Then as the proceedings were going on, we were given copies of Exhibits “11″ to “46″, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

MR. SANIDAD (P). And just a few minutes ago, we were given copies of Exhibits “47″, “48″, “50″, “51″, which we we feel it’s in violation of the agreement that documents should be premarked and be given copies to the parties and also the Tribunal itself so that we could intelligently follow what is going on.

As it is we are taken by ambush…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Presiding Officer has received copies of Exhibits “47″ and “48″ only. Where are “49″ and “50″?

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honors please, I hope that the Senate Judges, the Presiding Officer and the Counsel for the Prosecution will appreciate that on cross examination, it is somewhat difficult to anticipate all of the exhibits one will mark. So actually that is why we apologize. There have been some duplications.

Normally, if one is on cross examination, you would not even show your exhibits until the very time it is shown to the witness because that somewhat lessens the impact of the questions. But we have done our best to provide these copies. And while they may have been provided, as they say, in installments, copies have been provided and copies will be provided before questions are propounded to the witness on these exhibits.

MR. SANIDAD (P). But that’s in violation of the agreement that it should be given three days.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So what is your proposal?

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we propose, Your Honor, that considering that the only exhibits furnished us one day beforehand are Exhibits “9″ to “10 b”; that cross examination questions for today be confined to those exhibits. And that those given us only…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You mean that you are now suggesting that the cross examination may be continued tomorrow to give you time to go over the exhibits which were given to the prosecution?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes. Tomorrow or the next day, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. If Your Honor please,…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, would the prosecution be a party to a further delay? There are only a very few exhibits that had been presented. Probably you could ask for about a… a suspension … a 20 or 30 minute suspension to study instead of a deferment until two days from now.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. May I make the manifestation, Your Honor, that…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

MR. MENDOZA. Actually as regards all of the exhibits I have so far marked and shown to the witness, the witness was ready with copies of his own, apparently official copies because they are in yellow sheets.

MR. SANIDAD (P). They are Exhibits “9″ to “10 B”, Your Honor. They were given us yesterday. That is why the witness has xerox copies.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, anyway, you want 20 minutes or 30 minutes or 40 minutes?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Thirty minutes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thirty minutes.

MR. MENDOZA. We are willing to agree to a suspension, and we will furnish them copies of all the exhibits we anticipate we will be using this afternoon, Your Honor.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Well, if there are more, may we have them now.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, yes, we will provide you.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice, I move for a 30 minute suspension.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Upon request of the prosecution, with the conformity of the defense, trial is suspended for 30 minutes.

THE TRIAL WAS SUSPENDED AT 5:11 P.M.

AT 5:41 P.M., THE TRIAL WAS RESUMED.

THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. Please all rise for the entrance of the Honorable Senate President-Judge Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., and the Honorable Presiding Officer Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The trial is resumed. We shall have the continuation of the cross-examination, Atty. Mendoza.

Has the Defense furnished the Prosecution copies of the exhibits already? The new exhibits, Atty. Sanidad, have you received?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, Your Honor, up to Exhibit “52”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. “Fifty-two”. May we request that the Chair be, I think – up to “52”, ano?

MR. SANIDAD ( P). Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Okay. We have, we have copies already.

Atty. Mendoza.

MR. MENDOZA. Governor, ako po ay sinubukan kong maghanap ng kopya ng oath ninyo sa panunungkulang gobernor. Kayo po ay sumumpa sa oath of office, ano po? Ngayon po mayroon akong porma rito ng oath at babasahin ko at sabihin na lang n’yo kung natatandaan n’yo ganito nga po ang sinumpaan ninyo sapagkat ito po ay form.

Ang sabi po ng panunumpa sa katungkulan, ito po:

“Ako, si… ‘Yon pong pangalan; ng ano… Katungkulan bilang. Pagkatapos po ay sabi: “Ay taimtim na nanunumpa na tutuparin kong buong husay at katapatan sa abot ng aking kakayahan ang mga tungkulin ng aking kasalukuyang katungkulan at ng mga iba pang pagkaraan nito’y gagampanan ko sa ilalim ng Republika ng Pilipinas; Na aking itataguyod at ipagtatanggol ang Saligang-Batas ng Pilipinas; Na tunay na mananalig at tatalima ako rito; Na susundin ko ang mga batas, mga kautusang legal at mga dikretong pinaiiral na mga sadyang itinakdang may kapangyarihan ng Republika ng Pilipinas. At kusa ko pong babalikatin ang pananagutang ito nang walang anumang pasubali o hangaring umiwas.

Kasihan nawa ako ng Diyos.”

Hindi po ba ganoon ang oath of office, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Napansin po ba ninyo dito ‘yong panunumpa na susundin ko ang mga batas, kautusang legal at mga dikretong pinaiiral ng mga sadyang itinakdang may kapangyarihan ang Republika ng Pilipinas. Samakatuwid po, ang isang nanunungkulan ay kinakailangan siyang tumanggi sa anumang utos o hangarin ng miski nakakataas sa kanya kung hindi legal, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Samakatuwid, noong sinabi n’yo inutos sa inyo, pinagtakpan, medyo nalimutan ‘ata ninyo ‘yong pinanumpa n’yo noong kayo ay nanungkulang gobernador, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Kaya ‘ka ko nga, may kasalanan ako eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Samakatuwid po, tinatanggap ninyo na kayo ay hindi sumunod sa inyong panunumpa, panunungkulan bilang gobernador, tinatanggap ninyo na kayo ay lumabag sa kautusang penal. Penal Code, ano po, at mga iba pang batas ng ating Republika, ganoon po ba?

MR. SANIDAD (A). Already answered, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness may answer for a more definitive answer of the witness.

MR. SINGSON. Nagawa ko po ‘yon dahil sa Kagalang-galang na Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo. Ang pong sinasabi ninyo, ang aking natatandaan noong kayo’y tinanong, bakit kayo pumayag na kayo ay maging kolektor sa jueteng? Ang sabi ninyo dahil po sa pangako na ‘yong Republic Act 7171 na pondo eh ire-release, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, noon namang na-release na ‘yon, ang sabi ninyo eh hiningan naman kayo ni Atong Ang, sabi niya para sa Presidente pero si Atong Ang ang nagsabi sa inyo na 130 million. Sang-ayon sa inyong deklarasyon, pumayag din kayo, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, dahil sa kagustuhan ko na matupad ‘yon pangarap namin doon, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, hindi po ba kayo medyo nayanig na. Pumayag na kayong maging kolektor sa jueteng para ma-release ‘yong 7171 at pagkatapos noong na-release ang 7171 pumayag pa kayong magbigay ng siyento trenta milyones sa na-release na dalawandaang milyon. Hindi po ba medyo nakakayanig at nakakagulat ‘yan, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Nakakapagtaka nga po, Your Honor. Hindi ko akalain na ganoon ang Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi po ba kayo nagtataka rin kung bakit naman kayo pumayag?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor, dahil nga sa kagustuhan ko na matupad ang pangarap namin, maahon sa kahirapan ang mga magsasaka namin eh pumayag ako sa lahat ng gusto niya, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. ‘Yon po bang panaginip n’yo na magkakaroon kayo noong mga planta tungkol sa tobacco dahil sa 7171 matutupad kung ‘yong kina-cash advance hindi naman ginagamit doon?

MR. SINGSON. Kaya nga pumayag ako, Your Honor, dahil hindi lang ganoon ang halaga ‘yong curing barn, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Mayroon po akong ipapakita sa inyong mga dokumento. Ito po ay mga Notice of Suspension ng COA. Ang totoo po, ang petsa ng mga ito ay April 1998 pa, na kung saan ay sinasabi sa inyo as a responsible officer, kasama ninyo ang provincial treasurer, na ‘yong mga pondong ipinaabot dito sa iba ibang projects, ay hindi sumunod sa mga pangangailangan, kaya mayroong Notice of Suspension. Pagkatapos, kung hindi matutupad itong mga suspended na ito are deemed disallowed.

Tingnan po ninyo kung ito po ay matatandaan ninyo na natanggap ninyo itong mga Notice of Suspension. Marami rami po. These are from Exhibits “11″ to “45″. Medyo marami po kaya gumamit po kayo ng panahon, tingnan ninyo kung mayroon kayong natatanggap, natatandaan na natanggap na ganoon.

MR. SINGSON. Saan dito ‘yong suspension?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What we have as Exhibit “45″ is not a Notice of Suspension but a Notice of Disallowance. We might not have the same document.

MR. MENDOZA. I’m sorry, up to “44″, Your Honor. “44″, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Up to “44″?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Notice of Disallowance again.

MR. MENDOZA. I’m sorry, Your Honor. Up to “42″, Your Honor, “42″, Notice of Suspension.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Okay.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Go ahead. Yes, Atty. Sanidad.

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we register a vigorous objection to any and all questions on the documents which were given us before the break Exhibits “11″ to “42″ as now specified by counsel for the following reasons:

First, they are irrelevant to the issues now being taken up considering that they range from the years 1995 to early 1998 before President Estrada became president.

Second, they are unfair because the witness is being presented almost a volume of documents without the opportunity to consult the originals because they do not have the originals, or the papers that support the said documents and, therefore, lacks basis. They are premature also because all these transactions, as intimated by counsel, are still pending settlement with the COA, liquidation with the COA and the term given for the provincial government to settle them has not yet expired.

And lastly, Mr. Chief Justice, more importantly, these are, if that is the intention, evidence of particular wrongful acts which under if they are true, which under the Rules of Court, and may I be allowed to read:

“A witness may be impeached by the party against whom he was called by contradictory evidence, by evidence that his general reputation for truth, honesty or integrity is bad or by evidence that he has made at other times statements inconsistent with his present testimony but not by evidence of particular wrongful acts except that it maybe shown by the examination of the witness or the record will judgment that he has been convicted of an offense.”

Because of those reasons, Your Honor, it is not fair and it is not just that the witness be subjected to cross examination on these documents that have nothing to do at all with the point of inquiry.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any reply from Atty. Mendoza?

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honors, please, all of these documents are notices of suspension of approval of certain disbursements for which the witness is responsible as provincial governor. They have a total of P=284,052,955.00. I am only asking the witness whether he recalls having received these notices of suspension. I grant that it maybe still pending. But this will show, if Your Honors, please, that the accused I mean, sorry that the witness, and I apologize, that the witness has problems with the Commission on Audit in Ilocos Sur, contrary to what he has stated on direct examination that Ilocos Sur is in good shape and that the provincial government is running very well. It has now more income than before, and that this also is a motivation for testimonies which he has given. I am not imputing to the witness wrongful acts which I am trying to prove by this evidence. Because as far as the wrongful acts of the witness are concerned, there is no need to prove them. He has admitted all of them. So these are evidence which would affect the credibility of the witness. It is only for that purpose. If the witness says I do not remember having seen these documents before, then that is the end of it. I am not going to pursue the point.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor, as described …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. With the permission of the two gentlemen, the Chair recognizes Senator Judge Cayetano.

SEN. CAYETANO. With the permission of the Chief Justice, may I ask my professor again?

MR. MENDOZA. I do not know. Would the judge be ruling on our …?

SEN. CAYETANO. No, no, no. It’s just a question.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, yes, of course.

SEN. CAYETANO. Is it possible for you to …

MR. MENDOZA. With the permission of the Presiding Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair, although it might not be very, very proper, would allow the senator to ask a question if it has something to do with the issue raised.

SEN. CAYETANO. Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Chief Justice.

The prosecution mentioned the fact that there is yet a definitive ruling by the COA on this matter.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, yes. That is right.

SEN. CAYETANO. If that were so, I would like my good professor to, you know, comment on that. Because if indeed, then that is one thing I would like to know if he agrees with the statement of the prosecution.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes. They are unsettled demands of the Commission on Audit. So that would show that the witness is under financial strain to meet certain demands of the Commission on Audit. And it is up for him to deny that he has received this or that if it has been settled. I am just asking him whether he recalls having received these notices.

SEN. CAYETANO. So you affirm that in fact the COA has not made a definitive ruling? That’s the only question I want to find out.

MR. MENDOZA. I do not have the documents. But the COA has from the text of these notices if the required compliance is not met within 90 days, all of them are deemed disallowed. And from the dates of the notices of suspension, it will appear that the 90 days has already lapsed.

SEN. CAYETANO. Thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Ruling. Any manifestation from counsel for the prosecution by way of a rejoinder?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes. We would like to stress what we said earlier, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then the Chair will make a ruling.

MR. SANIDAD (P). We don’t have any originals of these documents.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You don’t have what, the original documents?

MR. SANIDAD (P). No originals have been presented.

MR. MENDOZA. The originals…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. But are these certified true copies?

MR. MENDOZA. …were obviously sent to the witness.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. These are certified true xerox copies?

MR. MENDOZA. I am going to present certified xerox copies.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. True certified xerox copies?

MR. MENDOZA. No. They are not certified, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

MR. MENDOZA. That is why I am asking the witness whether he recalls having seen them. If the witness says he does not recall, then I am not going to pursue the point.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Okay.

MR. SANIDAD (P). They are not originals, they are not even certified.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So, that would be another ground for your objection.

MR. SANIDAD (P). I am stressing that. I already stated that earlier, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Ruling.

On the ground of irrelevancy, the objection is overruled. The witness is being cross examined for the purpose of testing his credibility.

On the ground that it is unfair to the witness for he is presented voluminous documents, he will have all the time to go over the documents.

On the objection that it is premature, that the matter is still pending with the Commission on Audit, the ground is without any basis. The witness again is being cross examined precisely to prove, in some degree, his credibility.

On the matter of evidence of wrongful acts, the defense had already manifested that the purpose is not to prove any wrongful act.

Although the Chair would like to bring to the attention of the parties that even under the Rules of Court on Evidence, evidence of similar acts may be admitted to prove habit or whatever.

