Estrada pal: I’m Valhalla

Is he the real account holder or just a loyal"errand boy"out to save a friend’s hide?

Presidential friend Jaime Dichaves formally claimed ownership yesterday of controversial Equitable-PCIBank account no. 000110-25495, otherwise known as the "Jose Valhalla account."

In a letter to Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Dichaves said through lawyer Manuel Lazaro that documents pertaining to the account contained in a sealed envelope should not be opened until there is a final decision on whether bank records of a depositor, who is not a party or respondent in the impeachment proceedings, could be the subject of a subpoena.

The Filipino-Chinese businessman also said he issued the P142-million check claimed by the prosecution to have been used by ano-ther presidential friend, Jose "Sel" Yulo, to buy the so-called "Boracay mansion" in New Manila, Quezon City for one of President Estrada’s mistresses.

Prosecution lawyer Joker Arroyo, however, said Dichaves’ letter was "a mere scrap of paper" and his admission of ownership "a cheap shot."

"As far as we are concerned, the real owner of the account is the President," Arroyo said.

Dichaves’ lawyer contended that with the admission of ownership of the account and issuance of check No. 0110-714951 dated Oct. 5, 1996, the subpoenaed documents "disprove that they are relevant, material and competent" to prove allegations that the account belonged to the President and that the check was signed by him.

"Although impeachment is one of the exceptions to the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law, it must refer to the bank records of the official on trial," Lazaro said.

Dichaves also lashed at the "unilateral act" of Equitable-PCIBank to submit to the impeachment court another account that is not even the subject of a subpoena. The bank said it decided "to construe expansively" the subpoena by submitting in a sealed envelope additional documents pertaining to a savings account also in the name of the holder of the current account.

Dichavez described the submission as a violation of his constitutional right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures, privacy of communications and correspondence and deprivation of his property without due process of law.

Arroyo pointed out that the Dichavez admission was a belated cheap shot to save the President’s hide.

"Before, he (Dichavez) kept quiet. We’ve been discussing this for two weeks and just when we are about to open the envelope, he says he is the owner," the Makati congressman pointed out.

For his part, Davide said he would merely note the letter until Dichavez makes a formal manifestation before the court.

Meanwhile, the President confirmed yesterday that Dichavez was indeed a close friend.

Interviewed in Piat, Cagayan where he led the distribution of Christmas gifts to townsfolk, Mr. Estrada refused to comment on the sudden emergence of "Jose Valhalla."

"Let us just leave this matter to the lawyers and the Senate. They will be the judges here," the President told reporters before flying back to Manila.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Press Undersecretary Mike Toledo also confirmed the friendship between Dichavez and the President.

"As far as I know, Mr. Dichavez is just a close friend. But that’s how far the relationship is," Toledo said.

He pointed out that the businessman is not connected with any position in the government.

"I’m not going into the details, but the bottom line is that no evidence has been presented by the prosecution that directly links the President to any illegal activity or any of the articles stated in the impeachment complaint," Toledo said. – With Marichu Villanueva