Oops, I slipped. In the Special Report, “The $30 million extort try: Fact or Fiction,” I wrote on Tuesday, July 13, “Dela Cruz lowered the demand to $2.5 million.” I was wrong. So sorry. My apologies. The correct sentence should have been, “De Vera [I mistyped Dela Cruz for De Vera] lowered the demand to $2.5 million.”

In his letter to this writer, Atty. Ernesto V. Perez of Gana Manlangit & Perez Law Office, bewails my failure to talk to his client, Mr. Marlo dela Cruz, to get his side of the story. I did not bother to call Dela Cruz because I had mixed information on his whereabouts. My informant who was present when the $30-million demand was aired could not recall whether or not Dela Cruz was present. A member of the group, Manolo Maralit, however said Dela Cruz was not around while still another source said he was.