Lim can’t investigate Estrada – Joker

Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim cannot investigate President Estrada for allegedly acquiring several mansions, Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo said yesterday.

"The Constitution mandates that only Congress, a co-equal body, can investigate the President through the impeachment process," Arroyo explained.

But Lim appears bent on pushing through with the probe. "We’re inviting everybody, in the spirit of transparency, to join in this investigation," he said, vowing there will be no whitewash.

Arroyo said the alleged acquisition by Mr. Estrada of several palatial homes through dummies is contained in the third charge in the impeachment complaint filed by opposition congressmen and various people’s organizations with the House of Representatives.

"The House therefore has acquired jurisdiction over the subject matter," Arroyo stressed.

In an address televised nationwide Monday night, the President authorized Lim to look into the acquisition and ownership of the mansions.

Mr. Estrada said the palatial homes could be forfeited to the government if found to have been acquired illegally.

He has claimed that he and mistress Laarni Enriquez merely rented the mansion sitting on a lot measuring more than 7,000 square meters in New Manila, Quezon City. The property has been dubbed "Boracay" because of the white sand around the swimming pool.

The lot is worth about P180 million, while the house reportedly costs P150 million.

"Boracay" is said to be owned by Jose Luis Yulo, a close friend and former housing adviser of the President. When Yulo was appointed housing adviser, a credit card-related case involving non-payment of bills and filed by a local bank was raked up by concerned citizens who questioned his appointment.

Besides Yulo, the other alleged dummies for presidential mansions are suspected smuggler Lucio Lao Co and long-time presidential friend Jack Ng, who is building another mansion in Wack-Wack Subdivision in Mandaluyong City which is reportedly frequently visited by Enriquez.

Arroyo said Lim would be usurping the power of Congress to investigate the President if he continues to look into the controversial mansions.

"Of greater concern is this: Supposing Lim exonerates the President and the House impeaches him and the Senate convicts him? Or what if the improbable happens? Lim makes a finding of the President’s wrongdoing and the Senate acquits him?" Arroyo asked.

He said the presidential directive to Lim is also weird.

"The President cannot clothe Lim, a subordinate, with the power to investigate the President," Arroyo said.

There are speculations that the President picked Lim for the probe to placate former President Corazon Aquino, who had endorsed Lim for the presidency in 1998, and her ally Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

Rep. Juan Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon) said the directive to Lim jumps the gun on the House, which is yet to start impeachment hearings.

"Secretary Lim will clear his Palace boss to send the message to Congress that there is no need to look into this issue and to summon the alleged dummies, Enriquez and other mistresses. That is embarrassing to Erap and the women he is keeping. That’s what they want to avoid," Zubiri said.

In the wake of reports that Malacañang is using fund releases as inducements to convince congressmen to win support for efforts to block the impeachment petition, Rep. Ralph Recto of Batangas said what the Palace is doing is illegal.

"It is illegal for any government agency to attach political conditions to fund releases. These funds are taxpayers’ money which must be dispensed in an apolitical manner," Recto said.

"They are not carrots to be dangled in order to induce obedience or candies to be distributed as reward," he added.

Recto expressed fears that his colleagues who are supporting the impeachment complaint would become victims of the Palace’s alleged vengeful moves.

Palace officials have denied they are using fund releases in any way in relation to the impeachment process.

In a related development, Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque questioned yesterday the decision of Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzalez II (LAMP, Mandaluyong) to hold the first hearing on the impeachment complaint against the President on Nov. 6 at Caucus Rooms A and B of the Batasan building in Quezon City.

Gonzalez, whose impartiality Golez is questioning, is temporary presiding officer of the committee. Golez is one of more than 50 House members who have signed the impeachment petition.

Golez said Gonzalez is going against the directive of the House which approved a motion of Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Lakas, Quezon City) before Congress went on a two-week Halloween break last Friday.

The motion was for the holding of impeachment hearings at the session hall, which is far larger than the two caucus rooms combined.

Golez said Gonzalez wants the two rooms to be the venue of the first hearing because these are the majority’s "favorite killing field," where administration congressmen gagged presidential accuser Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson of Ilocos Sur.

Golez also questioned the meeting reportedly called by Gonzalez with some justice committee members Tuesday night at the Legends Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

However, sources told The STAR that Gonzalez met with at least 15 committee members at La Legende nightclub at Araneta Avenue and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

The sources said Gonzalez distributed envelops apparently containing money or checks to his members.

Gonzalez, who was thrust into the limelight by the impeachment controversy, could not be reached for comment. The STAR called him through his mobile phone but there was no answer.

Golez asked Gonzalez to explain his meeting with a select group of committee members.

"Ano naman ito (What is this), Boyet? Say it isn’t so!" Golez said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe