Bro. Mike, Estrada face P1.2-B plunder rap

Catholic lay evangelist Mariano "Brother Mike" Velarde, leader of the 10 million-strong El Shaddai Catholic charismatic group, was implicated along with 15 other people in a new plunder case that was filed against ousted President Joseph Estrada.

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. filed the case before the Ombudsman yesterday, claiming the accused were involved in the sale of "outrageously overpriced" land to the government amounting to P1.2 billion.

In a 67-page complaint, Francisco claimed Estrada personally intervened in the government’s acquisition of nine parcels of land, totaling almost eight hectares, along Manila Bay for P1.2 billion.

The land deal allegedly defrauded the government of more than P828.6 million in 1999, the lawyer added.

Francisco also alleged that portions of the land, which the government used for the C-5 road project, had ownership problems at the time they were sold by Amvel Land Development Corp.

Also included in the charge were Velarde’s son Franklin, former Public Works Secretary Gregorio Vigilar, Toll Regulatory Board executive director Mariano Benedicto II, TRB officer-in-charge Ramon Dumaual, coordinator Ruben de Ocampo and former Public Estates Authority (PEA) chairman Frisco San Juan.

"This case is very strong," said Francisco, a private lawyer who claims to have made extensive research on alleged corruption involving the road project.

Amvel vice president Carl Baviera said the company welcomes the law suit so it can answer the allegations and prove there was no irregularity in the deal.

Francisco claimed both transactions occurred within two days of each other in March 1999 and in less than a month, the PEA had already paid Amvel for the land.

According to Francisco, Estrada on March 30 directed TRB and PEA officials to buy the land in Parañaque City for the right-of-way of the C-5 link to the Cavite Toll Expressway project.

On the same day, a Holy Tuesday, Francisco said he discovered that Amvel forged a deal with the government by signing four deeds of sale over nine parcels of land in the barangays of Palasan, Calang-calangan and San Dionisio in Parañaque.

These properties involve a total area of 79,638 square meters which Velarde sold for P15,355 per square meter for a total of P1.2 billion while he acquired the right-of-way for P2,000 per square meter in 1997 and 1998.

"The purchase price for the parcels of land which TRB was mandated to offer Amvel should have been P4,950 per square meter only, for a total purchase price of P394.2 million only," Francisco said.

On the same day, Estrada allegedly directed the TRB to "approve the sale" and even told the officials to issue a certification that the contacts were legitimate and that all the needed requirements have been met.

In his complaint, Francisco also asked Ombudsman Aniano Desierto to investigate former President Fidel Ramos and the Brittany Corp. of former Speaker Manuel Villar for their possible involvement in the deal.

Francisco said the probe should find out whether Britanny was paid P92.3 million for a 6,155-square meter lot near the properties owned by Velarde’s Amvel Land Development Corp.

Ramos should also be probed for giving it concessions by changing the plan to realign the C-5 highway, Francisco added.