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Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
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Defenses of PNoy apologists are contrived and baseless

Press Statements
  • Office of the Minority Leader Edcel C. Lagman
  • 03 June 2011
  • 09189120137 / 09166406737

 

           The extreme alarm and belligerence by which the President’s allies in Malacañang and in Congress are opposing the House Minority’s call to investigate errant presidential cronies expose the fragile excuses and patent culpabilities of special buddies.

           The proffered defenses of PNoy apologists are contrived and baseless for the following reasons:

           1) The projected congressional inquiry is not a “fishing expedition”, as claimed by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, because some of the “big fishes” have already been caught by independent investigations but set free by no less than the President himself.

           Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Virginia Torres, a target range buddy of the President, was recommended for dismissal by a fact-finding panel of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for her complicity and partiality in the failed Stradcom takeover, and yet the President ignored the recommendation and confirmed her eventual return after a brief self-imposed leave of absence.

           The Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) headed by DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima recommended the filing of charges against Undersecretary Ricardo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), another buddy of the President of long standing, for his culpable ineptness in the handling of the fatal hostage rescue operation as the Undersecretary in charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), but the President absolved him of any liability in utter disregard of the IIRC findings.

           The President moto propio cleared with alacrity Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima of tax irregularities despite clear incriminatory evidence, and even rammed through the confirmation of Purisima in the Commission on Appointments.

           2) The self-serving explanation of presidential friends of any wrongdoings must not insulate them from the furnace of a thorough and impartial investigation.

           3) Congressional investigations, which are principally in aid of legislation, must not be abdicated to favor presidential friends while being pursued selectively against political foes, to ensure that perfecting legislation will not be thwarted by partisan discrimination.

           Prosecution and legislation are separate, although complementary, modes of action to guarantee good governance and an upright bureaucracy.

           Prosecution is a process against individual offenders whereas congressional investigations in aid of legislation are for the enactment of statutes to cover general application.

           Moreover, why should the President’s allies in Malacañang and in Congress be more popish than pope when the subject officials have signified their willingness to be investigated?

           The tyrants of numbers must not be scared of the marginalized but vigilant minority, but they should be afraid of the people’s wrath.

           The target must not be moved nor concealed against an impending bull’s eye.