Fraport lawyer denies extort attempt

A lawyer for the German firm Fraport AG, an investor in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) project, has denied allegations suggesting that the firm of Villaraza and Angangco and its managing partner, F. Arthur L. Villaraza, tried to extort $20 million from Fraport.

Lawyer Dietrich Stiller, one of those alleged by The Daily Tribune to have participated in an illegally wiretapped conversation, said in a letter dated May 8 that he had "attended only one single meeting with the law firm Villaraza and Angangco" and that "no USD 20 mn request or similar request was made by any member" of the law firm "in, or in the context of, that meeting."

The law firm Villaraza and Angangco said a copy of the May 8 letter by Stiller had been given to the Tribune. It said that despite the denials by Dr. Dietrich Stiller of the alleged extortion attempt, the Tribune published "malicious and libelous reports and commentaries on the matter."

The Tribune claimed to have obtained a copy of the taped conversations between Fraport officials and their lawyers in January in their Makati City offices. The newspaper said the conversations were "illegally tapped by government agents."

The law firm and lawyer Villaraza have sued the Tribune and that there are currently 19 counts of libel against its publisher and editor-in-chief Ninez Cacho Olivares.

In an editorial yesterday, the Tribune said, "One libel suit filed by F. Arthur ‘Pancho’ Villaraza against the Tribune and its publisher is normal, but for him to file a series of libel suits, with so many counts, 19 thus far - and for the same reasons can only translate to not only pure harassment on his part, which is pretty malicious of him, and also a stepped-up attempt... to silence the Tribune which exposed the $70-million extortion bribery try by presidential aides and, the tapped conversation clearly stated, Villaraza’s demand for a $20-million offshore payment to an entity in Hong Kong for his ‘legal and political services’ to be performed in the background.

"Villaraza still has his friends in the Senate, but not even they can prevent others to testify before the panel on this extortion try," the editorial said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee vowed yesterday to go after "crooks and vultures, whether in the government or the private sector," who have to do with the anomalous NAIA 3 project.

"Dudurugin ko sila (I will destroy them)," maverick Sen. Joker Arroyo told The STAR.

Some colleagues have accused Arroyo of protecting people suspected of wrongdoing and who are identified with President Arroyo by initially refusing to open a new inquiry into charges related to the airport contract that had been given to Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco).

"I will protect no one and I will summon anyone who has to do with this anomalous project and against whom there is valid evidence. But I will be fair to all," he said.

He said he wants to go into the bottom of the Terminal 3 controversy and "expose those who made money illegally and who wants to make money illegally out of the project."

"Because when this is all over, it is the public who will pay for the cost of the airport terminal, including the cost of corruption. Kawawa naman tayong lahat," he stressed.

The latest controversy about the Piatco project erupted two weeks ago when Sen. Edgardo Angara delivered a privileged speech in which he urged the Senate to look into reports that F. Arthur Villaraza, Mrs. Arroyo’s personal lawyer, and Palace legal counsel Avelino "Nonong" Cruz had tried to extort $70 million from German investors in Terminal 3.

The reports were based on an illegally taped conversation between the investors and their American lawyers, in the course of which the supposed extortion attempt was mentioned. Villaraza and Cruz have denied the accusation.

Arroyo had first refused to conduct an inquiry, saying the Anti-Wiretapping Law prohibits the admission in any proceedings of any illegally obtained taped conversation.

He however later agreed to open an investigation after Angara assured him that he would submit additional evidence and a list of witnesses.

Arroyo said he has heard many things nasty about some people close to the President and First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo and would only be too willing to look into them if there is evidence.

"But I and my committee will not be used to protect or favor some interests," he said.

He said he has taken extra care in handling the Piatco investigation.

"Kasi maraming gustong kumita diyan sa proyektong ’yan (It’s because there are many who want to make money from the project)," he added.

The Blue Ribbon Committee has found Piatco’s contracts for NAIA 3 to be tainted with fraud. The Supreme Court has made similar findings and declared the contracts null and void. — Jess Diaz