During questioning by defense lawyer Cleofe Versola, Romualdo Dy Tang, a former executive vice president and treasurer in Equitable PCI Bank, told the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court that he was under the impression that Dichaves owned the account, which contained up to P3.2 billion at one point.
Dy Tang said the bank documents, already filled out and signed, were handed over to him by then bank chairman George Go for processing.
Another bank official, Beatriz Bagsit, had testified earlier for the defense that Dichaves owned the account but that she had never seen him sign the documents.
Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo earlier said Bagsit’s testimony did not incontrovertibly refute the testimony of key prosecution witness Clarissa Ocampo, which defense lawyers are trying to challenge.
Ocampo, an Equitable PCI bank official, alleged that Estrada signed the bank documents as "Jose Velarde" in her presence at Malacañang on Feb. 4, 2000.
Ocampo had testified she was only a foot away from Estrada when he signed the documents.
The signing at the Palace was witnessed by another Equitable PCI Bank official, Manuel Curato, who also testified for the prosecution.
Estrada signed the name "Jose Velarde" at least 15 times on at least six different bank documents at the Malacañang Guest House as the account’s owner, the two bank officials testified.
Estrada is being tried for corruption and economic plunder, charges that carry penalties of life in prison up to capital punishment. He is accused of amassing more than P4 billion during his 31-month presidency.
He maintains he is innocent and that the trial has been rigged. He insists he did not resign and was illegally forced out of office.
At Estrada’s unprecedented impeachment trial in January 2001, the Senate refused to accept as evidence an envelope purportedly containing information about the Jose Velarde bank documents.
The Senate vote sparked a military-backed popular uprising that unseated Estrada. He was replaced by then vice president Gloria Arroyo, who has become Estrada’s nemesis ever since.