Prosecution asks Sandigan to subpoena witness Ocampo

The prosecution panel asked yesterday the Sandiganbayan to issue a subpoena for Equitable-PCI bank executive Clarissa Ocampo who will testify against jailed former President Joseph Estrada on the illegal use of an alias (Jose Velarde) case.

In a three-page request for the issuance of subpoena duces tecum et ad testificandum, Deputy Special Prosecutor Robert Kallos asked anti-graft court special division chairwoman Associate Justice of acting presiding Justice Minita Chico-Nazario to require Ocampo to appear before the court at 8:30 a.m. of Nov. 11 and 13.

"The purpose of the testimony of Ms. Ocampo is for the prosecution panel to prove, inter alia, that former President Estrada used the name Jose Velarde without lawful purpose which, in conspiracy with his co-accused, he used to amass and accumulate ill-gotten wealth for his benefit while he was then president of the country," Kallos said. Kallos also asked Nazario to require Ocampo to bring with her the certified true copies of the transcript of her testimony before the Senate impeachment court on Dec. 22, 2000 and Jan. 2, 2001.

During her testimony in the Senate impeachment court, Ocampo claimed that she was one foot away when then president Estrada signed as Jose Velarde on various bank documents on February 2000 in Malacañang.

Ocampo said that the documents which Estrada signed as Jose Velarde on Feb. 4, 2000 include the Equitable-PCI Bank’s Investment Management Agreement; two signature cards; Investment Guidelines; two directional letter of investment and an authority to debit account numbers 02160 62501-5.