On the matter of the document not being the original, what has been given to us appear to be certified true copies of the documents.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Xerox of…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yeah, certified true xerox copies.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Supposedly certified true copies.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Now, are you questioning the person who made the certification?

MR. SANIDAD (P). I don’t have any basis for determining whether this is authentic or not, Your Honor. I would not like to commit myself.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness may be able to frame his own answer on these documents. The witness shall answer the question.

MR. SANIDAD (P). May we seek a reconsideration, Your Honor, only a modification, considering that these documents do not refer to just one transaction. Each and every page is a separate transaction.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then the witness can go over the documents.

MR. SANIDAD (P). And that the questions be asked on individual document.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You want the counsel now to reformulate the question in such a way that the witness be asked on document per document basis.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Because there are 27 documents as far as…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I think that was precisely the thrust of…

MR. MENDOZA. I can do that, Your Honor, that it will take so much time. Actually…

MR. SANIDAD (P). That covers several years. That’s what I am saying, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That is why if that would be the objection that it would be unfair to the witness, then perhaps the counsel should rephrase the question by asking now the witness on a document per document basis.

Senator Judge Drilon.

SEN. DRILON. Mr. Chief Justice, just a point of information. These documents are marked certified true xerox copy and then there appears to be a name, Josefina Lubring…

MR. MENDOZA. Clerk.

SEN. DRILON. …Clerk IV, 12/7/2000. May we just know who is Josefina C. Lubring? Is she with the audit office? Is she what? Is she a custodian of these documents?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What would be the answer of the defense?

MR. MENDOZA. I am checking, Your Honor. All right. This is from a COA officer, Your Honor.

But may I state that at this point in time, these documents are not being offered yet and the witness is just being asked whether he has seen these before. If he has not seen these before, then that is the end of it. If he has seen them, then he can confirm whether they are correct copies or not. It is just cross examination.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So, preliminary.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Well, because there is a representation that this is a true xerox copy and we would like to know if, indeed, Lubring, who appears to be a Clerk IV, can certify that these, indeed, are copies.

MR. MENDOZA. I have the original of the certification and I must state that, perhaps, one would strictly require the certification of public documents. It is not adequate because it does not say “I am the custodian.” But when it is offered, the documents can be rejected if they are offered as proof of the contents. But they are only being offered, will be offered, if at all, as part of the cross examination. They are not going to be offered as proof of the contents of the documents.

SEN. DRILON. Anyway, I just asked those questions for the record.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. Since it is only being asked as a preliminary question, perhaps the Chair would allow the question. It is up for the witness now to answer.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor … Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Atty. Sanidad.

MR. SANIDAD (P). So that we will not delay the proceedings, considering the earlier manifestation of the distinguished counsel that if the witness says this is the first time he has seen them, that’s the end of it. We are withdrawing our objection.

MR. MENDOZA. So, will I now proceed to …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may now proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. This is on Exhibit “B”. Perhaps after a few exhibits, we can ask a question which will be comprehensive.

Governor… well, it has been suggested by the prosecutor that I should do this on an exhibit by exhibit basis. Pakitignan po itong Exhibit “11″ at pakisabi lang po kung kayo ay natatandaan n’yo na kung nakita na ninyo ito, iyong original niyan.

MR. SINGSON. Ngayon ko lang nakita ito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon. Samakatuwid, hindi n’yo natatandaan na nakita iyong original itong Exhibit “11″ at lahat na nandidito, ganoon po ba? O, mayroon po diyan kayong nakita na?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor. At itong mga ganitong bagay, Your Honor, matagal na po ito.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo.

MR. SINGSON. Eh, pagka hindi na settle po ito, ibig sabihin, na settle na po lahat ito, Your Honor. At alam ko po, Your Honor, matagal na po ito. Alam ko po dahil magtatatlong buwan na tayo, benggatibo po ang Pangulong Estrada. Idinemanda na po sana ako kung totoo lahat ito, Your Honor. Kung may kasalanan po ako rito …

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, tinatanong lamang po, eh. Hindi ko po tinatanong kung ano po ang nangyari. Tinatanong ko lamang ko sa inyo kung nakita na ninyo ito.

MR. SINGSON. Kaya settled na ito.

MR. MENDOZA. Nakita na ninyo ito?

MR. SINGSON. May suspension siguro ito, pero settled na dahil nakalagay diyan, eh, 90 days after receipt.

MR. MENDOZA. Opo, kung ang sabi po rito…

MR. SINGSON. … 90 days after receipt, settled na. At saka, maliliit na bagay po ito, Your Honor, iyong mga kulang kulang lang iyong mga papers. Kaya, dini disallow.

MR. MENDOZA. Ganoon po.

MR. SINGSON. Kung minsan dini disallow dahil kulang iyong mga papers. Pag submit ng mga papers, wala na ho ito. Ganoon po ito, iyong mga suspension. Ang ibig sabihin, suspension, wala na po ito.

MR. MENDOZA. So, sa inyong palagay, naayos na ito?

MR. SINGSON. Palagay ko, Your Honor, dahil matagal na itong mga ito, eh.

MR. MENDOZA. Eh, sige po. Eh, hahayaan na lang natin doon at kukuha na lang kami ng certification kung sakaling hindi pa nga ito nase settle.

Sa pagtatanong po sa inyo ng mga prosecutors, e, ipinahayag nila iyong mga naging karanasan n’yo sa panunungkulan, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon, mayroon po akong nabasang article sa Inquirer. Ang sinasabi, ito ay bunga ng pagkaka interview sa inyo, one on one. Natatandaan po ba n’yo iyong in interview kayo nitong si Ceres Doyo?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show the article to the witness.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor, this is another document that has not been marked. There is not…

MR. MENDOZA. No, I am not going to use this as an exhibit.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Yes, but you’re using it as basis for questioning.

MR. MENDOZA. No, I am asking only whether he recalls having been interviewed…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The counsel is not marking the exhibit the document as an exhibit.

MR. SANIDAD (P). We submit, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, dito po sa pahayagan na ito, eh, kung natatandaan lang n’yo, ang sinasabi, kayo daw, eh, marami na kayong beses na napanganib ang inyong buhay, pero kayo, eh, nagtagumpay pa rin, ano po?

Eh, mayroon pong quote dito, babasahin ko po at sabihin n’yo kung natatandaan kung sinabi nga n’yo ito:

“I have survived six ambushes”, says Singson, who describes himself as an ‘asintado’ or sharpshooter. He was not one to merely rely on security aides, he would hit the ground and join the firefight. In short, he returned fire and killed a few but don’t mention how many he…. ”

Tama po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor, sinabi ko iyon ang kuwento noong tao, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, ganoon po.

MR. SINGSON. Kaya hindi totoo iyang nadiyaryo diyan, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ah, opo. Pero dito po, sinabi rin, na kayo eh nagtrabaho rin bilang embalmer. Totoo po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. At kayo, sa pulitika mahigpit na ang naging karanasan n’yo. Nakalaban n’yo sila Congressman Crisologo kanya… Pero kayo’y nagtagumpay pa rin sa Ilocos Sur.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero sabi rin po rito, na kayo naman daw ay mayroong hilig din, like lavish lifestyle. Kayo, eh, nagha hunting ng moose sa Sweden at Canada, at naglalaro kayo ng “Trap and Skit”, kagaya ng mga kasama ng Prince of Brunei? Totoo ho ba iyon?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Your Honor, these are all immaterial and irrelevant.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What is the materiality of the question?

MR. MENDOZA. The relevance of this, if Your Honors please, is to show the lifestyle of the witness. The prosecution tried to prove he was just a government official; he performed his job well. These are just a few things which would show and perhaps provide a more complete picture of the Governor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. But the question would lack basis if it is in relation to his performance as a governor or whatever. There is no showing as to the date when these things happened.

MR. MENDOZA. It also would affect his credibility as a witness considering that in this case, the Governor admits that he has actually withdrawn from the province of Ilocos Sur P170 million which is completely documented. Now, he imputes the use of this to supposedly 130 million he gave to the President.

Now, if Your Honor please, as far as that is concerned, his testimony regarding the delivery of the hundred thirty million is apparently hearsay. We are just trying to show that perhaps, the 130 million was spent for something else..

MR. SANIDAD (P). Hunting moose is…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is sustained.

MR. SANIDAD (P). Thank you, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The materiality has not been shown.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero dito po nasasabi rin na regular na pumupunta kayo sa Las Vegas at sumusugal doon?

MR. SANIDAD (P). Same objection, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Sustained.

MR. MENDOZA. I will not pursue that, Your Honor.

Ngayon po, Governor, eh doon po sa malaking rally sa EDSA, kayo po ba’y dumalo?

MR. SANIDAD (P). What’s the materiality?

MR. SINGSON. Anong date, Your Honor?

MR. MENDOZA. Well, it shows that after his expose he was adulated, he became a hero, which is relevant to this….

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You mean, you will relate it to the previous testimony of the witness…

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER….before the suspension?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Regarding his having been invited to speak before rotary clubs…

MR. MENDOZA. Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER….and joining rallies?

MR. MENDOZA. And this is very short. This is just one or two questions.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair would allow the witness to answer the question.

The objection is overruled.

MR. SANIDAD (P). We submit, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pakisabi lang po kung dumalo kayo doon sa malaking rally sa EDSA na naganap noong November 4?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, nagmagandang loob lang po ako, Your Honor, dahil hindi ko akalain na may suporta, Your Honor, at nakakahiya naman hindi ako pupunta, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ngayon po, mayroon po akong ipapakitang larawan dalawang larawan sa inyo na markang Exhibits “47″ and “48″, pakitingnan lamang po niyo at sabihin niyo sa Impeachment Court kung ‘yong nalalarawan diyan eh nangyari nga noong okasyon na ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Ito pong dalawang larawan na ito, ano po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi na po hindi ko na po itatanong sa inyo kung sinu sino ito sapagkat lahat naman makikilala kung nandidito, ano po?

May I just request for about five minutes? I would just confer with my colleagues, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any objection from the defense from the prosecution?

MR. SANIDAD (P). None, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Granted. Trial is suspended for five minutes.

THE TRIAL WAS SUSPENDED AT 6:15 P.M.

THE TRIAL WAS RESUMED AT 6:21 P.M.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The trial is resumed.

Atty. Mendoza.

MR. MENDOZA. With the permission of the Court.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. Governor, I am showing you “Exhibit 10” which appears to be cash advance of 100 million. Will you kindly look at this and inform the Court whether you recall having seen this before?

MR. SINGSON. Wala akong pirma rito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Hindi ninyo nakikita ito?

MR. SINGSON. Depende iyong date, Your Honor. Sinasabi ko lang wala akong pirma rito. Ano’ng…

MR. MENDOZA. Di po bale.

MR. SINGSON. Kailan, kailan, kailan ito, Your Honor?

MR. MENDOZA. Kung hindi po ninyo natatandaan…

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, natatandaan ko na, Your Honor, meron l00 million napunta sa National Tobacco Administration dahil sa kagustuhan kong ma-isalba ang tobacco industry, ibinigay ko sa National Tobacco Administration para ipautang sa apat na probinsiya, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and La Union, para makatulong kami the whole region, Your Honor. So nasa National Tobacco Administration ito, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. Pero meron po ditong certification na mukhang hindi yata na-approve.

MR. SINGSON. December 8 ito, Your Honor, noong lumabas na ako, Your Honor. Wala po ito, Your Honor, noong hindi pa ako lumalabas. Kaya ika ko nga, benggatibo ang Pangulong Estrada kaya tinawag na lahat yung mga pinakamagaling na COA at kinalkal na lahat yung accounting namin, Your Honor, pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring nai-file na kaso, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A ganoon. Wala pong kaso pang naipa-file?

MR. SINGSON. Wala pa, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. A, ganoon po?

MR. SINGSON. Awa ng Diyos.

MR. MENDOZA. Nasa record naman po. I have no further questions, Your Honor. Thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Do you have redirect?

MR. SANIDAD (P). May I just have one minute to consult the House prosecutors, Your Honor?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Because after that…

MR. SANIDAD (P). Personally, I would like to say we have no redirect, but in deference to them… may I have one minute?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. After that, the Members of the Court may ask questions.

MR. SANIDAD (P).. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, Atty. Sanidad.

MR. SANIDAD (P).. No redirect, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then from the Members of the Court…

MR. SANIDAD (P). For both articles.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. May we have the Members of the Court now who would like to ask questions. It’s not working?(referring to his microphone). It’s working now. Can we have first the listing of those who will ask the questions?

REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Chief Justice, may we seek clarification? The questioning now of the Senator-Judges, is it still for five minutes or two minutes?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yesterday, the agreement was five minutes only for that witness. Unless the Senators now will make another agreement. So two minutes. So we have the Honorable Senators-Judges Guingona, Biazon, Leviste, who else? Only three? So we can start in the meanwhile with the Honorable Senator-Judge Guingona.

SEN. GUINGONA. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice. Governor Singson, kanina sa testimonya mo, sinagot mo na hindi mo nalaman, hindi mo nakita yung l30 million. Ang pagka-alam mo ay ayon lamang kay Atong Ang. Ngunit sinundan mo yung testimonya mo sa pagkasabi na alam mo na merong l30 million na na-deliver sa Polk Street kay Pangulong Estrada. Paki-liwanag nga?

MR. SINGSON. Yung l30 million, Your Honor, alam ko na pera yun, Your Honor, dahil inantay namin sa bangko. At bagamat hindi ko nakita noong idineliver…noong kaharap ko na si Pangulong Estrada, unang-una si First Lady, nagpasalamat sa akin, kaya nasisiguro ko, Your Honor, na natanggap niya yung pera. Wala po akong ibang dala noong araw na yun kung hindi yung pera, Your Honor. At saka si Pangulong Estrada, sinabi rin, inamin sa akin, Your Honor, na 70 million yung natanggap lang niya at nagalit nga noong sinabi ko na l30 million lahat yun, Your Honor. So dahil doon, Your Honor, nasisiguro ko na natanggap nila, Your Honor, yung pera, pero yung iniwan sa bahay ni Atong Ang, siguro yun na yung parte niya, Your Honor.

