New plunder case vs Estrada filed

Lawyer Homobono Adaza yesterday filed graft and plunder complaints against former President Joseph Estrada in connection with the construction and development of the “Erap City” in San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal.

Estrada laughingly dismissed the latest plunder raps as nothing but a “nut case.”

Estrada learned about the filing of the newest plunder case when The STAR reached him yesterday by telephone at his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal where he is detained.

Co-respondents of Estrada are Rodriguez Municipal Mayor Pedro Cuerpo; an unnamed manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA); Alfredo Barretto, president of Real Bank located in Diliman, Quezon City; Ma. Remedios Feliciano, Alberto Feliciano, Vicente Vasquez, Emelinda Cortez and Adriano Cortez, all Real Bank members of the Board; Elizabeth Matipo, officer-in-charge of the “Erap City” NHA project; Jose Alcuizar, Chairman of the Board, New San Jose Builders (NSJB); Rey Vergara, president of the NSJB; Wilfredo Ayson, corporate secretary and treasurer of the NSJB; five unnamed Members of the Board of NSJB; and several John and Jane Does of the NHA, NSJB, Real Bank and the Office of the Mayor of Rodriguez.

Adaza is representing complainant Prince Julian Morden Tallano, who is said to be a descendant of the Tallano clan who claims to own the entire Philippines based on certain land titles issued way back during the Spanish times.

The Tallanos claim to be a royal family of the Philippines, and related to Rajah Soliman and Rajah Lapu-Lapu.

Tallano has hired lawyer Mario Papa as attorney in fact who signed the complaint-affidavit filed before the Ombudsman’s Office.

Papa said he filed the complaint against Estrada et al for pretending to be the owner of real properties, and selling, conveying, encumbering or mortgaging properties that are owned by the Tallano Family.

In an interview at the Ombudsman’s Office, Adaza said during the Spanish period the Spanish government issued a “Titulo Posesorio” in favor of the Tallano Royal Clan of the entire Philippine Archipelago.

Adaza denied the filing of the plunder case against Estrada as politically motivated and told critics everything is based on the law.

He said the Tallanos have documentary basis for the filing of the charges against the respondents.

He said they are only after big landowners including the Ayalas, the Ortigases and the Aranetas, and will also file cases against them in the future.

He said they are not going after small landowners such as those who own low-cost houses. – With Marichu Villanueva