Star witness to testify in Erap trial

It may be anti-climactic but the show must go on.

A woman bank executive who became a celebrity during last year’s impeachment trial will testify in court on April 15 that ousted President Joseph Estrada and Jose Velarde are one and the same person and that Estrada owns the P3.3 billion deposited in the so-called "Jose Velarde" account in Equitable PCI Bank.

Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo said yesterday Clarissa Ocampo, an executive of Equitable PCI Bank, will be the next witness in Estrada’s plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan special division.

"This is anti-climactic because the former president had admitted that he signed as Jose Velarde in a TV interview," he said. "But we will still present Clarissa and lawyer Manuel Curato when the trial resumes."

Marcelo said government prosecutors intend to wrap up "this April and May" the case of illegal use of alias against Estrada before they proceed to trial on the ousted president’s alleged misuse of the P130 million tobacco excise tax and P500 million in jueteng money.

During the impeachment trial, Ocampo testified that she saw Estrada sign the name "Jose Velarde" on several bank documents for the processing of a loan for businessman Jaime Dichaves.

Jose Velarde was supposed to have an account in Equitable PCI Bank which reportedly contains P3.3 billion and from which the loan for Dichaves would have been withdrawn.

Marcelo said prosecutors might also present as witness broadcaster Pia Hontiveros and an unidentified cameraman of ABS-CBN television to prove in court that Estrada had admitted being Jose Velarde. – Delon Porcalla