Estrada justifies extra-marital affairs before int’l audience

"My personal relations do not affect my decisions in government."

President Estrada justified his extra-marital relations before an international audience during separate interviews with television networks CNN Asia News Edition-Hong Kong yesterday, and CNBC Asia last Sunday.

Mr. Estrada said his extra-marital affairs have not affected his functions as a public official since he was mayor of San Juan, and especially now that he is President.

"The fact that I do not abandon my responsibility to my illegitimate children," he said, "does not affect my running the affairs of government."

The Chief Executive rejected the allegations of the political opposition and anti-Estrada groups that he had allowed his family and friends to benefit from government transactions.

"I can assure you my personal relationships do not affect my decisions in government," he said. "The national interest is always a top priority for me, and the people know that since I was mayor and with my background as a movie actor. I am not a hypocrite."

Mr. Estrada reiterated his challenge to the political opposition to pinpoint any government contract in which his friends and family have become involved.

Meanwhile, the President told radio station dzRH yesterday that the lodge in Tagaytay Highlands does not belong to him but to Belle Resources Corp.

Mr. Estrada said Belle Resources allowed him to use it as a "presidential lodging house," and that the same privilege will be accorded to his successor and other future presidents.

"That’s not mine," he said. "As long as I’m President, I can use it (lodge)," he said. "Whoever becomes president, it will also be lent to him or to her." – Marichu Villanueva