SEN. GUINGONA. Maraming salamat. Thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you. The Honorable Senator-Judge Biazon.

SEN. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr.Chief Justice. Governor, ano po ba ang Republic Act 7l7l?

MR. SINGSON. Para tulungan po ‘yong mga farmers sa mga Virginia tobacco producing provinces, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. In what form anu anong forma ‘yong tulong na ‘yan na manggagaling sa Republic Act 7171?

MR. SINGSON. Well, unang una, Your Honor, mula noong umpisa ‘yon na ang plano namin na ilagay doon ‘yong curing barn dahil sa buong mundo computerized na ang curing barn, Your Honor. Tayo na lang ang gumagamit ng kahoy. Nakakalbo na po ‘yong mga bundok namin at saka kawawa po ‘yong mga farmers, hindi nila maibenta ‘yong tabako nila kung hindi nila maluto muna. Kaya kailangan na kailangan po ‘yong curing barn para to save time and money, yayaman po ang mga farmers namin, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Okay. Mukhang hindi ako naiintindihan, Mr. Chief Justice.

‘Yong bang 7171 provides a share of the tobacco excise tax?

MR. SINGSON. Fifteen percent of all the excise taxes of cigarettes will go back to the Virginia tobacco producing provinces, meaning, the Virginia tobacco producing provinces lang, Your Honor, puwera po ‘yong mga native burley at ibang klaseng tabako, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Okay. Magkano itong 15 percent na ito na total para doon sa Virginia tobacco growing provinces?

MR. SINGSON. Kung ano ang produkto pro rata, Your Honor. Kung ano ang produkto ninyo, ‘yon ang share ninyo.

SEN. BIAZON. So, on the average, magkano ‘yang 15 percent na ‘yan a year?

MR. SINGSON. A year. As of last year, Your Honor, tumaas na ang kinikita ng national government. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, 22 billion at 15 percent of that will go back to the four Virginia tobacco producing provinces, pro rata, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. And 15 percent of that would be running up to almost 4 billion?

MR. SINGSON. More or less, siguro, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Almost 4 billion.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Ito para doon sa apat na probinsiya?

MR. SINGSON. Apat na probinsiya, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Okay. Magkano ang share niyan ng Ilocos Sur?

MR. SINGSON. Pinakamalaki ‘yong Ilocos Sur, Your Honor, dahil…

SEN. BIAZON. Magkano?

MR. SINGSON. Mga 60 to 70 percent, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Sixty to 70 percent?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Ng 4 billion for a year?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. All right. Ibig sabihin niyan umaabot ng mga tatlong bilyon na mahigit?

MR. SINGSON. Milyon?

SEN. BIAZON. Bilyon.

MR. SINGSON. Kung ibinibigay sana, Your Honor. Kaya nga hindi binibigay kaya hindi namin…

SEN. BIAZON. Kanya nga. Tinatanong ko lang muna, Gobernador. Kung ibinibigay mga tatlong bilyon?

MR. SINGSON. Siguro po, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Sa isang taon?

MR. SINGSON. Sa isang taon, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Okay.

MR. SINGSON. Pero ‘yong past years, Your Honor, maliit lang, Your Honor, nag umpisa sa noong ginawa natin ‘yong batas na ‘yan, Your Honor, mga 13 to 15 billion per annum lang ang income ng national government. Tumaas na lang…

SEN. BIAZON. Thirteen to?

MR. SINGSON. Fifteen billion.

SEN. BIAZON. Fifteen billion.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. And 15 percent of that would be how much, 2.25 billion?

MR. SINGSON. Siguro po, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Maybe less, 225 million?

MR. SINGSON. Kung mayroon tayong accountant dito, Your Honor…

SEN. BIAZON. All right. Hindi. Balik tayo doon sa ‘yong last year, ‘yong 4 billion. Ang dapat tanggapin ng Ilocos Sur ay aabot ng mga 3 billion?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Dapat.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Dapat. So, ‘yong 130 million, ilang percent lang ‘yan noong 3 billion?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko alam, Your Honor. Kung may accountant kung may accountant tayo pakuwenta natin sa accountant para sigurado..

SEN. BIAZON. Ang ibig kong sabihin, ‘yong bang pagbibigay ninyo ng 130 million kung saan man ninyo binigay ay mayroong pangakong kapalit?

MR. SINGSON. Ibibigay nga sana ‘yong…

SEN. BIAZON. ‘Yong tatlong bilyon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor, na advance na nga ang Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. ‘Yong 130 million?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi pa namin natatanggap na advance na niya, Your Honor.

SEN. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you, too.

The Honorable Senator Judge Loren Legarda Leviste.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Salamat, Mr. Chief Justice.

Ilang katanungan lang, Mr. Witness.

Madalas ninyong banggitin sa inyong testimonya ang pangalan ni Bong Pineda at Charing Magbuhos, maliban sa ibang mga pangalan pa ng mga taong sinasabi ninyong mga jueteng operators o jueteng lords, paano ninyo nakilala ang mga taong ito Magbuhos, Pineda, etcetera?

MR. SINGSON. Sa opisina ni Atong Ang, Your Honor. Doon ko sila na meet, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Nakilala lang po niyo si Magbuhos, Pineda, et. al. pagkatapos niyong makilala si Atong Ang at hindi bago makilala si Atong Ang. Ganoon ba ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Nakilala ko na si Ms. Magbuhos, Your Honor, sa mga sabungan noong araw. Nagsasabong din.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. How about Bong Pineda?

MR. SINGSON. Bong Pineda, ganoon din, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Kilala ninyo sila bago pa makilala si Atong Ang or nakilala lang ninyo sila noong nakilala mo na si Atong Ang sa kaniyang tanggapan.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, Your Honor. Dati ko na silang kilala, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Aha. So,…

MR. SINGSON. Dahil sa sabungan. Nagsasabong din sila.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. …. kaibigan mo na sila at naging associate mo sila noong nakilala mo si Atong Ang.

MR. SINGSON. Noong pinatawag sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada si Bong Pineda, doon ako nagulat, Your Honor, dahil akala ko nahinto na lahat ‘yan. So, nagtaka ako at nagulat noong nakita ko si Bong Pineda, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Sila ba ay operators or collector?

MR. SINGSON. Noong ako ang namahala, Your Honor, ay nagpapatulong ako kay Bong Pineda na kumolekta sa mga ibat ibang probinsiya, Your Honor. Hindi ko na alam kung operator sila. So, nagpatulong ako sa kanila, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Ang mga nakokolekta ba ninyo kay Magbuhos, Pineda, et. al. ay diretsong pumapasok sa inyong account na inyong sinasabing binuksan ninyo or mayroon pa bang ibang account na pinupuntahan gaya ng kay Yolly Ricaforte o dumadaan ba lahat sa inyo?

MR. SINGSON. Noong naibigay ko na ‘yong 123 million, Your Hohor, doon na sa account ni Ricaforte dinideposito lahat, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. You mean, simula sa inyo, tapos, pagkatapos noon ay kay Yolly Ricaforte diretso na.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. At doon siya gumawa ng tinatawag niyong tinatawag niyang listahan, na tinatawag niyong ledger ninyo.

MR. SINGSON. Pakiulit, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. At doon po pumupunta, nakalista o naka accounting sa tinatawag niyong ledger, na tinatawag ni Ms. Ricaforteng listahan.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Mayroon ba kayong mga entries sa inyong listahan o sa ledger na tinatawag niyo na hindi galing sa jueteng o lahat ba ng inyong entry diyan ay jueteng money?

MR. SINGSON. Except ‘yong isa na four million, Your Honor, ‘yong ibinigay ko sa Pangulong Estrada noong nagpapirma ako ‘yong 20 million na repair ng aking kapitolyo, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. So, mayroon kayong ipinasok sa inyong ledger na hindi proceeds ng jueteng kung hindi extra money from another source. Ganoon ba ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yon. ‘Yon po, Your Honor, ‘yon po…

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Maliban doon, mayroon pa bang ibang sources maliban sa jueteng collections?

MR. SINGSON. Wala na, Your Honor. Galing lahat sa jueteng, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Eh, ‘yong mga palabas naman po, ‘yong expenses, lahat ba ‘yan ay nakalista sa inyong ledger o listahan o mayroon ba kayong sinasabi niyong “recipient” o tumatanggap ng jueteng money na hindi nanggaling o nakalista sa ledger.

MR. SINGSON. Nakalista po lahat, Your Honor. Kung minsan, may mga pinagbibigyan ang Pangulong Estrada. ‘Yon na lang ang nakakalimutan ko kung minsan ilista, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. So, hindi ho lahat ng pinaggagastusan niyo na ang mga recipient ang sinasabi niyong pinanggalingan ng jueteng money ay nakalista sa inyong ledger.

MR. SINGSON. Pakiulit, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Hindi lahat ng mga bagay o tao na sinabi niyong beneficiary o tumatanggap ng pera ng jueteng ay nakalista sa listahan or ledger na ‘yon. Ganoon ho ba ‘yon?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What’s the answer of the witness?

MR. SINGSON. Paki nalilito na ho ako, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. I hope this will not be taken against my two minutes. Can I just repeat?

Mayroon po kayong maalala bang mga tao o bagay na sabi niyong tumanggap ng collection or pera ng jueteng na hindi niyo nailista sa inyong ledger or listahan?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, mayroon, Your Honor. Mayroon, mayroon din, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Aha. Can you cite an example, please?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yong naibigay kay ‘yong Joelle…

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Alam ko na ho ‘yon.

MR. SINGSON. … Pelaez, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. ‘Yong binanggit niyo noong inyong testimonya na hindi niyo nailista. Maliban doon sa amount na ‘yon, mayroon pang mas malalaking amount na hindi niyo nailista.

I think my two minutes is over. I just want an answer.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And as to the delay in the answer, so, your time may be extended by 10 seconds.

MR. SINGSON. Mayroon ding iba, Your Honor, ‘yong naibigay ko noon, Your Honor, sa kay Ms. Laarni Enriquez, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Maliban doon, wala na kayong naalala?

MR. SINGSON. Wala akong matandaan as of now, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA LEVISTE. Paano po ang Fontainbleau na sinasabi niyong beneficiary ng jueteng na hindi naman po nakalista sa jueteng …

SEN. OSMENA (J). Point of order, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yeah, yeah, the point of order is — because of the time now.

SEN. LEGARDA-LEVISTE. That was my last question, that was my last question.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We tried to deduct the time that the witness took a long time to answer. So, last question.

MR. SINGSON. Iyong sa Fontainbleau, Your Honor, …

SEN. LEGARDA-LEVISTE. Thank you.

MR. SINGSON. … ang accounting noon, eh — kung ipagpahintulot po ninyo, Your Honor, mayroon akong listahan dito, iyong 123 million na iyong iba nagastos sa Fontainbleau, tapos iyong 30 million, binalik din. Dahil 64 million iyong gastos sa Fontainbleau, binalik po iyong 30 million. Iyong 34 million, iyon po ang ibinigay ko sa Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

SEN. LEGARDA-LEVISTE. Salamat, Ginoong Witness, thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you. The Chair would recognize now the Honorable Senator-Judge Enrile. After that the Honorable Judge Cayetano and the Honorable Judge Revilla.

SEN. ENRILE. Salamat po, Ginoong Chief Justice. Ako po ay magtatanong ng maiksi lamang. Gusto ko pong paniwalaan ang istorya ninyo na kayo ay nagdala ng pera sa Malacañang na may halagang isang daan tatlumpong milyon — ah sa Polk Street. Ngunit gusto ko lang maliwanagan ang isang bagay para maalis sa aking kaisipan itong duda na ito.

Sinasabi po ninyo na nagdadala kayo ng pera, sang-ayon sa inyong istorya, sa Malacañang at ginagamit ninyo na lalagyan ay iyong attache case, hindi ba?

MR. SINGSON. Malacanang or Polk Street?

SEN. ENRILE. Ah, sa Polk Street.

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko … ah iyong attache case, Your Honor, sa Malacanang lang dini-deliver.

SEN. ENRILE. Kaya nga, gumagamit kayo ng attache case.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Kung iyong kayang attache case na iyon ang ginamit na paglagyan noong kandidad ng pera na dinala ninyo sa Polk Street, ilang attache kaya ang kailangan para malulan iyong dinala ninyong pera sang-ayon sa inyo noong araw na iyon sa Polk Street?

MR. SINGSON. Ang sinabi ko, Your Honor, kung natatandaan ko, nakita ko iyong bayong na plastik.

SEN. ENRILE. Ilang bayong na plastik?

MR. SINGSON. Dalawa o tatlo siguro, Your Honor, iyong pinasok sa kuwarto ni Atong Ang. Iyong paglagay sa kotse, hindi ko na matandaan.

SEN. ENRILE. Gaano kalalaki iyong bayong po?

MR. SINGSON. Wala tayong bayong dito.

SEN. ENRILE. Plastik na bayong ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Plastik na bayong, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Gaano kalalaki?

MR. SINGSON. Sa Ilokano po, bayong ang tawag namin doon sa plastik.

SEN. ENRILE. Alam po ba ninyo ang timbang ng isang libong piraso na papel de bangko na gawa ng Central Bank?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Isang kilo po. Di samakatuwid, kung 130 million iyong dinala ninyo po sa Polk Street, eh 130 kilos, mapapasan kaya ng isa o dalawang tao iyong 130 kilo na papel de bangko?

