Mendoza denies coercing Ocampo

Former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, who is defending President Estrada in his impeachment trial, denied yesterday allegations by an opposition congressman that he had coerced prosecution witness Clarissa Ocampo to sign a document indicating that another person signed bank papers under the name "Jose Velarde."

"That is absolutely false, I am not crazy to do that," Mendoza said in a telephone interview.

Ocampo had testified last Dec. 22 that she was a foot away from Mr. Estrada when he signed his name as "Jose Velarde" on an investment agreement with the Equitable-PCI Bank.

The other day, Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor said he has information that the defense will be presenting documents signed by presidential friend Jaime Dichaves as Velarde and authenticated by Ocampo, a senior vice president and trust officer at Equitable-PCI Bank.

Defensor said the documents were signed a week before Ocampo testified, and that the papers had been products of coercion.

Defensor added that it was Mendoza who convinced Ocampo to sign the documents in the presence of former Equitable-PCI Bank chairman George Go.

Mendoza said he wants the allegations clarified by Ocampo herself, under oath.

He admitted that Ocampo had been a classmate of his eldest daughter, "but I have not seen her for years, even decades."

Mendoza noted that some sectors were determined to get him to leave the defense panel.

"They have resorted to all sort of devices. First, they sent death threats, then they disseminated news about a heart attack, and now this," he said.

Last week, news was being spread in celllular phone text messages that Mendoza had suffered a serious heart attack and had been hospitalized. The former solicitor general and justice minister underwent a heart bypass operation a few years ago.

He said that despite the hectic schedule, he has been feeling fine.

Mendoza pointed out that he will be sticking it out as defense lawyer for the President for now, "but one can never predict the future, you know."