Estrada lawyer laughs off text messages about his death

Still alive and kicking.

Estelito Mendoza, one of President Estrada’s defense lawyers in his impeachment trial, laughed off yesterday text messages saying that he had died from a stroke following the testimony of a surprise witness for the prosecution.

"Huwag na nating pag-usapan iyan (Let’s not talk about it)," the former solicitor general said over dzMM when asked if he consulted his heart doctor at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City over the weekend.

Mendoza had a heart bypass operation in 1996 after cardiologists recommended the surgical procedure because of clogged arteries.

He denied he suffered a mild stroke after the explosive story of the prosecution’s surprise witness, Clarissa Ocampo, senior vice president and trust officer of Equitable-PCI Bank.

But even if he admitted the impeachment trial was apparently taking a toll on his health, he said he would not withdraw as one of the President’s lead counsels in the impeachment trial.

Mendoza said he will meet with his client during the adjournment to discuss Ocampo’s explosive testimony.

Asked whether he was planning to quit the defense panel, he said: "Pag-uusapan namin iyan (We will discuss it)."

He reiterated the panel’s position that what Ocampo testified on is not part of the impeachment complaint against the President. — Jess Diaz, Pia Lee-Brago