Perez: MJ evidence won’t stand up in court

Will unsigned slips of paper stand up in court?

Embattled Justice Secretary Hernando Perez belittled yesterday the evidence Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez claims to have against him, noting that the documents Jimenez holds are unsigned.

Perez has also told the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) that his net worth is only a little over P32 million — much less than the $2 million (P107.18 million at current exchange rates) in bribes that Jimenez accused him of extorting.

Perez told ABS-CBN Jimenez should have already had the evidence when the Manila legislator "launched his attack."

"They should present positive evidence and, so far, they have not presented anything," Perez said.

In a related development, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño admitted that he accompanied Perez when the justice secretary visited the home of Jimenez at Forbes Park in Makati City to persuade Jimenez into turning state witness against ousted President Joseph Estrada.

In his March 2001 statement of assets and liabilities (SAL), which he submitted to the PAGC headed by lawyer Dario Rama, Perez said his total net worth is P32,579,658.51.

The PAGC is now conducting lifestyle checks on government officials from the rank of director up to department and agency heads.

Perez said his personal and other properties are worth P23,723,118.27 — including shares of stock from 1978 to 1999 totaling P19,191,532.79; his car, purchased in 1989 worth P700,000; and his and his wife’s jewelry acquired from 1964 to 1995 worth P3,000,000; and his cash deposits in banks worth P831,585.48.

Perez also said that as of March 8, 2001, his liabilities totaling P7,894,517.46 include his loan/mortgage amounting to P4,394,517.46 and a personal loan amounting to P3.5 million.

Perez said he has only one relative working in government, his son-in-law, Ariel Castro, who is head executive assistant at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He said he owns property in the towns of Libio, San Juan, Ibaan and Sico in Batangas; two lots in Cubao, three lots in BI and two lots in Diliman, all in Quezon City; one lot in Las Piñas City; one lot in Maria Clara, and another in Pepin, Manila.

Perez said he acquired his P14-million house and lot in Diliman, Quezon City in 1995. The total worth of Perez’s land assets is P2,622,257.7, while his buildings and houses are worth a total of P14,128,800.

Perez also declared that he is a stockholder in the following ventures: Batangas Ports of Paradise Realty Inc., St. Patrick’s Hospital, Malvarosa Ventures Inc., Heroes Realty Inc., Twin Rivers Realty and Development Inc., Greenpeace Development Corp., Malvarana Ventures Inc., Belle Resources Corp., BPI Service, Manila Bulletin, Robinsonland and Alaska Milk.

Perez said his total shares of stock in these companies is P19,191,532.79 as of March 8, 2001.

Rama said Perez is not yet off the hook on the lifestyle check, even as the PAGC probes the allegations that Perez is the "Million Dollar Man" in the Cabinet.

Rama added that he has already turned over the documents requested by Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo, including Perez’s letter, Bulacan Rep Willie Villarama’s complaint against Perez, a copy of Villarama’s privilege speech and two alleged bank documents of Perez.