MR. SINGSON. Your Honor, noong pag– pagka-alam ko, Your Honor, iyong iba iniwan na ni Atong Ang, Your Honor, so, siguro mga 90 million ang nadala roon, Your Honor, na ibinigay kay Pangulong Estrada at saka kay Doktora, First Lady, Your Honor. At sinabi ko naman noon, Your Honor, na sila Atong Ang ang naglagay sa kotse, sa likod, Your Honor, hindi ko na nakita iyon, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Hindi mo nakita kung …

MR. SINGSON. Pero natiyak ko na natanggap ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Pero hindi mo nakita iyong plastic bag?

MR. SINGSON. Noong pinasok sa bahay ni Atong Ang, Your Honor. Iyon lang ang nakita ko, mga pinasok. “Nandito na iyong pera pero kulang pa,” sinabi niya, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Noong isinakay sa kotse, nakita mo?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ho, Your Honor. Sinabi lang na nandoon na lahat sa kotse, “Tayo na, nag-aantay na si Pangulong Estrada,” sabi niya, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Magkasama kayo sa kotse?

MR. SINGSON. Kasama po, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Kayong dalawa ni Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Kaming dalawa lang, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Saan ka naiwan?

MR. SINGSON. Bago — noong lumiko kami sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, doon ako bumaba dahil sabi niya para hindi mahalata, eh sumunod naman ako.

SEN. ENRILE. Tumindig ka sa kalye, ganoon ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, bumaba po ako roon.

SEN. ENRILE. Siya ang nagpasok ng kotse?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, dahil kitang kita ko po, Your Honor, siguro mga 20 meters away or 25 meters away ako noon, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Ilang plastic bag, hindi ninyo alam?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko na nakita, Your Honor.

SEN. ENRILE. Pero sabi ninyo tatlong plastic bag, tatlong ganoon?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, mga tatlo o apat. Hindi ako sigurado pero nakita ko lang na dinaan sa likod ko, Your Honor, natingnan ko pinasok sa kuwarto.

SEN. ENRILE. Gaano kalalaki noong bayong po? Ganyan?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi naman.

SEN. ENRILE. Ganyan? Ganyan?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Would you want the Secretary of the Senate get the measurement if indicated by the witness?

SEN. ENRILE. I just want the witness to indicate the size if he could remember or imagine, Mr. Chief Justice.

MR. SINGSON. Ganito siguro, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You do either.

SEN. ENRILE. Samakatuwid, 90 million iyong dinala ninyo, 90 kilos, hindi ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko alam, Your Honor, ang kilos.

SEN. ENRILE. Hindi mo alam. Ay, okay na lang sa akin.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you.

The Honorable Senator Judge Cayetano.

SEN. CAYETANO. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

Governor Singson, paano ninyo nalaman na iyong 130 million ay nai deliver kay Pangulong Erap sa Polk Street sa kanyang bahay sa San Juan, Greenhills?

MR. SINGSON. Noong dumating ako, Your Honor, si First Lady kaagad ang nasalubong ko sa sala at nagpasalamat kaagad. Kaya nasisiguro ko na natanggap nila iyong pera, Your Honor, dahil iyon lang ang dala ko noong araw na iyan, Your Honor, iyong perang iyon, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Kay Pangulong Erap, paano mo nalaman na mayroong delivery na pera?

MR. SINGSON. Noong nag usap na kami, tinanong ko na kaagad kung ilan ang natanggap niya, Your Honor. Sabi niya, “70 million.”

SEN. CAYETANO. Natanggap kanino?

MR. SINGSON. Ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, natanggap niya 70 million. Eh kako 130 lahat iyong binigay ko kako, kaya nagalit agad tinawag niya si Atong Ang, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. At iyon ang dahilan kung bakit mo alam na tinanggap ni Pangulong Erap?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Ang halagang magkano?

MR. SINGSON. Noong nandoon na kami, Your Honor, 70 million iyong natanggap ni Pangulong Estrada, 20 million si First Lady, so 90 million, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Ninety million?

MR. SINGSON. Opo. Iyong 40 million siguro iyon ang napunta kay Atong Ang at saka kay Jinggoy Estrada, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Okay. Bumalik tayo sa jueteng, ‘no. Magkano ang sa panahon, ‘no, na ikaw ay nanungkulan, bale nga kolektor sabi mo, ay magkano ang total collection mo sa jueteng na natatandaan mo?

MR. SINGSONG. Magkano ang…

SEN. CAYETANO. Ang total collection sa jueteng. Kanina mayroon kang binabasa…

MR. SINGSON. Nandito na po, Your Honor. Nakita ko na dito.

SEN. CAYETANO. Paki ulit mo nga para malaman namin ng maliwanag?

MR. SINGSON. Ang total collection po, Your Honor, is 542 million, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Five hundred…

MR. SINGSON. Five hundred forty two million five hundred forty one thousand, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Iyan eh noong ikaw ang namamahala?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi, lahat lahat na po ito, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Lahat lahat na.

MR. SINGSON. Noong ako ang namamahala ang net ay noong sinabmit ko, Your Honor…Mula noong napunta kay Ricaforte, Your Honor, or…?

SEN. CAYETANO. Hindi. Iyong 542?

MR. SINGSON. …Forty two million, Your Honor. Ito iyong…

SEN. CAYETANO. Saan nanggaling iyang figure na iyan? Saan nanggaling?

MR. SINGSON. Mula umpisa hanggang natapos, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Okay.

MR. SINGSON. November 1998 to August 2000.

SEN. CAYETANO. Okay. Saan napapunta iyang mga perang iyan? Iyang 542 million na collection saan napapunta?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong naibigay ko kay Pangulong Estrada., Your Honor, ay 190 million iyong every 15 days plus iyong nasa bangko ni Yolly Ricaforte na 216 million. So ang napunta lahat kay Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, pero net na ito, Your Honor, 406 million, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Four hundred six million?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Ano ang nangyari doon sa balance?

MR. SINGSON. Balance?

SEN. CAYETANO. Oo. Kasi sabi mo 542 million

eh.

MR. SINGSON. Ah, expenses po, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Ah, expenses.

MR. SINGSON. Expenses. Napunta na sa expenses iyong iba, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Ano naman ang ginawa ni Mrs. Ricaforte dito sa 200 million?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong 200 million, Your Honor, iyon na iyong binigay niya sa Pangulong Estrada through Atty. Serapio, iyong trusted na abogado ni Pangulong Estrada, at siya ang tumanggap, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Kung nalalaman mo, ano ang nangyari doon sa 200 million pagtanggap ni Atty. Serapio?

MR. SINGSON. Ang pagkaalam ko, Your Honor, eh dineposito muna sa ibang mga account tapos sila na ang nagsabi na nandoon na raw sa Foundation.

SEN. CAYETANO. Okay. Mabalik lang tayo dito sa 123 million. Nabanggit mo kanina ito ‘no. Doon nga sa affidavit mo na 14th of September na meron kang itinurnover na 123 million kay Mrs. Ricaforte. Kanina may sinasabi kang may listahan. Ano iyong listahang iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong accounting noong 123 million na ibinigay ko sa harap ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, iyong 34,640,000 na postdated check, iyon ang ibinayad sa Fontana para nabili lahat ang buong Fontana. Dahil noong pinagawa sa akin ito, Your Honor, iyong Fontainbleau, uupa lang sana kami doon. Pero dahil sa tulong din ni Atong Ang, hindi lang kami umupa, nabili na iyong whole complex, the whole Fontana, napunta sa Pangulong Estrada, ginamit niya iyong mga abogado niya, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. So 34 million ‘yon, ang balanse.

MR. SINGSON. Oo, 34 million tapos may resibo po ito na 93 million ay, 93 thousand, 126 thousand. Iyong tseke na binigay ko, Your Honor, seventeen million two hundred ten. Iyong 70 million na galing kay Gatchalian, nandito na po iyong sa loob iyong 30 million na ibinayad nila, Your Honor, iyong 70 million. Sixty two million ito, pinautang namin si William Gatchalian at kumita ang Pangulong Estrada ng eight million dito, Your Honor. So lahat lahat ito, Your Honor, kung ipapahintulot ninyo, Your Honor, bibigyan ko sana kayo ng kopya lahat, Your Honor, itong 123 million, Your Honor.

MR. MARCELO. Your Honor, may we request that this document being referred to by the witness be marked as an exhibit.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Exhibit what?

MR. MARCELO. Exhibit “PPPPPP”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. How is that again?

MR. MARCELO. Sextuple “P”. Is that the correct word, Your Honor?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Sextuple?

MR. MARCELO. Yeah, six P’s.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Mark it.

MR. MENDOZA. With the permission of the Court, may I just make of record that as the witness was answering, he was reading from that paper.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Make it of record.

SEN. CAYETANO. Governor Singson, iyang listahang sinabi mo sa akin, sino ang gumawa niyan?

MR. SINGSON. Itong hundred twenty three?

SEN. CAYETANO. Oo. Sino ang gumawa niyan?

MR. SINGSON. Ako po, Your Honor, para ma explain lang iyong binigay ko kay Pangulong Estrada noon, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Kanina may nabanggit ka na itong 123 na ibinigay mo kay Presidente Estrada pero sa affidavit mo sinasabi mo itinurnover mo kay…

MR. SINGSON. Nakaharap ho si Presidente noon, Your Honor. Binigay ko kay Ricaforte.

SEN. CAYETANO. Paliwanag lang, Governor, para maliwanagan natin. Dito sa affidavit mo sinabi mo itinurnover mo 123 million ‘no pero sinasabi mo eh parang kay Pangulo mo ibinigay iyon. Papano? Explanasyon lang.

MR. SINGSON. Pakiulit nga po, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Iyong 123 million, explanasyon, paano napapunta kay Ricaforte?

MR. SINGSON. Noong binigay ko itong 123 million, Your Honor, nakaharap po si Pangulong Estrada at saka si Yolanda Ricaforte, Your Honor. So, tinurn over (turned over) ko sa kanya lahat itong kuwentang ito…

SEN. CAYETANO. Sino ‘yong siya?

MR. SINGSON. Si Presidente, Your Honor, si Pangulong Estrada, doon kami sa Malacañang noon, Your Honor, at binigay ko lahat ito, Your Honor, mga tseke. So, ito po, Your Honor, bago ko binigay inaudit na ni Yolanda Ricarforte noon, Your Honor. Kaya nga nagbigay ako ng tseke noon na seventeen million two hundred ten at saka iyong mga ibang resibo. Ang malaki rito, Your Honor, is seventeen million two hundred ten, iyong 70 million na galing kay Gatchalian, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Papaano napapunta kay Ricaforte iyang perang 123 million?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, nakaharap po ang Pangulong Estrada noong binigay kong lahat, Your Honor. Tapos eh pinakita ko kay Pangulong Estrada at binigay ko kay Ricaforte, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Oo nga, bakit mo binigay kay Ricarforte?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon po ang bilin ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, na ibigay ko sa kanya at ilipat lahat sa account ni Yolanda Ricarforte, Your Honor. At tinanong pa nga kung sinabi ko mas mukhang comfortable sana ako ‘kako kung sa Metrobank. “Hindi, doon na sa Equitable PCI Bank”, sabi niya, Your Honor.

SEN. CAYETANO. Maraming salamat po, Governor.

Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you. The Chair would now recognize the Honorable Senator Judge Revilla.

SEN. REVILLA. Marami pong salamat, Chief Justice.

Ang itatanong ko lamang dito sa ating kaibigan na witness ngayon ay, saang bangko mo kinuha iyong 130 million?

MR. SINGSON. Galing po sa Land Bank iyon, Your Honor, na pinadala rin po ng Land Bank sa Land Bank, Manila, Your Honor.

SEN. REVILLA. Iyon ba ay cash na binigay sa iyo?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po ako nag cash, Your Honor.

SEN. REVILLA. Saan kayo nag cash? Sinong nag cash?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong mga tauhan ni Atong Ang, Your Honor. At sabi nga niya sa Blue Ribbon Committee, hindi niya kilala pero napatunayan po na mga tauhan niya lahat ang nagpalit, Your Honor, sila Rajas, Dante…Eleuterio Tan, Alfaro, iyon po ang mga ginamit na pangalan, Your Honor. At saka iyong nasa picture na pinakita ni the Honorable Senate President, eh Jojo Uy from Cebu, iyon po, Your Honor, eh labas pasok sa Malacañang. Iyon ang isang taong nakakapasok sa kuwarto ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, si Jojo Uy.

SEN. REVILLA. Ang gusto kong malinawan, Mr. Witness, ay tungkol dito sa pera na 130 million na kinuha ninyo sa bangko na cash. Aling banko, saang banko ninyo kinas (encashed) iyong 130 million?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong noong pinalit nila sa Land Bank, Your Honor, ikinas (encashed) nila sa diniposito yata o kinas (encashed) sa …

SEN. REVILLA. Nakuha ninyo bang biglaan iyong 130 million sa isang bangko?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor sa Westmont Bank nila diniposito at winidraw, Your Honor, iyong kung hindi ako nagkakamali, 90 million, Your Honor. Iyong 40 million nakuha nila sa Land Bank.

SEN. REVILLA. Naiwan?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi hindi ako kasama nagpalit, Your Honor, sila lang nagpalit nito, Your Honor.

SEN. REVILLA. Samakatuwid hindi mo nakita?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi po, Your Honor, pero nasiguro ko lang na natanggap ni Pangulong Estrada dahil nagalit nga dahil 70 million lang ang natanggap eh.

SEN. REVILLA. Kasi, ang aking punto rito tungkol dito sa aking tinatanong na ito ay tungkol doon sa pagkuha ng pera sa bangko. Dahil katulad ng sinasabi ng ating Senador Enrile na isang kilo ang isang milyong piso na tig iisang libong pisong piraso ang isa.

I have to correct my good friend here Enrile, hindi po isang kilo, kulang lang ho, Mr. Enrile, ng kaunti, sapagkat ako may timbangan ako ng manok. Iyong akin medyo accurate 96 grams per 1 million of P1,000 bill ang isa. So, 96 grams. So, kung 96 grams iyon ay isang libong piso ang bawat isa. Ngayon kung iyon ay P500 bill, ‘di magtitimbang iyon ng isang milyon ng 1.92 kilos. So, napakabigat, hindi madadala. Halimbawa… aywan ko. Iyong 130 million na ‘yon na sinasabing pupunta sa Presidente eh palagay ko hindi kaya ng dalawang tao. That is 190.82 kilos, to be exact.

