CIDG won’t apologize to Loi, 2 children

There is no need to apologize to Sen. Luisa Ejercito and her two children, who were implicated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the failed July 27 mutiny, a top police official said yesterday.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Director Eduardo Matillano maintained his earlier statements that Ejercito, wife of ousted President Joseph Estrada, and her two children, Jude Estrada and Jacqueline Ejercito-Lopez, should be held liable for aiding the Magdalo mutineers during the siege in Makati City two months ago.

"There is a continuing investigation and this is not yet over and done with," Matillano said at a press conference at Camp Crame.

"So there is nothing to apologize (for) because the case is still there and we have not filed a case yet and the DOJ (Department of Justice) is still evaluating it," he said.

Matillano submitted criminal information before the DOJ regarding the ownership of vehicles used by the rebel soldiers in the failed July 27 mutiny.

The senator and her children were under investigation, along with Presentacion Ejercito and Genova dela Fuente — all incorporators of JELP Corp., which holds office at No. 1 Polk st. in the posh North Greenhills subdivision in San Juan, the home address of the ousted president and his family. No charges have been filed against the Ejercitos yet.

"We submitted all these documents to the DOJ for evaluation," Matillano said. "It is up (to) them to determine whether (this) is a prima facie case prior to the filing of charges. In the meantime, we continue to gather evidence to support our case."

Matillano said the PNP is conducting a "continuing investigation," adding that there is no point in apologizing to the Ejercitos.

Last week, Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong said Matillano should apologize to the opposition senator and her children for the inconvenience caused by their being linked to the coup attempt.

According to Datumanong, making an apology "is the right thing to do."

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye echoed Datumanong’s statement.

Senator Ejercito denied the CIDG’s allegations and accused the government of engaging in a witch hunt in trying to link her family to the failed mutiny.

Estrada’s spokesman, Crispin Remulla, said the ousted president’s family acquired a number of vehicles used in the 1998 presidential campaign of Estrada and again for the 2001 senatorial bid of Ejercito. These vehicles, he said, have since been sold off or given to the Estrada family’s supporters.

Authorities discovered the abandoned vehicles near the Navy armory at Sangley Point in Cavite a day before the failed mutiny.