Tessie, Sonny return P1.2-M ‘balato’

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson got some corroboration for a portion of his accusations yesterday from two unlikely sources.

Senators Teresita Aquino-Oreta and John Osmeña returned two checks, each for P1.2 million, given to them by Singson and which they suspect was part of proceeds from illegal gambling operations.

Meanwhile, First Lady Luisa Ejercito denied receiving P20 million from jueteng money, as alleged by Singson.

Oreta and Osmeña said they were unaware that the money came from jueteng when Singson issued them checks for P1 million each in April last year.

Singson claimed that the money came from his casino winnings, they said.

Oreta and Osmeña said the Ilocos governor gave them the checks to help them with the expenses they incurred in helping their constituents. They said they once complained about their expenses during a conversation with Singson.

Sources said yesterday the two senators were the ones referred to as Tessie and Sonny, who allegedly received P3.2 million from Singson out of jueteng proceeds. The names are in a ledger that Singson is submitting as evidence to bolster his allegations of jueteng payoffs.

Oreta said she planned to use the money to assist public school teachers. "I want neither myself nor the teachers tainted with jueteng money. That’s why I am constrained to return your balato," Oreta said in her letter to Singson.

"Since it now turns out that by your own admission that this money came from jueteng, I am constrained to return it to you," Osmeña said in his letter to Singson. Both their P1.2 million checks included interest.

Mrs. Ejercito, for her part, said she would have used the P20-million jueteng money she allegedly received for projects helping the poor.

She complained that the Office of the First Lady hardly has budgetary support from the government and expressed surprise that she was being dragged into the controversy even though she is not into politics.

"In fairness to me, as Singson said, I have no knowledge about it, which is true because I really do not know anything. But if they link me to it, it’s unfair," she said in a radio program.

She said she kidded her son, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, for allegedly receiving a P15-million kickback from jueteng.

"I told him, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that you got P15 million and didn’t even share it with me?’" she said, amused.– With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Celso Amo