Asian Political News: Estrada's accuser says gambling bribes 'just tip of iceberg'

MANILA, Oct. 26 Kyodo

The whistle blower in the $8.7 million bribery scandal involving President Joseph Estrada said Thursday alleged bribes from illegal gambling were ''just the tip of the iceberg'' and Estrada and his cronies made more money through shady deals with government-run firms.

Gov. Luis Singson of the northern province of Ilocos Sur told foreign correspondents he holds documents showing a close friend of Estrada who had also been linked to a stock manipulation scandal bought a property for 2 million pesos (about $40,000) then used it as collateral to obtain a 500 million peso (about $10 million) loan from a semigovernmental bank.

''It (bribes from illegal gambling) is just the tip of the iceberg. That's nothing compared to what they are doing,'' said Singson, one of Estrada's close friends before they had a falling out.

The presidential friend mentioned by Singson is one of several rich Filipino-Chinese businessmen who Singson said comprise Estrada's close friends and ''mahjong buddies.''

''As far as I know, he (Estrada) gets a lot of money from them,'' Singson said.

Singson said the presidential friend is among a group of about six, including himself, who used to play mahjong with Estrada as often as twice a week since Estrada became president in June 1998.

He said they would play mahjong in the houses of Estrada's mistresses or on the presidential yacht, and that stakes would be as high as 50 million pesos per round of games.

Singson also indicated, as some local newspapers earlier reported, Estrada would sometimes cheat during their games.

''I'd rather tell you off the record how he played mahjong. You won't believe it,'' he said. Pressed, he said, ''He's a good player and we never stopped (playing) until he wins.''

Singson earlier testified in Senate committee hearings he personally delivered to Estrada million of pesos in payoffs from illegal gambling every 15 days. He said he would deliver the money, often stuffed in a briefcase, to the presidential palace or to one of Estrada's several private houses.

The president has denied the allegations, saying he will prove all of them false.

But on Thursday, Singson told reporters he used four to five briefcases and would sometimes bring a briefcase filled with cash directly to Estrada's bedroom in the presidential palace, then take an empty briefcase he left previously on his way out.

Singson said several cabinet members knew about the money delivery and would joke with him when they saw him at the palace.

He said information he gets from his sources among Estrada's allies indicate as many as four cabinet members are already thinking of resigning ''because the know how corrupt the president is.''

Singson's disclosures have plunged Estrada's administration into crisis and prompted opposition members of Congress to file an impeachment complaint.

There are also mounting calls from the opposition, church and civic groups for Estrada to resign amid the plunging value of the peso and other economic woes.

But Estrada, during a visit to Davao in the southern Philippines, said Thursday he will not cave in to calls for him to step down. He said the constitutional provision for a six-year term for the president is sacred and should be respected.

He also appealed to the public and his detractors ''to give me a chance and have my day in court.''