Alam po ninyo nasasabi ko ito dahil minsan nagkaroon po ako ng pera. And out of curiousity, nagtimbang po ako ng pera. Hindi po sa masamang paraan iyan. Iyan pong pera na iyan ay nanggaling po rito sa ika iyong SM — my property was rented by SM Mall eh binigyan po ako ng ganoon karaming pera. Eh kaya po nalalaman iyang timbang ng pera sapagkat gusto kong malaman talaga kung papaano ika nga ang timbang ng isang pera lalung-lalo na isang milyon. Iyong bundle na isang milyon is eksakto – 96 grams, kulang ng kaunti sa isang kilo na sinasabi ni Senator Enrile.

Ngayon gusto ko hong malaman, papaano nadala kay Presidente — kung halimbawa, 70 million, 70 kilos iyon; napakabigat po nu’n. Eh hindi kaya ni Atong Ang buhatin iyon.

MR. SINGSON. Puwede na akong sumagot, Your Honor?

SEN. REVILLA. Yes, sir. Sige.

MR. SINGSON. Kung may mga testigo po, natatakot lang. Pero mayroon nang nagsabi na nu’ng pinalit nila iyong cash sa Westmont Bank eh tumulong pa iyong mga security, in-escort pa nila sa bahay ni Atong Ang, nanay ni Atong Ang, iyong mga security sa Westmont Bank. Kung puwedeng tumestigo, makakatestigo po sila.

Now, nu’ng pinasok naman ni Atong Ang sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada eh sigurado po ako nagpatulong siya roon.

SEN. REVILLA. Ah ganoon po ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Opo.

SEN. REVILLA. O, sige. Iyon lang po ang gusto kong linawin. Maraming salamat po.

MR. SINGSON. Maraming salamat din po.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you very much.

The Honorable Senator-Judge Coseteng; and after that, the Honorable Judge Drilon.

SEN. COSETENG. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice, with your permission.

Governor Singson, doon po sa inyong affidavit ng September 25, sa Number 8, nakalagay – tungkol din dito sa issue na ito ‘no – “After the release of 200 million, I gave P130 million to Mr. Charlie “Atong” Ang. Together with Mr. Ang and the 130 million cash, we went to the house of President Estrada at Polk Street, North Greenhillls, San Juan, Metro Manila.”

So ibig sabihin kasama n’yo na si Mr. Ang at kasama n’yo rin iyong 130 million na cash sa kotse. Ganoon ho ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon ang pagka-alam ko noon, Your Honor. Pero palagay ko iniwan na ni Atong Ang iyong kanya roon, Your Honor, hindi nadala lahat sa Polk.

SEN. COSETENG. Hindi. Iyong sinabi n’yo…Kasi sinusundan ko lang ho iyong Annex “B” dito na sinumite sa impeachment papers. Nakalagay kasi sinabi n’yo “I gave 130 million to Mr. Charlie Ang. Together with Mr. Ang and the 130 million cash, we went to the House of President Estrada at Polk Street.” So, ibig sabihin kasama n’yo na si Mr. Ang, iyong 130 million, saka kayo po?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Nu’ng ginawa ko iyan, Your Honor, iyon ang natatandaan ko, Your Honor, na nagdala kami ng pera sa Pangulong Estrada.

SEN. COSETENG. So, 130 na iyong dala n’yo?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon ang pagka-alam ko noon. Iyong pagka-kuwento naman nila Atong Ang at saka iyong nakita ko doon, ngayon na may mga paper trail na eh siguro 90 million lang iyong nadala doon, Your Honor.

So iyong bagong isip ko iyan noong — alam ko, Your Honor, na 130 million ang ibinigay namin sa Pangulong Estrada. Dahil nga iyong kuwento ko nga…

SEN. COSETENG. Hindi n’yo dala iyong 130 kasama n’yong dalawa ni Atong kasi iyon ang nakalagay doon sa ano.

MR. SINGSON. Nakalagay nga po iyan diyan, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. Hindi kasi maliwanag kung saan n’yo nakuha iyon. Nu’ng isang araw, sinabi n’yo ho kasi nasa bahay kayo ng nanay ni Mr. Ang, hinihintay n’yo iyong pera doon. Ganoon ho ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. So, 130 million ang hinihintay ninyo sa bahay ni Mrs. Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Iyon ang sinabi sa akin ni Atong Ang noon, Your Honor. Pero later on, nu’ng may mga testigo na ng mga sa Land Bank eh nauna yata naipalit iyong 40 million.

SEN. COSETENG. Hindi. Sandali lang ho. Doon ho sa 130, sabi n’yo hinihintay ninyo iyong cash sa bahay ni Mrs. Ang, iyong nanay ni Mr. Atong Ang.

MR. SINGSON. Opo.

SEN. COSETENG. So, ibig n’yong sabihin, iyong tatlong tao na nagpalit sa bangko, doon nila dinala sa bahay ni Mrs. Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. So, iyon ang perang hinihintay n’yo, iyong 130 na total?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. So pagdating noong 130 doon sa bahay ni Mrs. Ang, kasi nakalagay dito “I gave the 130 million to Mr. Ang,” so ibig sabihin, hindi kayo nagbigay kay Mr. Ang, iyong pera dumating sa bahay ni Mrs. Ang.

MR. SINGSON. Si Atong Ang lahat ang namahala, nagpalit noon, Your Honor, kaya palabas labas siya noon na inaantay niya iyong pera, dahil malapit lang sa bahay nila yata iyong bangko, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. So ngayon, papaano ngayon nako connect na iyong 130 million nilagay ninyo dito kasama ninyo at si Mr. Ang dinala ninyo ngayon kay Pangulong Estrada. Iyon ho ba iyong susundan natin na statement po ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Iyong affidavit, Your Honor. Pero kung susundan natin iyong nangyari, iyong nangyari ay mukhang 90 million lang iyong dala ni Atong Ang, parang iniwan na siguro iyon, dinala sa kuwarto. Baka iniwan na iyong kanya, ‘ka ko, Your Honor, dahil sinabi ko naman hindi ko nakita, Your Honor.

SEN. COSETENG. So alin ho ngayon ang gagamitin natin na basihan?

MR. SINGSON. Pareho ho, Your Honor. Iyon ang ginawa kong affidavit, pero iyong actual na nangyari 130 million pa rin lahat, Your Honor, kaya lang nahiwa hiwalay na.

SEN. COSETENG. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice. My time is up.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you, too.

The Chair will now recognize the Honorable Judge Drilon.

SEN. DRILON. Before I ask the questions, Mr. Chief Justice, may I request the Secretary to produce the boards, the blackboards, the black cartolina, which contained the pictures of Uy which the Senate President submitted as part of the records of the Blue Ribbon. But while it is being brought here, can I start asking some questions?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. The Secretary, do you have it now?

THE SECRETARY. Yes, Your Honor, it’s here.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. Give it to the Honorable Judge Drilon.

Atty. Mendoza.

MR. MENDOZA. I would just like to inquire, Mr. Chief Justice, what the status of these pictures are in regard this case? Because from what I recall, these are records of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes and at one time, sometime last was it Monday or our first day of this week December 22, when these were produced and marked in evidence for the Court for purposes only of identification to complete the record from the Blue Ribbon Committee.

MR. MENDOZA. They are part of the records of the Blue Ribbon Committee to complete the records of the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. From the Blue Ribbon Committee.

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, Your Honor. In the same way that…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. In relation to this voluminous TSNs.

MR. MENDOZA. Thank you very much, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Before I go into this, Mr. Chief Justice, I’d just like to ask a few questions first on the witness.

Binanggit ninyo po kanina na iyong mga jueteng operator nagkaroon ng pagpupulong kasama si Atong Ang at doon hiningi ni Atong Ang na magbigay sila, ang mga jueteng operator, ng tatlong porsyento ng kanilang koleksyon para po hindi sila hulihin. Iyon ba ang sinabi ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Tama po, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Ngayon, sino po ang nagbigay ng assurance na hindi po sila huhulihin kung sila po ay magbigay ng tres porsyento?

MR. SINGSON. Si Atong Ang, Your Honor, pero alam ng lahat, Your Honor, na ang Pangulong Estrada ang may utos sa amin, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Sino’ng lahat?

MR. SINGSON. Lahat iyong mga kausap namin, Your Honor, at alam nila na malapit kami kay Pangulong Estrada, so alam na lahat, Your Honor, na in fact, iyong koleksyon ang tawag nila national.

SEN. DRILON. So ang ibig mo’ng sabihin, noong sinabi ni Atong Ang na hindi sila huhulihin, iyan ay parang ang Pangulo na rin ang nagsasalita sa kanilang tingin, ganoon ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, dahil si Atong Ang ay kilala lahat na malakas kay Pangulong Estrada dahil noong Vice President pa lang si President Estrada siya na ang head ng Presidential Anti Crime Commission kaya kilala na nila, Your Honor, iyong mga ibang maghu jueteng.

SEN. DRILON. Now, mapunta po tayo dito kay Victor Jose Tan Uy o kay Victor Eleuterio Tan. Ito po ba ang sinabi n’yo kaninang Jojo Tan?

MR. SINGSON. Jojo Uy, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. I’m sorry. Jojo Uy?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Ito ba… So, si Eleuterio Tan at si Jojo Uy isang tao lamang?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yon po, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. So, nakita mo na ba itong mga larawan na ito?

MR. SINGSON. Nakita ko na, Your Honor, at isa sa pinaka malakas kay Pangulong Estrada ‘yan, Your Honor. Nakakapasok ‘yan sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada, pati sa kuwarto ni Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Ito po bang mga larawan na ito larawan ni Jojo Uy?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yon po, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Nakalagay dito Victor Jose Tan Uy, Eleuterio Tan, ito po si Jojo Uy?

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yon po, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. At paano mo po nakilala si Jojo Uy or Eleuterio Tan or Victor Jose Tan Uy?

MR. SINGSON. Nakilala ko po, Your Honor, sa Polk Street, Your Honor, dahil nakakadiretso siya ang isang nakakadiretso, Your Honor, sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada. Pinakilala sa akin ni Pangulong Estrada na tiga Cebu, Your Honor, at malaki raw ang naitulong din noong eleksiyon.

SEN. DRILON. Sabi mo labas pasok. Saan po siya lumalabas o pumapasok?

MR. SINGSON. Sa bahay ng Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor, saka sa Malacañang, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Nakita mo ba…

MR. SINGSON. Nakita ko po, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. … na labas pasok s’ya?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. I see. Kailan ninyo Ilang beses ninyo nang nakita, kung inyong maalaala?

MR. SINGSON. Nakilala ko ‘yan, Your Honor, noong pagkatapos ng eleksiyon, di pa umuupo ang Presidente, ipinakilala na sa akin sa Polk Street, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. At ilang beses mo siyang nakasama?

MR. SINGSON. Madalas ko pong makita roon, Your Honor, at pinagtanong ko rin, Your Honor, kung sino si Jojo Uy sa Cebu, eh kilalang kilala nga raw at sinasabi nga n’ya kayang kaya n’yang gisingin si Pangulong Estrada..

SEN. DRILON. At itong si may relasyon ba si Jojo Uy, sa pagkaalam mo, at saka si Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Ah, malapit na malapit po sila, Your Honor, si Atong Ang at saka si Jojo Uy.

SEN. DRILON. Ano’ng ibig mong sabihing malapit na malapit?

MR. SINGSON. Tinanong ko sa kanya noon eh. Kasama namin ‘yan, marami ring naitulong kay Pangulong Estrada sabi ni Atong Ang.

SEN. DRILON. Kanino mo tinanong?

MR. SINGSON. Kay Atong Ang, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. So, kilala ni Atong Ang itong si Eleuterio Tan alias Jojo Uy?

MR. SINGSON. Kilalang kilala, Your Honor. Kilalang kilala ‘yan ni Atong Ang, Your Honor.

SEN. DRILON. Wala na po akong itatanong.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you. And nobody else?

The Honorable Senator Judge Defensor Santiago.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Ginoong Testigo, itong taong 2000 yata itong nakaraang taong 2000 yata kayo unang lumabas, meaning to say, nag expose’ tungkol sa illegal jueteng at ang alleged role ni President Estrada. Tama ho kaya ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. That’s right, 2000. And you said that the only reason why you allowed yourself to be used, in effect, as a national collector for illegal jueteng was your hope that by doing so you could persuade the President to release P200 million for flue curing barns, redrying plants, post harvest facilities, infrastructure projects for your province of Ilocos Sur.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. In fact, according to Exhibit “9″ you received a cash advance of P170 million in 1998 for that very purpose.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. However, you were disappointed in your hope because the money was not used for flue curing barns, redrying plants, etcetera, but most of it, according to you, went to President Estrada, specifically P70 million.

MR. SINGSON. Hundred thirty million lahat, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Ah, hundred thirty million in all. All right. Because President Estrada demanded a kickback of P130 million, so you must have felt frustrated. Isn’t that so?

MR. SINGSON. Your Honor?

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Nabigo kayo sa hangad ninyo na makatanggap ng pera para sa probinsiya ninyo dahil na release nga ang perang 170 million pero naghingi naman, according to you, si President Estrada ng 130 million.

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Kaya siguro you felt frustrated. Naramdaman ninyo ang pagkabigo.

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, pero nangako naman na magbibigay pa.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. All right. Itong pag release sa’yo ng pera na 170 million, 1998. Tama ba ‘yon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. According to this exhibit. And when did you give the 130 million to President Estrada? 1998 din o kailan?

