Ex-PEA chief sues COPA official for libel

Former Public Estates Authority (PEA) chairman Ernest Villareal filed yesterday a libel suit against Council for Philippine Affairs (COPA) secretary general Pastor Saycon over accusations of receiving a P450-million bribe in the construction of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard (PDMB) last year.

In filing his complaint before the Makati City Prosecutors Office, Villareal sought P10 million in moral damages and P1 million in attorney’s fees from Saycon, who he claimed made false accusations which caused him "moral, psychological and physical injuries."

The complaint was based on reports quoting Saycon as saying the former PEA chief had received the bribe money from JD Legaspi Construction Co. to construct the PDMB.

Saycon earlier revealed to The STAR that the "Jose Pidal" account supposedly maintained by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo was the recipient of a P450-million bribe.

Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson has accused Mr. Arroyo of laundering more than P100 million, under the assumed name of Jose Pidal, through dummy bank accounts.

Villareal said the report made it appear that he was involved in the money-laundering scheme as alleged by Lacson.

Contacted for comment, Villareal belied to The STAR Saycon’s claim, calling it a "sheer fabrication and an outright lie."

He said Saycon is only aiming to "smear further the reputation" of President Arroyo’s husband.

"The article is false. I categorically deny having received any P450 million from anybody. I likewise deny ever having received any money from JD Legaspi. I have never assisted, facilitated or deposited any money with or for First Gentleman Mike Arroyo," Villareal said in his complaint. Villareal maintained his friendship with Mr. Arroyo but stressed he has "never assisted nor facilitated for myself or for others any money from JD Legaspi construction."

"I have never been to the Union Bank branch on Perea Street nor have I instructed anybody to transact any business, for me, with that branch," he said.

He said the article was published with actual malice. "Saycon knew, or ought to have known, that the PDMB case is still pending in the Sandiganbayan, which has not promulgated its judgment on the merits," he said.

"Any implication that I am guilty of the crime of graft and corruption is clearly designed to simply defame me. The mere fact that Saycon published the story sub judice, implying my criminal culpability, shows that he is simply intent (on) destroying my reputation."

Saycon earlier claimed the plunder case involving Villareal and other PEA officials in the anomaly surrounding PDMB was "downgraded" citing the lack any proof that they amassed money from the supposedly overpriced construction of the road.

He said the P450 million check deposited in the Jose Pidal account could be the "the missing link" they were looking for in the plunder case against Villareal and the other PEA officials.

Saycon, however, denied COPA is working in tandem with Lacson against Mr. Arroyo.