Estrada accuser testifies Philippine president received illegal funds

In this story: Other damaging testimony RELATED STORIES, SITES

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- The man whose allegations sparked the impeachment trial now under way against Philippines President Joseph Estrada held firm to his statements under questioning by the president's attorneys on Wednesday.

Provincial Gov. Luis Singson, a one-time drinking and gambling buddy of Estrada, told the senators that he was "ready to go to jail as long as the biggest sinner goes with me."

Singson testified that he collected gambling payoffs for two years and funneled them to Estrada.

"The net collection that went to President Estrada was 400 million pesos ($8 million)," he said.

Estrada has insisted that the impeachment trial, which began on December 7, will prove him innocent. He needs the votes of eight of the 22 senators to remain in office.

VIDEO A review of Clarissa Ocampo's testimony about Estrada, from CNN's Maria Ressa (January 2) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     PROFILES Key players in the Estrada impeachment case     RESOURCES Follow a timeline showing President Estrada's recent political crisis     MESSAGE BOARD Estrada trial

Estrada's attorneys questioned Singson for more than three hours, trying to establish that he was a corrupt politician trying to pin his own illegal acts on the president.

Singson admitted breaking laws, including stealing millions of pesos from state coffers, but said he siphoned most of the money to Estrada.

Singson did waver on one allegation, testifying that he did not actually see Estrada receive 130 million pesos in excise tax money and that the amount may have been somewhat lower.

Other damaging testimony

More witnesses are expected to take the stand on Thursday, and on Friday a decision is expected on whether the testimony of Clarissa Ocampo can remain on the record.

Ocampo, the senior vice president of Equitable PCI Bank, the Philippines third largest bank, said during two days of dramatic testimony that Estrada has at least one secret bank account -- containing at least $10 million -- under the name Jose Velarde, and she had repeated seen him sign bank documents with that pseudonym.

Ocampo also testified that a friend of the president ordered her to cover up Estrada's involvement soon after the impeachment trial began.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide said Ocampo's testimony could be thrown out because, under the law, prosecutors must prove the money in the $10 million account belonged to Estrada and was ill-gotten wealth.

Also on Wednesday, Estrada's attorneys rejected a prosecution request that the president answer in writing questions dealing with the gambling payoffs and bank accounts. Estrada, has said that he would be willing to testify at the trial, but that the final decision would be up to his lawyers.

CNN Correspondent Maria Ressa, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Equitable PCI Bank
President Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada
BAYAN Movement
Philippine House of Representatives

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