MR. SINGSON. … August, 1998.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Dito kasi ang cash advance ninyo…

MR. SINGSON. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali August, 1998, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. That’s right.

MR. SINGSON. Dahil noong inapbrubahan niya madalian, Your Honor, at na implement agad.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Siguro tama iyan dahil dito sa Exhibit “9″ ang pagbigay sa iyo ng cash advance ay August, 1998. Kaya siguro ang pagbigay naman ninyo ng 130 million out of the 170 million cash advance, mga ganuon ding petsa. Tama kaya iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Paki-ulit lang, Your Honor?

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Itong cash advance ng 170 million tinanggap ninyo August, 1998, tama ho ba iyon?

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. According to Exhibit “9″. Kailan naman ninyo binigay kay Pangulong Estrada ang sabi ninyong kickback niya na 130 million galing dito sa 170 million na nakuha ninyong cash advance.

MR. SINGSON. Noong nailabas na ni Atong Ang, Your Honor, nasa record, noong nailabas na nila sa bangko, Your Honor, sa mga araw na iyon, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Mga ganoon din. More or less that time.

MR. SINGSON. Yes, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Ah. So now the records are very clear augmented by your own testimony that you are already frustrated in your basic hope and intention of getting projects for your province by 1998 but you came out and exposed the President only in 2000 allowing two years to elapse before telling the nation about how big, bad and wicked the President was.

I am not asking you a question. I’m making an observa¬tion.

Ngayon, magta Tagalog na lang ako.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Your time, Your Honor.

SEN. DEFENSOR SANTIAGO. Ah, I’m sorry. I’m very, very sorry, Mr. Chief Justice, this is the second consecu¬tive time I exceeded my time limit.

I would like to put on record that I will welcome a bell or some other reminder because I am not always looking at the clock when I do this.

So, again with my apologies. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you too. The Honorable Senator Judge Honasan.

SEN. HONASAN. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

Governor Singson, pasensiya na ho kayo, kailangan ita¬nong ko ito.

Ibig ko lang pong dagdagan ninyo iyong kaalaman ng inyong abang lingkod na senador, hukom at husgado at sana naman ang korteng ito, tungkol dito sa negosyo o gawain na tinatawag nating jueteng dahil dito ho lahat nagsimula ito sa jueteng. Marami hong mga katanungan pero subukin ninyong habulin natin iyong panahon na ibinigay sa atin.

On a nationwide basis, dahil sabi dito sa paragraph 4 and I call the attention of the Body to Annex “A”, paragraph 4 “on the late part of October, 1998 I was instructed by Presi¬dent Estrada to take over the duties of Atong Ang.”

Ano ho ang duties ni Atong Ang na isinalin sa inyo? At bago ho ninyo sagutin para kung ano ho ang inyong puwe¬deng sagutin para madagdagan lang ang kaalaman ng korteng ito.

Ano’ng amount ang involved sa jueteng all over the country na puwedeng pag interesan ng isang pangulo? Magkano ang kinikita ninyo bilang supervisor ng jueteng?

MR. SINGSON. Nasa record po lahat, Your Honor.

SEN. HONASAN. Governor, sandali lang po, tatapusin ko lang para subukan ninyong sagutin iyong kaya nating sagutin sa loob ng dalawang minuto.

May mga naririnig tayong kataga ngayon katulad ng “kubrador”, katulad ng “inteligensia”, ano ang ibig sabihin nito? May napupunta ba sa pulis, may napupunta ba sa mayor? Para maintindihan ng korte at ng taong bayan kung ano ang lawak ng negosyong ito. Magkano ang hindi napupunta sa BIR dahil illegal ito. Ano ang epekto nito sa ekonomiya para malaman natin kung gaano kalawak talaga ang negosyong ito sa buong kapuluan at maintindihan natin kung bakit puwede itong pag interesan ng isang pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

MR. MARCELO. Your Honor, the question is actually multiple in character, Your Honor, in nature, so may we ask the stenographer to repeat the question so that it can be answered one by one.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. A repetition would be too long already.

SEN. HONASAN. Mr. Chief Justice …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I think the witness was listen¬ing …

SEN. HONASAN. Mr. Chief Justice …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. … but try to find out if the witness can answer the question.

SEN. HONASAN. Mr. Chief Justice, if I may …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, you may continue, Your Honor.

SEN. HONASAN. I was very categorical in my question, whatever details the witness can provide to this Court, he may not answer all the questions, whatever he can answer within two minutes within fifteen seconds.

MR. SINGSON. Your Honor, ang pinasa lang sa akin iyong collection sa national.

SEN. HONASAN. Kung hindi ho kasali iyong sagot ng ating testigo doon sa katanungan ko, then …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That would not be included.

SEN. HONASAN. … this Senator Judge would be very happy, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You still have a little about fifteen seconds. The answer, the time used by the witness for the answer will not be included.

SEN. HONASAN. Please go ahead, Governor Singson.

MR. SINGSON. ‘Yung pinasa po sa akin koleksiyon lang sa national, Your Honor. ‘Yung regional, provincial, municipal wala na po akong pakialam. Kung gusto niyong malaman ang jueteng ipatawag niyo po lahat ‘yung mga nakilalang pangalan at doon po kayo magtanong siguro, mas malalaman niyo lahat, Your Honor. So ang ipinasang trabaho sa akin ‘yung koleksiyon lang sa national, Your Honor.

SEN. HONASAN. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

Salamat po, Governor Singson.

MR. SINGSON. Salamat din po, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you.

The Chair will now recognize the Honorable Senate President Pimentel for some questions.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. Governor, nandiyan ba sa iyo ang Exhibit “9, S, T, U and V”?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. “Nine”.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. “9-S, 9-T, 9-U”. It’s about the liquidation of the 170 million. Mayroon ka bang kopya, Governor itong mga exhibit na ito?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show the witness Exhibits “9”, “9-A” to “9….

MR. MARCELO. May we request, Your Honor, the Defense counsel to provide these exhibits to the witness.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER…..to “9-S”, inclusive.

MR. MENDOZA. “9-S”, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. “9-S”, “9-T” and “9-U”; “9-S”, “9-T” and “9-U”, more particularly. It’s about the liquidation of the 170 million.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Show the exhibits to the witness..

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. Tama ba ‘yung mga dokumentong tinitingnan ninyo, Governor? Tama ba na liquidation ito sa 170 million?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor. Ito na po ‘yung pinagtatakpan namin, Your Honor, na ang tawag namin dito ay special operation para kay Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. Kasali na dito ‘yung 130 million na sinabi ninyo na ipadala doon sa bahay ng Pangulo sa Polk Street.

MR. SINGSON. Dito po nanggaling, Your Honor, ‘yung 130 million, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. Kaya kasali dito sa liquidation na ito?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, dahil kunyari lang ito, Your Honor. Hindi naman – Pantakip lang namin dahil ‘yun ang utos ng Pangulong Estrada. “Gawan niyo muna ng paraan”, sabi niya, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. All right. Now, anong status – Ino-oditan (audit) ba kayo dito ngayon?

MR. SINGSON. Every year may audit, Your Honor, at dito lang ang hindi namin na magawan ng paraan pa. Pero ito, lahat ito kung isasauli ‘yung 130 million magiging tama lahat ito, Your Honor. ‘Yun lang ang kulang dito 130 million, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. All right. So, itong mga presentation ng liquidation papers ninyo hindi pa ito na-aprobahan, in other words, by the Commission on Audit, ganoon ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi pa final, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. All right. Now, totoo ba na may habla laban sa iyo before the Ombudsman because of this case, totoo ba ‘yan?

MR. SINGSON. Wala pa, Your Honor, dahil tinanggal nila ang pangalan ng Pangulong Estrada. Kung ipa-file nila dapat kasama ang Pangulong Estrada, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. So, hindi totoo ‘yung lumabas sa diyaryo na kayo ay nakahabla na for malversation regarding this amount?

MR. SINGSON. Wala po akong alam, Your Honor, dahil noong nagpunta ako sa Department of Justice ay wala naman pong demanda, Your Honor.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT. Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

Isa pong maikling katanungan lang siguro po. Governor, sinabi po n’yo sa Husgado na bagaman dumadaan sa inyo ang milyon-milyong pera na galing sa jueteng, kayo po’y walang pakinabang dito, hindi po kayo tumatanggap ng kahit isang sentimo na galing sa jueteng. Totoo po ba ‘yan?

MR. SINGSON. Ang galing sa jueteng, Your Honor, sinabi ko roon, Your Honor, ‘yong tax nakukuha ko pero malaki’ng pakinabang ko, Your Honor, dahil lahat ng hinihingi ko sa Pangulong Estrada — at may pinagagawa pa sa akin na billions, Your Honor.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Hindi po,…

MR. SINGSON. So ‘yon ang pakinabang ko.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. …ang ibig sabihin po doon mismo sa pera sa jueteng wala kayong sahod. Sabi n’yo sa Husgado ‘yong tax na ‘yon ay ginagamit n’yo dahil maraming ipinabibili sa inyo ang pangulo, hindi po ba?

MR. SINGSON. Tama, Your Honor.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. At sinabi po ninyo na ‘yong 130 million dumaan sa inyo pero binigay n’yo sa pangulo, wala rin po kayong pakinabang.

MR. SINGSON. Wala po, Your Honor. Napunta lahat sa kanila, Your Honor.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Ngayon po, kayo po’y matagal nang nagsusugal. Doon po sa Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, naalaala po n’yo, napag-usapan natin sinabi ni Atong Ang na kayo ay mayroong dalawang eroplano, isang helicopter, isang yate, isang submarino. Pero po ang sinabi n’yo hindi po totoo ‘yon. Meron kayong yate nagkakahalaga ng 50 milyon, na nabili ninyo dahil nanalo kayo sa mahjong, 50 million. Kung kayo po ay nananalo ng ganoong kalaking halaga, magkano naman po ang inyong puhunan?

MR. SINGSON. Noong umpisa, Your Honor, eh nanalo kaagad ako, Your Honor. Pero pag natalo ako sa umpisa, hindi na ako umaabot ng ganoon, Your Honor.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Maliban po sa kita ninyo bilang gobernador, gaano po ang kita n’yo sa mga negosyo n’yo para mapahintulutan ang ganitong pagsusugal na malaking puhunan ang kinakailangan.

MR. SINGSON. Noong umpisa, Your Honor, pag natalo ako roon, hindi na ako puwedeng lumaban.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Para po malaman ng ating mga kasama dito sa Husgado kung magkano ang kailangang puhunan ng isang sugarol na maaaring manalo ng 50 million sa isang madyungan, gusto lang po nating malaman dahil under Exhibit “52″, ang net worth po ninyo noong 1999 ay 512,000 lamang po. Kung kayo’y nagsusugal ng malalaking halaga, nakakarating pa kayo sa Las Vegas, importante po malaman natin kung magkano talaga ang inyong kinikita na pinagmumulan ng puhunan para sa inyong pagsugal. ‘Yon lang po.

MR. SINGSON. Ang pagsugal ko sa Las Vegas, Your Honor, kami na mga sanay na roon, pag nananalo kami roon, Your Honor, inuuwi namin. Pag natatalo, utang, Your Honor. Kaya kumikita rin kami ng malaki roon, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. No further questions?

Yes, the Honorable Senator Osmeña.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

Just a very small question to clarify certain details related to the incident wherein an alleged delivery of a hundred thirty million was made to Polk Street.

Governor, ilang tao kayong pumunta roon para maghatid nitong perang itong sinasabi n’yo, ‘yong halagang ito?

MR. SINGSON. Kaming dalawa lang ni Atong Ang, Your Honor, pero sabi niya sa akin, nasa kotse na lahat. At sa bangko, sinabi nila na hinatid ‘yong mga security guard, ineskort pa sila, Your Honor, papunta sa bahay noong nanay ni Atong Ang. So noong pagbaba sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada, hindi ko na nakita, Your Honor, kung sino’ng nagbaba ‘yong pera doon.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). So kayo ho nasaan, nasa bahay ni Atong Ang? Ganoon ba ho?

MR. SINGSON. Sa bahay ni Atong Ang doon ako naghintay, Your Honor.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Naghintay ho kayo doon. Tapos, sinong pumunta sa Polk Street sa bahay ng pangulo na sinabi ninyo?

MR. SINGSON. Kaming dalawa, Your Honor, bumaba ako before na umabot kami sa bahay niya, Your Honor.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). So, siya lang mag isa sa kotse?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Siya lang mag isa ang sinasabing naghatid ng 130 million?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, pero nasigurado ko na tinanggap ng Pangulong Estrada dahil nagpasalamat nga si First Lady at saka si Pangulong Estrada nagalit pa nga dahil 70 million lang ang nakuha.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Narinig na namin ‘yan. Pabalik balik, ano.

So, si Atong Ang, mag isa nakapasok sa bayong sinasabi niyo na hindi niyo nakita ang naghatid ng 130 million, ganoon ba?

MR. SINGSON. Hindi ko nga nakita, Your Honor, pero inamin ng Pangulong Estrada.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Hindi. Gusto ko lang, ilan ang naghatid, isang tao lang? Isang tao lang, si Atong Ang?

MR. SINGSON. Maliban na lang ‘yong mga naghatid sa pera from the bank at saka ‘yong nagbuhat sa bahay ni Pangulong Estrada no’ng binaba ‘yong mga pera, Your Honor.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Hindi niyo alam. Wala kayo doon, eh, di ba?

MR. SINGSON. Opo, Your Honor, pero nasisiguro ko natanggap ni Pangulong Estrada..

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Salamat. Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you, too.

The witness is now excused.

Next witness for the prosecution.

The Honorable Senator Judge Guingona.

SEN. GUINGONA. Your Honor please, may we just know the for clarification, the status of the Blue Ribbon proceedings. Is it now are we to take judicial notice of the same?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We have stated before that even during the Preliminary Conference, that the proceedings of the Blue Ribbon Committee can be taken judicial notice of. But insofar as the testimonies of witnesses are concerned, they cannot be considered as evidence here.

