‘Estrada challenge to sue him on Impsa a ploy’

Government prosecutors claimed yesterday that former President Joseph Estrada is attempting to derail his plunder case being tried by the Sandiganbayan when he challenged the government to file additional charges against him.

Estrada dared prosecutors to include in the charge sheet his alleged involvement in the approval of the $450-million government contract with the Argentine firm Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (Impsa).

Assistant Ombudsman Dennis Villa-Ignacio said the prosecution panel would rather dismiss Estrada’s challenge, which he claimed was just an attempt to ruin the ongoing trial on the plunder case against him at the Sandiganbayan.

"We will not bite that bait because in the long run, it might ruin our trial. That (challenge) is definitely designed to distract us (prosecution) and to delay the proceedings," Villa-Ignacio said.

He said the prosecution has gained momentum in its prosecution of Estrada’s cases with only six to nine witnesses left to be presented in court they rest their case.

"We are almost through with our presentation of witnesses and the marking of documentary evidence. The prosecution would not want to get involved in the Impsa controversy because there is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Senate," Villa-Ignacio said.

Following his testimony before the Senate last Tuesday, Estrada issued a statement challenging the government to file additional charges against him over his alleged involvement in the signing of the Impsa contract.

Estrada made the challenge even as former President Fidel Ramos raised the possibility that his successor might have indeed entered into a deal with Impsa.

Ramos emphasized that multinational corporations like Impsa would never start on a project without first securing a "go-signal from higher authority or authorities."

The Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises chaired by Sen. John Osmeña has called on Estrada to clarify his participation in the Impsa deal.

Villa-Ignacio said the prosecution panel will just wait for the Senate to wrap up its investigation.

"Normally, the Senate recommends the filing of charges if they get evidence. We will just wait for someone to file the charges against the former president," Villa-Ignacio said. "Getting involved with the Impsa controversy would complicate matters for the prosecution and it will delay the proceedings of Estrada’s cases," he said.