Ex-Erap lawyer accuses Adaza of extortion - report

MANILA, Philippines - The former counsel of pardoned President Joseph Estrada accused lawyer Homobono Adaza and three retired military officials of extorting money from one of his clients to allegedly fund an uprising against the Arroyo administration. A report in GMA’s 24 Oras quoted lawyer Raymond Fortun as saying that Adaza’s group had asked $4 million from his Japanese client to fund a coup d’etat against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Adaza and four others were arrested Wednesday afternoon by operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), but police officials refused to give details regarding the operation. Arrested with Adaza was Army Lt. Col. Oscarlito Mapalo, the fugitive military official who gained notoriety in 2004 when he publicly denounced the AFP’s promotion system as biased and lacking in objectivity. No other names were given. A radio report earlier quoted Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda, CIDG director, as saying the PNP based their arrest on the claim of Fortun that Adaza had a "proposal to commit coup d'etat." Adaza is the lead counsel of Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who is one of the 28 Army and Marine officers charged for their role in the botched February 2006 coup. GMA News & Public Affairs tried contacting Daza but was unsuccessful. His relatives, however, are worried about his health. - GMANews.TV