Reporter

THE lawyer of a business tycoon has chided the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for its failure to bring to the Sandiganbyan the son of the late dictator, who promised to present and testify on original documents purportedly showing that his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, owns 60 percent of nine of Lucio Tan’s companies.

 “[Kilusang Bagong Lipunan] Rep. Ferdinand Marcos [Jr. of Ilocos Norte] was again a ‘no-show.’ Neither has the PCGG presented the original documents that would allegedly prove that Mr. Tan and the former President are business partners. The Sandiganbayan should not allow defendants in this case to be ‘hostaged’ by the PCGG’s inability to present its witnesses. We cannot wait forever,” lawyer Estelito Mendoza said.

At the same time, Mendoza pleaded to the justices of the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division to issue a definitive ruling on the relevance and materiality of the evidence being presented by the PCGG. He said the supposed letters of his client (Tan) to former President Ferdinand Marcos do not show that Tan acquired his property or shares of stocks using government resources. The documents which were subpoenaed by the PCGG from the Malacańang Museum included letters of Tan to the former President allegedly seeking favors.

“As everybody knows, President Marcos at that time possessed both executive and legislative powers. It was but normal for a person like Mr. Tan to seek his intercession if this would help his business or expedite government action on certain matters. However, these letters would only be relevant to this case if it would relate to the properties involved in this ill-gotten-wealth case,” Mendoza said.

Tan’s counsel also criticized the PCGG’s “turtle-paced” presentation of evidence, saying at the rate PCGG’s lawyers were going with their witness from the Malacańang Museum, it would take at least three years before they could finish with one witness.

“This is exactly what we are saying. Masyado nang matagal ang kaso. Ang mga abogado at defendants ay nagiging hostage dahil wala silang kasipagan o due diligence in preparing their evidence [The case has dragged on for too long. The lawyers and defendants have become ‘hostaged’ owing to [PCGG’s] lack of diligence in preparing their evidence,” he added.

Mendoza said the PCGG should withdraw the complaint against Tan because it has failed to present relevant evidence that would link Tan’s assets to the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

THE National Police has launched a manhunt for the 12 suspects in the killings of political activists and journalists as part of its stepped-up efforts to speed up the resolution of 141  validated incidents of unexplained killings in the country.

MALACAŃANG accepted the resignation of Transportation Assistant Secretary Nilo Jatico, Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief, on November 12, leaving the aviation office in the hands of executive director Daniel Dimagiba.

CONTROVERSIAL Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio is aking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an opinion declaring as unconstitutional an ordinance enacted by the provincial board on October 22, giving town mayors the authority to supervise quarrying activities, including the collection of fees and taxes from quarry operators.

THE 2007 Gusi Peace Prize Awards, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, were given to 15 eminent personalities from all over the world, including three Filipinos, in ceremonies held at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City on November 21.

THE lawyer of a business tycoon has chided the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for its failure to bring to the Sandiganbyan the son of the late dictator, who promised to present and testify on original documents purportedly showing that his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, owns 60 percent of nine of Lucio Tan’s companies.

A SELLER of pirated software was convicted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Manila and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of P50,000.