Chavit’s secretary testifies she delivered P5 M to Erap at Malacañang

A prosecution witness in the trial of the plunder case against deposed President Joseph Estrada testified yesterday that she delivered P5 million in illegal gambling bribes to Malacañang sometime in 2000 when he was still in power.

Emma Lim, a personal secretary of former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson who blew the whistle on Estrada’s alleged involvement in jueteng operations, said then presidential secretary Malou Florendo received the P5 million contained in a black bag.

"Governor Singson called me up at our office at the Luis Chavit Singson building (to say) that his security and his driver will fetch me to deliver jueteng money to former President Estrada’s house on Polk street, North Greenhills, San Juan. That was the first instruction, but Malou Florendo and former President Estrada were not there," Lim told the Sandiganbayan special division headed by Associate Justice Minita Chico Nazario.

Lim said she and her companions — driver Prudencio Faustino, and bodyguards Dennis Singson and Federico Artales — decided to take lunch at a restaurant in Greenhills while waiting for further instruction from their boss.

The witness said Singson eventually called up to tell them to proceed to Malacañang.

"The security on duty in Malacañang gate did not require me to pass by the X-ray machine and guided me (to) where the presidential residence is. Malou Florendo met me when I entered the front door of the presidential residence," Lim narrated.

She said she saw Estrada talking to somebody about five meters away from her.

After taking the money bag from her, Lim said Florendo talked to Singson on the phone.

"She told Governor Singson that I was already there," the witness said.

On cross-examination by Estrada’s court-appointed lawyer, Lim said she had been working for Singson since 1987 with no specific job description, but receiving a monthly salary of P20,000.

She also asserted that she has nothing to be thankful for to Singson whose exposé on Estrada’s involvement in jueteng operations got her involved in the so-called "trial of the century."

Defense lawyer Prospero Crescini said the testimony of Lim, along with that of Carmencita Itchon, also a prosecution witness, did not help to bolster the case against Estrada.

Crescini said Lim testified simply because of her loyalty and personal attachment to the governor.

"She collected money for Singson and delivered money to Estrada upon instruction of Singson. She was richly compensated by Singson. We requested to weigh the money and the bag presented by the prosecution because it will be relevant once Singson testifies in court next week," Crescini said.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto said the prosecution expects to call Singson to the witness stand next week.