Enrile, Bong, Jinggoy unfazed by lifestyle checks

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla, Jr. are unfazed by the Ombudsman's lifestyle check against them in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Enrile said he does not see anything with the Ombudsman’s move and that they should just be allowed to do their jobs.

“Trabaho ng gobyerno 'yun. So we will allow them… We'll let them do their job,” Enrile said.

Unlike Estrada who has been a subject of the lifestyle check by the Ombudsman, Enrile revealed that he has no information that he has been subjected to such.

“So far wala naman. I am open to any lifestyle check or any kind of check,” Enrile added.

Enrile opted not to discuss the issues concerning the pork barrel scam including the decision of Blue Ribbon chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III who had issued a subpoena duces tecum, directing Justice Sec. Leila de Lima to provide the Senate with the list provided by alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“I do not want to discuss anything about the case… pending with the Ombudsman. I will address the issues when we get into a court room,” Enrile said. “Let them do their job. What I want is a forum where the questioning and answers are controlled and nobody can refuse to answer,” the Senate minority leader said.

In another interview, Estrada said he is open to any lifestyle check.

“As I’ve said before, my life is an open book, I’ve nothing to hide. What disappoints me is that even my family is dragged into this controversy, including my 8-year-old daughter. Eh dapat hindi naman sinasama 'yan sa mga lifestyle check. Masyado naman panggigipit ito at pang aabuso sa aming mga karapatan,” Estrada said.

Estrada said his wife and children are saddened after learning that the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon had directed the Bureau of Internal Revenue to provide them with copies of the income tax return (ITR) of the senator and members of his family.

“Siyempre nalulungkot, masyado ang persecution sa amin dito,” Estrada said.

Revilla said he has not received any information about any lifestyle check conducted against him or any members of his family. Revilla said he does have anything to hide because he has properly filed his statement of assets, liabilities and net  worth and ITRs.

The three senators were asked to react on the move of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera has asked BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares to provide the Office of the Ombudsman with ITR copies of Estrada.

Apart from the senator, Mosquera  also sought for the "certified true and clear copies" of the ITR of Estrada’s wife, Presentacion “Precy” Estrada, and their four children, Janella Marie, Joseph Luis, Julian Emilio and Baby Julienne Ejercito.

The couple’s eldest daughter, Janella Marie Ejercito, is currently a councilor of San Juan.

“..may we request for the submission to the Field Investigation Unit of the Officer of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon… within three days from receipt thereof, certified true and clear copies of the Income Tax Return of...(outlining  the names of Estrada, and members of his family),” read Mosquera's letter to the BIR.

Estrada was described as “subject of the investigation” in the letter dated April 15.  â€œ(The lifestyle  check) includes me, my wife and my children. What is this but part of political persecution against us?” he said.

The lifestyle check report surfaced amid the reports that the Sandiganbayan is expected to elevate the plunder case to the courts, and issue the warrants of arrest against Estrada and his two colleagues within the week.

In his letter to Henares, the deputy ombudsman invoked the accountability of public officials as well as the powers vested to their office under the  Ombudsman Act of 1989 in asking of the ITRs of Estrada and his family.

The period covers the ITRs  from 2007 to 2012, the same years which were subject of the special audit of the Commission on Audit on the alleged pork barrel fund misuse by some lawmakers.

Mosquera also asked the BIR to issue a certification under oath explaining clearly the reasons in case the documents are not available. 

“Rest assured that the document/s herein requested shall remain confidential and shall be used by the Office of the Ombudsman in the on-going investigation/prosecution of the case,” Mosquera added.

In the letter, the Office of the Ombudsman invoked Section 13, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution on the accountability of public officers in asking for the copies of the ITRs of Estrada and members of his family.

The Ombudsman may investigate on its own or on complaint by any person, any act of omission of any public official, employee, office of agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.

Section 4 also deals with directing the office concerned, in any appropriate case and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit.