Speaking in Filipino in reply to questions in English, Lim was unflappable under cross-examination from Estrada's daunting defense counsel, Estelito Mendoza. Resting her elbows and hands on the table, she looked her inquisitor straight in the eye as he tried, without success, to discredit her story. But, after all, the money is intended for the president. You just know. There was more potentially damaging news for Estrada when prosecutors succeeded in forcing Equitable Bank to hand over records they say will prove the president held an account under the name of Jose Valhalla.
Consumer spending is down, unemployment is up.
Businessfolk are railing about economic mismanagement. It will be good for the economy because he is bad for business. Estrada insists he will not go and that the trial will exonerate him. He is also buoyed by an opinion poll taken after the start of the impeachment hearings on Dec. 7. Still, the president's loyalists are saying he has gotten the message that he must change.