Open the Valhalla account

President Estrada claims he knows no one named Jose Valhalla. He says he is confident that the truth will be known and he will be vindicated, while his top aides are busy preparing for life after his acquittal. So why should the President, his lawyers and his political allies want to deprive the public of the truth about a bank account under the name of a certain Jose Valhalla?

Getting the documents on the Valhalla account was difficult enough, with Equitable-PCIBank citing bank secrecy laws. With the documents finally in the Senate’s custody, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., who is presiding over the impeachment court, allowed the opening of the account last Friday, but granted the defense panel’s request for a deferment till tomorrow to allow for the filing of a motion for reconsideration.

The defense panel’s move was expected – it’s what lawyers are paid to do. But what about the politicians who are also questioning Davide’s order? Sen. John Osmeña, one of the two lawmakers who admitted receiving a P1-million mah-jongg tip or balato from the President, said Friday that the opening of the Valhalla documents may be put to a vote by the Senate. Osmeña said he had not yet made up his mind if he would initiate the vote. If the vote pushes through, the result could give the public an indication of the voting on the President’s fate at the end of the trial.

In the meantime, however, the public wants to know the truth about the Valhalla account. Is it true that "Jose Valhalla" was taken from the President’s first name and a hospital in the United States where his late brother Emilio used to work? Pro-secutors said a check for P142 million signed by Valhalla was deposited in the account of former housing chief Jose "Sel" Yulo as payment for the so-called Boracay mansion used by presidential mistress Laarni Enriquez. A report yesterday said the account was opened by the President’s close friend, businessman Jaime Dichaves.

Defense lawyers are expected to block any evidence against their client that prosecutors try to present. Senators, on the other hand, are supposed to serve the people, not the President, and should stop assisting defense lawyers in their effort to bury or distort the truth. The Valhalla account must be opened. It is the senators’ duty to let the truth be known.