Singson claims to have video footage of Erap signing Impsa deal

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit’’ Singson said he has videotaped footage of former President Joseph Estrada signing a contract with Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima (IMPSA) as a "witness.’’

In a phone interview with The STAR yesterday, Singson said a source from Malacañang gave him a copy of the videotape, which reportedly came from the Palace archives.

He said the video showed Estrada, his Executive Secretary Ronnie Zamora and then National Power Corp. president Federico Puno signing the IMPSA contract at Malacañang.

But it was not clear how it was established in the videotape that Estrada’s signature was that of a witness.

Singson said that another source gave him a "certified true copy’’ of the contract with IMPSA. The contract concerned the rehabilitation of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan hydroelectric plant.

"This is to show everybody that Erap (Estrada) is always lying,’’ Singson said of the videotape. He said he may distribute copies of the videotape to the media.

"He signed the contract as a witness,’’ he claimed. "It’s in the videotape, not tampered.’’

"Erap wants to know where the money is. He should ask himself, he signed the contract,’’ Singson said. He added that it was "very unusual’’ for a president to sign a contract as a witness.

Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson clarified that his proposed inquiry into the IMPSA power plant deal would not interfere with the graft, extortion and falsification of public documents charges against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.

In an interview, Lacson said the inquiry that he proposed would focus on the alleged $14 million bribe for the approval of the IMPSA contract while Perez’s case dealt with the latter’s alleged $2 million extortion from former congressman Mark Jimenez in 2001.

Jimenez has repeatedly claimed that his case against Perez has nothing to do with the IMPSA deal.

Jimenez said he decided to file a case against Perez after the latter verbally humiliated him in front of his wife and son at his Forbes Park, Makati City home after he reportedly refused to sign a number of damaging affidavits against cronies of Estrada.

Lacson and Estrada have both claimed that the $2 million was just part of the $14-million bribe that Jimenez himself brokered for IMPSA.

According to Lacson, his first call for an inquiry into the IMPSA deal in 2002, contained in Senate Resolution No. 607, was not acted upon by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

A similar resolution filed later by other senators jumpstarted an inquiry by the committee on energy.

Former Sen. John Osmena, as chairman of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises, sought bank documents to trace the movement of money from the Hong Kong Coutts Bank account of businessman Ernest Escaler to the Swiss accounts of Perez, his wife Rosario and brother-in-law Ramon Arceo.

The Senate never got the documents and according to Lacson, the hearings were never concluded.

Now that the Swiss authorities have provided the supposed paper trail to the Philippine government through Hong Kong, Lacson expressed confidence that the new inquiry would finally take off.

Since the Philippines has no Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Switzerland, the bank documents have to be coursed through Hong Kong which has an MLAT with the country.

Lacson said that he expects the case to be referred to the Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Joker Arroyo.

Lacson said that aside from Estrada, Perez, and Jimenez, other individuals who could shed light on the alleged $14-million payoff are former Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui, former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero and incumbent Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

He said a representative from Coutts Bank should also be invited. — With Marvin Sy