Erap mansions probe set

Investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman started yesterday to look into 16 cases of forfeiture filed against ousted President Joseph Estrada by a party-list group three years ago.

The forfeiture cases cover 14 mansions in Metro Manila and Tagaytay City and two log cabins in Baguio City.

Estrada was warned by investigators Pelagio Apostol, Mary Susan Gutierrez, and Aleu Amante that he would be considered to have waived the right to refute the charges if he failed to file counter-affidavits.

The investigators barred Estrada and his co-respondents from filing a motion to dismiss and a bill of particulars.

Estrada’s co-respondents are his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito; his son by former actress Guia Gomez, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito; his former lawyer, Eduardo Serapio, and former starlet Laarni Enriquez, one of the women in his life.

Other respondents are KB Space Holdings Inc., VCF Land Resources Inc., Decks Resources Corp., and El Mundo Equities Corp.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the case filed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is sufficient in form and substance.

Bayan’s complaint was based on the 2001 exposé of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), which accused Estrada, his family, and firms associated with him of acquiring 16 choice pieces of property in Metro Manila, and Tagaytay and Baguio cities.

The PCIJ accused Estrada of owning a mansion in Wack Wack subdivision in Mandaluyong, where Enriquez had reportedly lived with her three children by the ousted President.

A 3,000-square meter house in Forbes Park in Makati was also identified by PCIJ as having been built for Mayor Ejercito and his mother.

The PCIJ alleged that "Estrada’s cronies" had played "key roles" in the construction of the 14 mansions and two log cabins.

The 14 mansions in Metro Manila are estimated to cost P2 billion in 2001, while the two log cabins in Baguio are believed to be worth P250 million, the PCIJ added. — Delon Porcalla