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December 12, 2000, Sun Star, Palace says Erap did not take ransom money, by Ritchie Horario,

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December 12, 2000, Sun Star, Palace says Erap did not take ransom money, by Ritchie Horario,

MANILA -- President Estrada denied Monday a German report that he pocketed millions of dollars as cut in the ransom intended for the release of Westerners held by Abu Sayyaf bandits earlier this year. Malacañang's reaction came after the German magazine Der Spiegel reported that the German secret police had tapped mobile phone conversations via satellite between top government negotiator Roberto Aventajado and the Abu Sayyaf group. 

Der Spiegel quoted police as saying that Estrada and Aventajado took 40 percent and 10 percent, respectively, from a US$20 million-dollar ransom payment for the freedom of unnamed hostages seized by the rebels earlier this year. Estrada was "very upset" at the report, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno told reporters.

President was categorical in vehemently denying that he has anything to do with the ransom money," Puno added. Puno said: "There is no truth to these such tapes. If that tape exists, Der Spiegel should produce that." Aventajado also rejected allegations and threatened to sue the publication for libel. 

Estrada's chief of staff, Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, said Monday that the government had sent two police officers to Europe to help German intelligence translate the transcribed exchange. "They brought back the transcripts and nowhere in these transcripts did these allegations come up," Zamora said in an interview with radio station dzMM. 

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, meanwhile, said the military had not received "any intelligence report pertaining to negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf" over ransom payments. AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes said: "We have nothing to do with that and I'm sure all of this will be cleared." 

The Abu Sayyaf abducted 21 Asian and European hostages in April from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan. The rebels were reported to have received huge ransom payments for the release of some of the group. More hostages were abducted later and the military launched a rescue operation in September. Seventeen other hostages, including two Frenchmen and three Malaysians, were rescued but the rebels still hold an American and a Filipino hostage. 

Zamora said the government planned to seek clarifications with the German ambassador to Manila. "If they really listened in on the negotiations then they should give me a medal for my effort," Aventajado told the station on Monday, describing the magazine's reports as "lies." Aventajado said he would write a book about the negotiations to dispel the allegations. 

PNP Chief Panfilo Lacson said they had received copies of the supposed transcripts between Aventajado and Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, cited by the German weekly. He said the document, which is in the custody of police intelligence, did not mention anything about commissions. 

Puno said the timing of the release of the article was suspicious. Estrada went on trial for alleged corruption last Thursday. The trial in the Senate is expected to last until mid-January and could lead to his removal from office. Puno said the delayed release of the report was "deliberate." "We don't know who was behind it. Obviously its intent is to embarrass the President and somehow influence the outcome of the trial," he said. 

Sen. Raul Roco, meanwhile, filed Monday a resolution seeking to investigate the controversial report. According to Roco, he will ask the Senate committees on foreign affairs and public order and illegal drugs to  look into the matter due to the seriousness of the accusations against the President. 

He said the issue could not be ignored since the country's reputation was at sake. Senate minority leader Teofisto Guingona, on the other hand, said if there was truth to the allegation, Mr. Estrada, being the highest leader of the country should be "ridiculed." He said the article of the German magazine does not only subject the President to ridicule by the international community but also the Filipinos as well.

"We, the Filipinos, are now being ridiculed not only in the entire European nations but also in the international community," Guingona said. The senator said the German magazine would not "recklessly" write an article that would only ruin the reputation of the highest leader of a country, without solid basis to substantiate their claim. 

Guingona said the accusations pose grave concern and alarm since the magazine entirely sourced its story based on the intelligence report of German authorities. The magazine claimed that Mr. Estrada and Aventajado reportedly took 40 percent and 10 percent, respectively, from a US$20 million ransom payment for the freedom of certain hostages of the Abu Sayyaf. 

The German weekly said the secret police obtained the information by tapping satellite telephone conversations between Aventajado and the kidnappers. But Aventajado flatly denied the accusations, saying he did not receive any money from the ransom payment, much less the President. Aventajado even threatened to file a libel suit against the magazine for besmirching not only his reputation and the President but the Philippines as well. Andreas Lorenz, an editor of Der Spiegel, was among the local and foreign journalists abducted by the Abu Sayyaf terrorists while covering the hostage drama in Jolo, Sulu this year. (With wire reports)

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on Dec 21, 12