MJ’s house of cards now falling, says Perez’s lawyer

Lawyers of Justice Secretary on-leave Hernando Perez claimed yesterday that Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez was now becoming desperate in making all kinds of accusations to delay his extradition to the United States.

"His (Jimenez’s) house of cards is now falling, Mr. Jimenez is now clutching at straws and himself throwing all sorts of accusations without proof of evidence at Secretary Perez," said lawyer Agnes Devanadera, spokeswoman for the 12-member legal panel defending Perez.

Devanadera also disclosed that they have new evidence which, she claimed, will eventually prove that Jimenez was actually fabricating the accusations against Perez.

On the other hand, Jimenez claimed he would soon end up being blamed for everything, including the possibility of involving him in an assassination plot on Perez.

Citing sources, Jimenez said "some detained kidnappers would be coerced to come up with testimonies naming me as the one behind the alleged plot against Secretary Perez."

"It would be a frame-up. If that is true, let me say in no uncertain terms that I’m not capable of such a thing. I’m a corporate man who has never known violence all my life," he added.

The Manila legislator described the alleged threat on Perez as "a cheap publicity stunt" to divert attention from his $2 million extortion accusations and a ploy to gain public sympathy.

Devanadera, however, turned the tables on Jimenez, insisting that the Manila lawmaker was fabricating the accusations to divert public attention from his pending case of tax evasion and illegal campaign contribution charges in the US.

She said the "well crafted accusations" of Jimenez in transmitting $2 million to Hong Kong in favor of Perez are beginning to crumble.

She explained the bank account being flaunted by Jimenez does not even exist.

"It has now been learned, with the benefit of hard evidence, that Jimenez does not own an account in Uruguay although he insisted that the $2 million was sent to Hong Kong," Devanadera told a news conference.

Devanadera also announced their preparations for the libel case they filed against Jimenez and Bulacan Rep. Willie Buyson Villarama.

Villarama, for his part, sought clarification from National Security Adviser Roilo Golez in his attempt to dig up the travel records of Perez since Jan. 1, 2001.

In a letter, Villarama asked Golez if there is sufficient basis on the memorandum issued by Perez banning Immigration Commissioner Andrea Domingo from releasing the travel records of national officials, including Cabinet members.

The Bulacan lawmaker said he wanted to clarify from Golez if public disclosures of the travel records by government officials will affect national security.

Perez issued the memorandum to Domingo on Nov. 16, citing terrorist threats that could endanger the lives of national government officials.

Domingo had sought the permission of acting Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez when asked about the travel records of Perez.

Domingo also claimed she was not authorized to release Perez’s travel records citing the memorandum signed by the justice secretary himself.