SEN. GUINGONA. So, the pictures, etcetera, will be it’s up to the prosecution.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, the picture was used by the Honorable Senator Drilon in relation to the mention of the name by the witness. And so, it was just a matter of correlating it to an evidence that had been presented here as part of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

SEN. GUINGONA. Yes. But the identification as presented by the Senate President is included in the records already.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That was part of the record. As a matter of fact, the pictures or the posters were marked in evidence for purposes of identification solely for the purpose of completing some of the proceedings of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

SEN. GUINGONA. Yes, including the place of employment, etcetera.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Pardon, Your Honor?

SEN. GUINGONA. Including the company of employment and the other elements therein.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I don’t think that would be proper at this time to make any ruling thereon. The only ruling that was made was, this Court can take judicial notice of the proceedings only before the Blue Ribbon Committee.

SEN. GUINGONA. Thank you.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Next witness for the prosecution.

REP. APOSTOL. Our next witness is Jazmin Banal. She will testify on Article I.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Where is the witness?

REP. APOSTOL. She’s around. We have her fetched.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Let somebody fetch the witness.

State for the record who will be the examining and assisting examining counsel.

REP. APOSTOL. The examining counsel is Congressman Roan Libarios. Assisting him

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The assisting?

REP. APOSTOL. I will be assisting him.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Who?

REP. APOSTOL. Congressman Sergio Apostol.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I understand that Your Honor is supposed to be the supervisor for Article I.

REP. APOSTOL. We have run short of lawyers, so I will be the one.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I see. Well, perhaps, Prosecutor Libarios will not need an assisting counsel.

What about for the defense?

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice, the cross examining counsel will be Mr. Mendoza. This representation will be the assisting examining counsel.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Thank you.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Swear in the witness.

THE SENATE SECRETARY. Kindly raise your right hand and put your left hand on the Bible and answer me.

You, Jasmin Banal, do swear that the evidence you shall give in the case now pending between the Philippine and Joseph Ejercito Estrada, President of the Philippines, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

MS. BANAL. I do.

REP. LIBARIOS. Mr. Chief Justice, Your Honors?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Prosecutor Libarios.

REP. LIBARIOS. The prosecution is offering the testimony of the witness, Jasmin Banal, to establish and prove the following facts:

Number one, that upon the instruction of Atty. Edward Serapio and his assistant, Atty. Michael delos Reyes, the witness, together with associates of the De Borja Law Firm, signed as incorporator and secretary of two holding firms, namely, the PO Holding Corporation and the Alexi Holding Corporation;

Number two, that the said corporations were organized sometime in October, 1999, by Atty. Edward Serapio, the lawyer of the President, for the specific purpose of acquiring RN Development Corporation, the owner operator of Fontana Leisure Parks Complex, which in turn acquired ownership over the jueteng funded assets of Fontainbleau Casino;

And number three, that these two corporations, the PO Holdings and Alexi Holdings are dummy corporations linked to President Estrada and his crony, Lucio Co.

The testimony, Mr. Chief Justice, Your Honors, of this witness is further offered to corroborate the previous testimonies of witnesses Governor Chavit Singson, Carmencita Itchon and Rufo Colayco, that all the assets and interests of Fontainbleau Casino which were acquired through the use of jueteng collections for the President were turned over to Fontana through the RN Development Corporation and later on the full ownership and control of which was subsequently acquired by President Estrada or in partnership with known Presidential friend and crony, Lucio Co.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. This is for Article 1 of the Articles of Impeachment?

REP. LIBARIOS. Yes, Your Honor. This is under Article 1.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Atty. Flaminiano.

MR. FLAMINIANO. We have to object to the presentation of this witness on the ground that it is not covered by any of the allegations of the Articles of Impeachment particularly Article 1 on bribery, unless prosecution can point to us the relevance of this projected testimony of this witness, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The relevance of the testimony was already announced when counsel, Prosecutor Libarios, mentioned the purposes for which the testimony of his witness would be offered.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice, there is nothing in the Articles of Impeachment regarding the testimony sought to be elicited by this witness. There are no allegations of fact tending to prove the allegations of Article 1 on bribery, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any reply?

REP. LIBARIOS. Mr. Chief Justice, the basic allegation as stated in the impeachment complaint is that the President has been receiving jueteng protection money, and this money was being collected by Governor Chavit Singson. And in the course of the testimony of Governor Chavit Singson, he mentioned that part of the funds jueteng collections were channeled through the Fontainbleau Casino project and later on, the funds and the assets of this Fontainbleau Casino were turned over in favor of the Fontana Leisure Parks.

So, the flow of funds, Mr. Chief Justice, is very clear. We’re now trying to establish here the movement of the jueteng funds that were being collected by Governor Chavit Singson, first channeled through the Fontainbleau and later on, the assets of Fontainbleau were turned over in favor of Fontana.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You are submitting the matter?

MR. FLAMINIANO. Yes, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness will be allowed to testify for the purposes mentioned.

REP. LIBARIOS. May I now proceed, Mr. Chief Justice?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You may.

REP. LIBARIOS. Miss Witness, can you please state your name and other personal circumstances?

MS. BANAL. I am Maria Jasmin V. Banal. My name is Ma. Jasmin V. Banal, I’m single, 27 years old.

REP. LIBARIOS. And can you state your personal circumstances?

MS. BANAL. I’m single.

REP. LIBARIOS. How about your educational attainment?

MS. BANAL. I graduated in 1994 with a BS degree in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines. In 1998, I graduated also from the University of the Philippines, with a Bachelor of Laws degree. And then in October of 1998, I took the Bar and I passed the Bar in May of 1999.

REP. LIBARIOS. Okay. Could you please inform us also about your professional experience?

MS. BANAL. Upon graduation, I… After I took the Bar, I joined the law firm of De Borja, Medialdea Bello, Guevarra, Serapio and Herodias as a legal assistant. That was sometime in November of 1999. When I passed the Bar in May I’m sorry, November 1998. When I passed the Bar in May of 1999, I became a junior associate of that law firm. Sometime in June 2000, I tendered my resignation from that law firm and so I left that law firm sometime in July.

REP. LIBARIOS. And what is your present employment right now?

MS. BANAL. I am currently connected with the law firm of Romulo Mabanta.

REP. LIBARIOS. Atty. Banal, you mentioned that you were connected for a while as a junior associate of De Borja Law Office?

MS. BANAL. Yes.

REP. LIBARIOS. Can you state the length of your stay with the De Borja Law Office?

MS. BANAL. From November until July, that’s around one year and eight/seven months.

REP. LIBARIOS. And as an associate of the De Borja Law Office, what was your assignment?

MS. BANAL. I was directly assigned to the corporate department.

REP. LIBARIOS. And can you mention if there were other members or lawyers assigned in the corporate department of the De Borja Law Office?

MS. BANAL. Yes. For the partners, there were three partners assigned. They were Atty. Boy de Borja, Atty. Edward Serapio and Atty. Raul Herodias.

REP. LIBARIOS. How about the associates the junior associates?

MS. BANAL. At that time, when I entered, there were three senior associates.

REP. LIBARIOS. How about the junior associates?

MS. BANAL. At that time there were three junior associates and there was another legal assistant.

REP. LIBARIOS. Can you mention their names?

MS. BANAL. The junior associates?

REP. LIBARIOS. The junior associates, yes.

MS. BANAL. Atty. Michael de los Reyes, Atty. Lorna Rosario, Atty. Michaela Rosales.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, you mentioned that you were assigned in the corporate division as one of the associates.

Now, can you tell us your major activities or your responsibilities and duties in the law firm?

MS. BANAL. We would normally render legal opinions. We would help in drafting of contracts, reviewing of contracts, incorporation of corporations and partnerships, filing of requirements with the SEC.

REP. LIBARIOS. In the course of your performance as a junior associate of the law firm De Borja, did you come across two corporations, namely: PIO Holdings and Alexi Holding Corporation?

MR. MENDOZA. Mr. Chief Justice, the trend of these questions seem to elicit from the witness performance of certain tasks in behalf of a client. I believe that is covered by the privilege under the Rules of Court insofar as client lawyer relationship is concerned.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are you objecting on that particular ground?

MR. MENDOZA. Yes, on the ground that this is absolutely privilege and there is no showing that the testimony of the witness which deals with the relationship of lawyer and client is being given with the authorization of a client.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. At this stage, that seems to be not very clear yet. And besides, the lawyer client privilege can only be invoked by the client or by the lawyer.

MR. MENDOZA. But the client is not here, the lawyer is not here…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. We will leave it to the sole responsibility of the witness. She will be answerable under the Code of Professional Responsibility, if at all there is a breach of that confidentiality.

MR. MENDOZA. With that warning, Mr. Chief Justice, I will take my seat.

REP. LIBARIOS. May I be allowed to repeat my question, Mr. Chief Justice?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Just make another question.

REP. LIBARIOS. In the course of your performance of your duties as an associate of the law firm De Borja, did you come across these two corporations, namely, PIO Holding Corporation and Alexi Holding Corporation?

MS. BANAL Yes.

REP. LIBARIOS. And how did you come to know these two corporations?

MS. BANAL I was asked to sign the incorporation papers of those two corporations?

REP. LIBARIOS. In what capacity were you asked to sign these two corporations?

MS. BANAL As incorporator.

REP. LIBARIOS. And how did you come to sign the articles of incorporation of these two corporations?

MS. BANAL The incorporation documents for the both corporations, as well as some other documents, were left on my table. I remember sometime, I think 1999, and attached to those documents was a note that… asking me to sign those documents.

REP. LIBARIOS. And can you remember who sent that particular note?

MS. BANAL. Well, the note was signed by the secretary assigned to Atty. Serapio.

REP. LIBARIOS. And can you remember the name of the secretary?

MS. BANAL Yes.

REP. LIBARIOS. Can you state the name?

MS. BANAL It’s Linda.

REP. LIBARIOS. And what was the content of that particular note?

MS. BANAL It just said, “JVB, for your signature.”

REP. LIBARIOS. You mentioned about Atty. Serapio.

MS. BANAL Yes.

REP. LIBARIOS. Who is this Atty. Serapio?

MS. BANAL He is one of the…he was one of the senior partners and founding partners of the law firm of De Borja.

REP. LIBARIOS. How did you come to know that this Atty. Serapio is one of the founding partners of the De Borja law firm?

MS. BANAL When I was working…when I started working for that law firm, they oriented us. So they told us about the history and we were told that as stated in our directory, in our web site, Atty. Serapio is a founding partner.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, what else do you know about this Atty. Serapio?

MR. FLAMINIANO. Immaterial, Your Honor. We object to the question.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Sustained.

REP. LIBARIOS. Can I move for a reconsideration, Your Honor?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Denied.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, aside from …

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You mentioned already up to Articles of Incorporation. Why don’t you go direct to the point?

REP. LIBARIOS. We were establishing, Your Honor, here the identity of Atty. Serapio.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That was identified already by the witness.

REP. LIBARIOS. In relation to his connection with the law firm and in connection with these other responsibilities, not only with the law firm.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You better …

REP. LIBARIOS. This is very material, Your Honor.

Because the witness… if I will be allowed, Your Honor, to seek a reconsideration…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. A second reconsideration, you mean?

REP. LIBARIOS. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You have not shown the materiality of the question, so I have to sustain again the objection.

REP. LIBARIOS. The materiality, Your Honor, is that the witness will be testifying on the other responsibilities of Atty. Serapio, aside from being the founding partner of the law firm.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. You go direct to the point.

REP. LIBARIOS. So, aside from being a founding partner of the law firm, what else do you know about Atty. Serapio?

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice, we have the same objection.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection sustained.

REP. LIBARIOS. What other responsibilities if you know did Atty. Serapio perform aside from being a founding partner of the law firm?

MR. FLAMINIANO. We have the same objection, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Overruled. Witness may answer.

MS. BANAL. What other responsibilities?

REP. LIBARIOS. Responsibilities aside from being a founding partner.

MS. BANAL. Well, I understand he was appointed Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs sometime in April of 1999.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice, we have to move to strike off the answer of the witness because it has no relation to his being a member of that law office law firm. Because the question refers to what other responsibilities.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair would see it as a preliminary to a testimony on the witness precisely related to the purposes for which the said testimony of the witness had been announced to be offered.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

REP. LIBARIOS. Thank you, Your Honor.

Ms. Witness, you mentioned that Atty. Serapio who was a founding partner of the law firm was also designated or appointed as a Presidential Adviser sometime in April of 1999. Now, how did you come to know about this appointment?

MS. BANAL. I remember upon his appointment Atty. De Borja who was the managing partner made an announcement to the entire firm about the appointment.

REP. LIBARIOS. Okay. Now, after this Atty. Serapio was appointed as a Presidential Adviser in Malacanang, did you know or do you know if he continued to perform functions in the De Borja Law Office?

MS. BANAL. I wouldn’t know exactly the arrangement between him and the other partners but I would see him regularly in our law firm.

REP. LIBARIOS. You said “regularly”, what do you exactly mean by “regularly”?

MS. BANAL. Every week.

REP. LIBARIOS. Okay. Let me go back to your testimony earlier that you received a note from a certain Linda, the secretary of Atty. Serapio. Now, upon receiving that particular note which requested you to sign this Articles of Incorporation of the PIO Holdings and the Alexi Holdings, what else did you do if any?

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

MR. FLAMINIANO. May we kindly call attention to the allegation in Article I of the Articles of Impeachment. The only allegation, Mr. Chief Justice, is this, that from November 1998 to August 2000, respondent has received P10 million a month as bribe money from jueteng lords, as protection money channeled through Luis C. Singson, Provincial Governor of Ilocos Sur, as may be seen from his affidavit, dated September 14, 2000, Annex “A”. We have read Annex “A”, which is affidavit of Governor Singson. There is no mention of these corporations that Mr. Serapio allegedly organized. There is no mention of the organization of these two corporations, Your Honor, Fontana or Fontainbleau.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any reply?

REP. LIBARIOS. Your Honor, this was already properly ruled upon by the Chief Justice in the previous testimonies during the offer of evidence, Your Honor. And let me again reiterate that in the testimony of Governor Singson, he mentioned about the jueteng collections. Part of the jueteng collections went directly to the President, that is five million every 15 days. The other part of the collections were channeled through the Fontainbleau Casino project and the other part went to or channeled to Atty. Serapio, the 200 million. So, in other words, Your Honor, the 10 million is not the exclusive source or the only amount being at the disposal of the President or being received by the President.

The President was receiving funds directly in the amount of 5 million every 15 days and the other balances were channeled through the Fontainbleau Casino project, Your Honor, as well as in the 200 million that was given to Atty. Serapio.

MR. MENDOZA. Mr. Chief Justice….

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. In light of the offer of evidence at the commencement of the presentation of the witness and considering that it is its purpose to establish how the so called jueteng money had been spent, it is therefore, in the nature of an evidenciary matter to strengthen the ultimate fact to establish, and, therefore, the Court will have to sustain will have to overrule the objection and reiterate its ruling immediately after an objection was made following the tender of following the offer of evidence.

MR. MENDOZA. We respectfully submit to the ruling of the Chair, but we have to make a continuing objection to all these questions, Your Honor, on the ground of immateriality and irrelevancy.

Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, the continuing objection is noted and shall so remain on record.

REP. LIBARIOS. Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, let me repeat the question: Ms. Witness, you mentioned earlier that you received a note from a certain Linda, the secretary of Atty. Serapio, and you were asked to sign the Articles of Incorporation and the companion documents. After receiving that note note, what did you do?

MS. BANAL. I called up Atty. Michael de los Reyes.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, why did you call up Atty. Michael de los Reyes?

MS. BANAL. Because Atty. Michael de los Reyes was directly assigned to Atty. Serapio. And so I had to talk to him and asked him for whom the work was being done so that I could log my time because in that law firm we were required to record our time for each day.

REP. LIBARIOS. And you mentioned that you called up Atty. Michael de los Reyes, were you able to talk with Atty. Michael de los Reyes?

MS. BANAL. Yes.

REP. LIBARIOS. And what was his response to your query?

MS. BANAL. He said that incorporation papers were given to us upon the instructions of Atty. Serapio.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, you mentioned that you under the regular procedure in your office, you indicate in that time log the name of the clients, on the basis of the activities that you perform in the office. In this particular case, involving the PIO Holdings and the Alexi Holdings, what did you indicate in the time log?

MS. BANAL. I just wrote there: “c/o ESS.” Those were the initials of Atty. Edward Serapio.

REP. LIBARIOS. And after receiving after filling up the log, the time log, what did you do with the time log?

MS. BANAL. I gave it to my secretary to be submitted to the accounting department.

REP. LIBARIOS. Now, Ms. Witness, if the documents, the Articles of Incorporation of the PIO Holding Corporations, together with the companion documents are shown to you, would you be able to recognize these documents?

MS. BANAL. Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are these premarked already? The original copies?

REP. LIBARIOS. Yes, Your Honor, we have a certified true copy of the documents.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, proceed, and move a little faster.

REP. LIBARIOS. Okay.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness is a very intelligent witness. She is a lawyer.

REP. LIBARIOS. I am presenting to you….

THE PRESIDING OFFICER….a graduate of the University of the Philippines.

REP. LIBARIOS. I am presenting to you, Ms. Witness, the Articles of Incorporation of the PIO Holding Corporations, duly marked as Exhibit “AAA,” kindly examine these documents and tell us if you can identify these documents?

MS. BANAL. (The witness is examining the documents.)

These are the incorporation papers for PIO Holdings Corporation.

REP. LIBARIOS. Miss Witness, let me call your attention to the cover letter of the Articles of Incorporation, particularly Exhibit “AAAA-1”. There is printed herein the address of the corporation, 15-F Strata 100 Bldg, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. This is the address as indicated herein. Can you please tell us if you know this particular address of the corporation.

MS. BANAL. This is the same address of the De Borja Law Firm.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What is the pleasure of Atty. Mendoza?

MR. MENDOZA. I am going to wait for the next question, Your Honor.

REP. LIBARIOS. May I again call your attention, Miss Witness, to this portion of the Articles of Incorporation duly marked as Exhibit “AAAA-5”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Cannot the parties stipulate on the existence of these documents. These are public documents.

REP. LIBARIOS. We will be asking, Your Honor, on the names of the incorporators and…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. It is there in the Articles of Incorporation. I think this is a proper subject of stipulation.

REP. LIBARIOS. If they will stipulate, Your Honor, that these are the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yeah, you make the offer for stipulation. I don’t think the other party will object to the existence of these documents.

REP. LIBARIOS. Your Honor please, the prosecution would like to offer to the defense a particular stipulation that the incorporators of this corporation as well as the directors of the board are the following: Lorna Imelda Suarez…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. It’s there already in the document itself. Cannot you stipulate on the existence of the document?

MR. MENDOZA. Your Honor please…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And perhaps if you want to have some kind of detail, then you may proceed on the details.

REP. LIBARIOS. And aside from that, Your Honor, if the defense after that is willing to stipulate that all of the five incorporators and the five members of the board are associates of the De Borja Law Office. That is the intent, Your Honor.

MR. MENDOZA. If Your Honor please, with the assurance of compañero or counsel or the prosecutors that these are authentic copies and that the fact she represents are true, we will stipulate on that. However, we make the observation that these are all irrelevant and immaterial. We hardly see even the slightest connection to jueteng in this Articles of Impeachment.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Correct. I say “correct” because if you are objecting to these documents, you can easily stipulate the existence then and then may reserve your objection at the time that a formal offer is made.

REP. LIBARIOS. How about my second offer?

MR. MENDOZA. With the stipulation, perhaps questions now can be dispensed with.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Exactly.

REP. LIBARIOS. Your Honor please, I have another request for stipulation regarding the identities of the incorporators and the members of the board that Lorna Imelda Suarez, Aruego, Avesado, Banal and Leslie de los Reyes are all associates of the De Borja Law Office.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That was admitted by counsel already.

REP. LIBARIOS. He was only referring to the…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Because he relied on your representations.

REP. LIBARIOS. Is there a stipulation, Your Honor?

MR. MENDOZA. On the representations of the prosecutor, we are willing to stipulate that they are associates of De Borja whatever law office?

REP. LIBARIOS. That those, the persons who notarized the documents are John Bello and the other persons listed in the set of documents are all members of the De Borja Law Office. If these are…

MR. MENDOZA. I think when we stipulated that these are authentic copies, part of the stipulation is that all of these persons who signed these are natural persons, they actually exist, they are living, active and lawyers.

SEN. ENRILE. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Honorable Senator-Judge Enrile.

SEN. ENRILE. Mr. Chief Justice, I suggest to the gentleman who is handling the prosecution here in this particular case to be more circumspect. You’re wasting our time as judges. It’s already admitted by the defense that that document…they accept the document. Regarding the existence of those corporations, regarding the incorporators that’s already admitted into the record.

REP. LIBARIOS. Your Honor please, with all due respect, the first admission was only on the existence of the document, so I asked whether they would admit on the identities that they are members of the De Borja….

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. There was an admission.

REP. LIBARIOS. There was an admission, Your Honor. My next request, Your Honor, is whether or not they will also admit that those persons involved for example, in the notarization of these documents are all members of the De Borja Law Offices and they are working in the De Borja. That’s my other request for stipulation, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What do you say, Atty. Mendoza?

MR. MENDOZA. So we can go home early, we stipulate also, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Okay then.

REP. LIBARIOS. Another request for stipulation, Your Honor, that listed in the registration data sheet of this corporation, PIO Holdings, we have the telephone numbers, 635-4276 actually refers to the telephone number of the De Borja Law Office.

MR. MENDOZA. I think this is going too far, Your Honor. We probably can stipulate again, but I think questions such as this would really be immaterial. How about telephone numbers of law firms? They have nothing to do with jueteng.

REP. LIBARIOS. If Your Honor please, what we are trying to establish is that this is corporation is actually a dummy corporation, a shell corporation, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then go direct to the point.

REP. LIBARIOS. That’s why we’re asking for the stipulation, Your Honor, so that we can proceed.

MR. MENDOZA. I think we can not stipulate any further, Your Honor. We have stipulated far enough, perhaps, too far, just so to accommodate the prosecution.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Then beyond what has been stipulated, you can move forward.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. I understand, the witness, the defense counsel, Atty. Mendoza and prosecutor Libarios are all from UP, so why would you fight so much there?

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Honorable Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. It’s now 8:05 and with the consent of the parties, I think we can have a continuance. Before I move to suspend, may I move for the approval of the Journal of the Impeachment Court of December 22.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The one deferred earlier?

THE MAJORITY LEADER. The one earlier deferred.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yeah. Any objections to the Journal of 22 December? The Honorable Senator-Judge Drilon.

SEN. DRILON. A correction on the portion attributed to me on page 922, Your Honor, the first paragraph of the remarks of Senator-Judge Drilon, the last sentence, if I may read, sir? It says:

“On the other hand, the defense says, we are offering them conditionally because of the circumstances mentioned.”

Obviously, it was the prosecution who was offering…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That should really be prosecution.

SEN DRILON. So may I….

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The observation is correct.

SEN. DRILON. So may I move to correct, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. What particular page is that, Your Honor?

SEN. DRILON. 922.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. 922.

SEN. DRILON. Yes.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct, so …

SEN. DRILON. So may I move that it will read as follows:

“On the other hand, the prosecution says that the testimony is offered conditionally because of the circumstances mentioned.”

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any objections to the correction? There being none, the correction is adopted. So the last sentence of the first paragraph of the remarks of the Honorable Senator-Judge Drilon found on page 922 of the Journal of the proceedings of 22 December 2000 shall now read as follows:

“On the other hand, the prosecution says, we are offering them conditionally because of the circumstances mentioned.”

SEN. DRILON. Just to be more precise, “on the other hand, the prosecution says that the testimony is offered”.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, probably, it should be, “we’re offering the testimony….”

SEN. DRILON. Okay, whatever.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Conditionally.

SEN. DRILON. Yes, Your Honor.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So as so modified.

REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Honorable Prosecutor Apostol.

REP. APOSTOL. May we request that the witness be instructed to come back tomorrow because we will not be requesting…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Are we suspending now the session?

REP. APOSTOL. There is a motion already.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Not yet.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Was there?

THE MAJORITY LEADER. The motion has not been moved.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. There was none yet.

REP. APOSTOL. But if the motion…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Well, anyway, the Presiding Officer is prepared to grant a motion for suspension. The witness… yes, Atty. Flaminiano.

MR. FLAMINIANO. Mr. Chief Justice, may we kindly request Congressman Apostol to tell us who are the prosecution witnesses who will be called tomorrow to testify.

REP. APOSTOL. That is what I intend to do but I cannot be going against the Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Right now, we will not suspend until you will be able to if you are ready to disclose the names of the witnesses, you can disclose now before we adjourn.

REP. APOSTOL. Yes, Mr. Chief Justice, the present witness, if she can be instructed to come back tomorrow. Then, we have another witness in the person of Atty. Emily Padua. She is here. That the subpoena she should not I mean she should just be instructed to come back.

Then, we have the following witnesses: two Land Bank officers; the LTO officer and the SSS officer. We have requested for a subpoena and subpoena duces tecum for the last one but still pending with the Chief Justice.

Further, we still have pending request for subpoena and subpoena duces tecum for Friday. Again, a Land Bank…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Can we take that up tomorrow?

REP. APOSTOL. Yes, I would appreciate it very much.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. There are many witnesses already for tomorrow.

REP. APOSTOL. Yes, we will appreciate it very much.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, the Honorable Judge Drilon.

SEN. DRILON. Yes, Mr. Chief Justice, we have not yet formally approved the motion of the Majority Leader for the approval of the journal…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. As modified.

SEN. DRILON. … as modified.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. I so move, Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. So the Journal of 22 December 2000 is approved subject to the amendments and modifications already indicated.

The Majority Leader.

REP. APOSTOL. Mr. Chief Justice.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

REP. APOSTOL. Do we take it from the Chief Justice that an instruction is given to this witness and Emily Padua to come back.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, the Presiding Officer will now instruct the witness.

Compañero, you have to come back tomorrow for the continuation of your testimony.

Who is the other witness?

REP. APOSTOL. Emily Padua of…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. And witness Emily Padua, if you are around, you are directed to come back tomorrow and to give testimony at the appropriate time.

REP. APOSTOL. May I request now, Mr. Chief Justice, that the witness be excused.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The witness is now excused subject to the condition that she should return tomorrow.

Yes, the Honorable Senator John Osmeña.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Mr. Chief Justice, it is our understanding that two names of prospective witnesses in relation to the incident of February 4, 2000 testified to by Clarissa Ocampo have been given to the Senate President. Are these witnesses that have been mentioned here, the same witnesses as those that were named or that whose names were given to the Senate President?

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The understanding of the Presiding Officer at that time was that these witnesses were to prove Article II not Article I and the witnesses to be presented tomorrow will still be witnesses for Article I.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). So after the witnesses for Article I…

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Our agreement now will have to follow in due course. We will have to complete first Article I. We allowed only Clarissa Ocampo and Manuel Curato to testify on special request by the prosecution for the reasons given.

SEN. OSMEÑA (J). Thank you, Mr. Chief Justice

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Honorable Majority Leader.

THE MAJORITY LEADER. Mr. Chief Justice, I now move that the impeachment trial stand in recess until 2:00 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, January 4, 2001.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Any objection? Approved.

Recess until tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock.

THE TRIAL WAS SUSPENDED AT 8:14 P.M.