Chavit threatens to withdraw support from GMA if Erap freed

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson — the man whose testimony triggered the ouster of President Joseph Estrada — has threatened to withdraw his support of President Arroyo if the Sandiganbayan releases Estrada on bail or recognizance.

"Iiwanan namin si GMA. Pupunta kami lahat sa oposisyon. Hindi tama na bigyan ng bail si Erap (We will all leave GMA. We will join the opposition. Erap should not be granted bail)," an angry Singson told The STAR yesterday.

Though he refused to name his allies, Singson promised to "convince" his group as well as Arroyo supporters to jump ship should Estrada be freed, since it would be proof that laws in the country are not enforced.

"There is too much politics in this case," said Singson, the government prosecutors’ star witness against Estrada, who is being tried by the Sandiganbayan on charges of plunder, perjury and illegal use of an alias in connection with illegal wealth he reportedly amassed from gambling payoffs and business kickbacks.

Estrada was ousted in 2001 by a military-backed popular uprising following Singson’s accusations that Estrada illegally amassed up to P4 billion from an illegal gambling protection racket that he ran during his 31-month presidency.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor earlier revealed that Estrada wanted to be released either on bail or recognizance as a precondition to reconciling with the Arroyo administration. Recognizance means the release of an accused without bail to someone of high moral standing in the community.

Palace officials, led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, have distanced themselves from the issue by invoking the independence of the judiciary.

Estrada’s spokesman, former Maguindanao congressman Didagen Dilangalen, said there was no need for Estrada to be released on recognizance. Dilangalen insisted that the evidence against the former president is "weak" and entitled him to bail and eventual acquittal.

Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio had earlier threatened to withdraw or resign from the prosecution panel if Estrada is released from detention at his 15-hectare estate in Tanay, Rizal, where he has been under house arrest since July 2004.

"Reconciliation is fine, but it should not be part of the bail hearings. This is too much already. They should not have filed the plunder case in the first place (if he will just be released)," Villa Ignacio said.

"They are making fools of us here... (and) the Sandiganbayan," he added, suggesting that charges of "malicious mischief" should have been filed instead of the non-bailable plunder case.

Villa Ignacio said releasing Estrada on bail or recognizance will also set a "dangerous precedent" for similar cases such as that of retired military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who is also being tried by the Sandiganbayan for plunder. Garcia, currently detained at Camp Crame, allegedly amassed P332 million in illegal wealth.

"It’s like sabotaging the whole process. The message here is very simple: If you can create trouble for the government then you can get away with it. We have been focusing on the big fish. We might as well give up our campaign against corruption," a disgusted Villa Ignacio said.