Estrada to see mauled cabbie?

CEBU - President Estrada has allegedly sent feelers that he would want to meet with taxi driver Marcelo Batestil when he comes to Cebu this week.

Batestil's lawyer Gerardo Carillo said a friend told him of the President's intention but that no confirmation was available from Malacañang.

The reported intention of Mr. Estrada to meet with Batestil was quickly seized by militant groups who started insinuating Mr. Estrada may be acting as an emissary of the American government.

Batestil was mauled by three US servicemen who resented his charging them P900 without using his taximeter for a city tour.

Charges of estafa and slight physical injuries were filed against the sailors, but they were allowed to leave for their home base in Japan upon the assurance of US officials that they will be made available for court hearings.

Days later, however, the US government requested the Philippines for custody of the case, prompting a flurry of protests.

Alvin Dizon of Akbayan said Mr. Estrada's alleged intention to see Batestil and Carillo may be designed to make them accept a settlement.

"While we are giving (Mr. Estrada) the benefit of the doubt about the real purpose of his meeting with Batestil, the President may convince the complainant of a possible settlement of the case," Dizon said.

But Carillo said he and his client are not accepting any settlement even if it is the President who negotiates it.

Elmer Cato of the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission told The Freeman the three US servicemen who mauled Batestil are coming to be arraigned on March 30.

Cato said Michael Malinowski of the US Embassy has already received the subpoena issued by the Cebu City Municipal Trial Court requiring the three sailors to appear and assured the commission they will be coming.

The Philippine government has until April 4 to comment on the US request to transfer the case of Michael Keyes, Johnny Earl Lowery Jr. and Shannon Towers to its jurisdiction