JINGGOY LAUGHS OFF "NUISANCE" plunder case vs. Erap

OPPOSITION Sen. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday laughed off as nuisance the new plunder complaint against his father, detained President Joseph Estrada, this time, from someone calling himself a prince and the true owner of the whole Philippines including the land which hosts the " Erap City " mass housing project in Rizal.

The Erap City, constructed during (Joseph) Estrada's term in Malacanang and benefited thousand of homeless families, has been described as the centerpiece of his administration's housing program and regarded as the country's first ever well-planned socialized housing project for the poor.

"Who would believe this complainant, this self-proclaimed Prince Julian Tallano, who says he is the grandson and remaining heir of native chieftains Rajah Soliman and Lapu-Lapu, and who claims ownership of the whole country?" Estrada said.

Atty. Homobono Adaza, seeking Ombudsman attention on the complaint, described his client, Tallano, as successor to the chieftains' descendant, Lakan Rijal Bolkiah Tagean, and the recipient of a pre-Hispanic land title, original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. 01-4 issued in 1764, covering the whole archipelago.

"I think this case will not hold water, it will not prosper. I don't think this will even be entertained by the Ombudsman," Estrada said.

"These plunder cases really reveal bearers of tall tales and wild accusations. First, there was a Chavit; and now, there's a prince. I wonder what would come out next," the senator said.

"Actually, I'm even thinking this might be another move by the Arroyo administration to further harass my father with new invented cases, Estrada added.