‘Don’t scare witnesses’

The 11-member House impeachment prosecution team urged lInterior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim yesterday to stop his inquiry into several mansions worth P1 billion allegedly owned by President Estrada.

Rep. Roan Libarios (LDP, Agusan del Norte), a team member, said National Bureau of Investigation agents deputized by Lim to help in the investigation have been scaring away potential witnesses.

"We have been told that witnesses, including residents in the posh villages where the properties are situated, are now suddenly afraid to testify after they were approached by NBI agents for questioning," he said.

He said contractors and suppliers who helped build the palatial residences have also become tight-lipped.

"Obviously, Secretary Lim’s probe has become counterproductive," Libarios added.

He stressed that Lim’s inquiry should now stop since the Senate will soon start the President’s trial on four charges, including Mr. Estrada’s alleged acquisition of illegal wealth such as the controversial mansions.

The mansions were reportedly bought for the President by his friends, including Jacinto Ng, former housing adviser Jose Luis Yulo and suspected smuggler and duty free shop operator Lucio Co.

Two of the huge houses sit on lots measuring about half-a-hectare each, one in Wack Wack subdivision in Mandaluyong City and another in New Manila in Quezon City.

The latter is known as "Boracay," since its large swimming pool has Boracay sand and a wave-making machine to make the pool look like a beach.

The President has admitted that he and Laarni Enriquez, with whom he has three children, had rented Boracay from Yulo. Enriquez is also reportedly a frequent visitor of the Wack Wack residence that is under completion.

The Boracay and Wack Wack mansions have a combined value of at least P600 million.

The New Manila property is registered in the name of Yulo, who, an opposition congressman said, was once sued in court by a local bank for non-payment of credit card bills amounting to about P100,000.

The Wack Wack mansion, with a floor area of more than 2,000 square meters, and has four kitchens, a gym and a beauty parlor, among other amenities, is under the name of Ng.

The House impeachment team intends to ask for the appearances of presidential mistresses – from "02 to 08" – in Mr. Estrada’s Senate trial to shed light on the mansions.