'Espinosa shouldn't use me as scapegoat'

DAVAO CITY -- Presidential friend Lee Ping Wee denied yesterday that he had a hand in the relief of Lt. Gen. Edgardo Espi-nosa as head of the military's Southern Command based in Zamboanga City.

"Gen. Espinosa should not use me as a scapegoat for his failures as the highest military officer in Mindanao. If he has outlived his effectiveness as Southcom commander and has lost the trust and confidence of President Estrada, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, he should be man enough to accept the consequences," Lee said in a statement yesterday.

Espinosa earlier said he believes that Lee could have been one of those who worked for his unceremonious relief after he took back three Marine escorts assigned to the presidential consultant for Mindanao affairs.

Lee, however, said he never complained when Espinosa pulled out his three Marine escorts last Feb. 7.

Instead of blaming him, Lee said Espinosa should ask Mr. Estrada and Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes about the reasons why he was relieved.

"Who am I to influence the President? It seems that he is not only blaming me but also the President and Gen. Reyes," he added.

In relieving him as Southcom chief last Monday, Espinosa said Reyes apparently gave in to "pressures" from certain sectors who sought his relief, one of whom he believes was Lee.