Philippine Political Opinions

Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is set to file a libel case against tycoon Alfonso Yuchengco on Thursday, following the latter's claim that he was forced to sell his stake in a company that had shares in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

We remember that it was Sen. Lacson vs. Former President Estrada . But this time, it's Senator Jinggoy Estrada who's defending his dad. During his privilege speech at the Senate today (Sept. 15), the younger Estrada accused Lacson of telling false and baseless statements against his father. "Mr. Lacson in desperation is now using the Senate floor to divert attention to Estrada and away from his forthcoming non-bailable murder charge that will be filed against him," he said. "Mr. Lacson is using the Senate floor... so he can lie to his teeth." he added. He also called Lacson ad "walang utang na loob". After the brief retort, Lacson stood up to interpolate his colleague but Estrada said the former police chief should just deliver another privilege speech to rebut the remarks. Lacson, with no chance to make the interpolation, merely made a manifestation, belying claims that the older Estrada did not know Lacson and just "plucked out from obs...

Sen. Panfilo Lacson made good yesterday his threat to expose former President Joseph Estrada’s “bad side” as he recited in a privilege speech a litany of the deposed leader’s alleged excesses and criminal activities, including smuggling and the shakedown of a businessman (that businessman is Alfonso Yuchengco). In his speech, he narrated how Estrada enriched himself while in power from 1998 to 2001. Lacson accused Estrada of involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng, extortion and intimidation of businessmen, and of ordering the release of big shipments of smuggled dressed chicken and rice from the Bureau of Customs. Behind Estrada’s pro-poor posture was a man lusting for power and wealth, Lacson said.

Mike Arroyo in an interview in Washington DC said that the issued about him not going to the US because he may be arrested because of money laundering are all lies. Kasinungalingan ho yon. Ilang beses na kong pumunta sa America. Ang bumabantay po sa akin...meron akong escort, [US] Secret Service, so walang nagaaresto sa akin. Puro malisyoso lang yung mga nagsasabi nun. Paninira lang yun," Mr. Arroyo said. "At saka wala akong bank account dito. So yung sinasabi nilang money laundering, hindi po totoo yon. Paano magma-money laundering ako, wala ako ni bank account dito. Wala kaming property, Wala kaming stocks. Wala maski ano. So how can that be? Saka hindi totoong iniimbestigahan kami ng FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)," he added. He said that it is former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson who can't go to the US because they have an espionage case involving Michael Ray Aquino, and Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo.