Ping’s racketeering charges won’t stand in court — lawyer

It is doubtful that Sen. Panfilo Lacson had filed charges of racketeering before the US Attorney’s Office in San Francisco, California against President Arroyo, her husband and her brother-in-law, the First Gentleman’s lawyer said yesterday.

Jesus Santos, counsel for Jose Miguel Arroyo, said the report could be "fabricated and false just like the evidence" the lawmaker supposedly has against Mr. Arroyo.

Speaking at a press conference at the Arroyo-owned LTA Building in Makati City yesterday, Santos said they have not yet received any official notification from the United States regarding the supposed filing of charges by Lacson.

"Baka bungang isip na lang ito ni Senator Lacson," he said.

Meanwhile, Santos said Lacson’s wife, Alice had remitted $100,000 from the BF-Aguirre branch of PCI Bank to account No. 2430101390 at the bank of America in California just as President Joseph Estrada was being impeached by the House of Representatives on Nov. 13, 2000.

"Two days later, as the impeachment trial got worse for Estrada and his men, a friend named Teresita Go sent US$50,000 to the same Alice Lacson California account through the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in Makati," he said in a statement.

"Twelve days later, on Nov. 27, 2000, again through the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in Makati, US$150,000 were sent to the same Alice Lacson Bank of America account."

Santos said a day after Christmas, Alice Lacson sent $145,000 from the BF-Aguirre branch of PCI Bank to her California bank account.

The amount was debited to Alice Lacson’s account on Jan. 3, 2001, he added.

On the other hand, Biliran Rep. Gerry Espina said yesterday Mrs. Arroyo’s brother-in-law Ignacio Arroyo can invoke his right against self-incrimination if senators continue to compel him to produce records to prove his "Jose Pidal" identity.

"If the invocation against self-incrimination can be done in courts, then it can be done in other bodies like the Senate," he said.

Espina, a member of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said the Bill of Rights provides that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

"It will not do anything good if the law and the Constitution are violated," he said. "There must be respect for the law and the Constitution."

Ignacio Arroyo can also continue to invoke his right to privacy since that right is also protected under the Constitution, he added.

Santos said US courts are prompt in informing respondents, and that if Lacson had filed the charges two weeks ago, Mr. Arroyo should have received the notice by now.

"We’re not worried about the senator’s supposed filing of the case because it does not have any value or reason there," he said.

Santos said he had already asked his legal team to verify reports that Lacson had filed charges of racketeering against the First Couple and Ignacio Arroyo before the US Attorney’s Office.

"If he wants to file a case (against my client), he should file it here," he said.

Santos said Lacson’s camp is now resorting to "squid tactics" as they cannot prove their allegations that Mr. Arroyo had opened bank accounts using the "Jose Pidal" alias and several alleged dummies to launder campaign funds.

"Itong ginagawa ni (Lacson), magpapalabas ng madilim na tinta para dumilim ang isyu at siya ay makalayo," he said.