Court summons former Estrada adviser to testify

The Sandiganbayan has summoned ousted President Joseph Estrada’s adviser for housing affairs Jose Luis Yulo along with other officers of St. Peter Holdings Corp. (SPHC), the registered owner of the so-called "Boracay Mansion."

The summoned parties are to appear before the special division on Feb. 19 for the court to ascertain if they would consent to an ocular inspection of the mansion allegedly owned by Estrada.

This was upon the request of government prosecutors in the Estrada plunder trial to inspect the P142-million property in New Manila, Quezon City.

Lawyers of Estrada have repeatedly denied that their client owned the place but also vehemently opposed the proposed unimpeded inspection saying that such is "irrelevant and immaterial."

But Assistant Ombudsman Dennis Villa Ignacio told reporters it is interesting to note that SPHC holds office at 15th floor of Strata 100 Building in Ortigas Center, where the office of Estrada’s personal lawyer Edward Serapio and the Muslim Youth Foundation is also located.

"You will see the connection. We want to establish that if ‘Boracay’ was legitimately acquired, then why would its owner abandon the place?" he asked, pointing out that the property was brought from funds released from the P3.4 billion Jose Velarde account, as per the testimonies of former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson and bank officials Christine Marie Tabo and Lamberto del Fonso.

Division chairwoman Minita Chico-Nazario and Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Edilberto Sandoval issued the summons to SPHC, whose president and majority stockholder is Yulo, a known Estrada crony.

In November 2000, Yulo had claimed ownership of the mansion, but clarified that he was merely a "nominee partner" of businessman Jaime Dichaves, another Estrada crony who is in hiding in the United States and now the subject of a Philippine extradition request.

SPHC, which reportedly oversaw the construction of the 7,145-square meter house on 11th Street in New Manila, also listed Serapio and five of his colleagues in the De Borja, Bello, Guevarra, Serapio and Gerodias Law Offices as among its incorporators.

Defense lawyer Manuel Pamaran, however, told the anti-graft court the inspection would be unnecessary because it won’t prove anything, aside from the fact that the allegation that Estrada owned the mansion was not mentioned in the charge sheet.

"It would seriously and adversely affect the case. They should produce the title of the property first. They have to prove the ownership. That is the real evidence. Let them prove first that it is owned by Estrada and they can confiscate it," he argued.

The Boracay house is one of five mansions in Metro Manila which were allegedly acquired by Estrada through his businessmen friends and lawyers during his presidency.

One of Estrada’s mistresses, former actress Laarni Enriquez, occupied the questioned property for sometime in 2000 until the scandal broke out that the fallen leader owns the mansion, named after the world-class beach resort in Aklan whose white sand was used for the construction of a high-tech swimming pool equipped with wave-making machines.

Yulo had said he deployed guards in the premises while awaiting a prospective buyer.

As per their inspection last year, Sandiganbayan sheriff Ed Urieta said the guards in the property were employed by SPHC.