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| President Benigno Aquino III |
Aquino: My allies are not above the law
How is the administration addressing corruption in the government? Just look at the President’s allies being punished for allegedly engaging in corrupt activities.
President Benigno Aquino III on Friday faced tough questions from members of the electronics sector during the forum of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines in Muntinlupa City.
He spoke before the chief executive officers, presidents and other executives of 260 foreign and Filipino semiconductor and electronics companies in the Philippines at The Bellevue Hotel..
President Aquino said his allies were not exempt from the law.
Well, I think. if you read today's papers, you will see that even our allies atre being made to account by the Ombudsman under the various court," he said.
Recently, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., a key ally of Aquino and Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, was ordered dismissed for allegedly demanding P3 million from a businessman in 201..
"That, hopefully, will send a message to everybody that corruption really is not (tolerated in the government), said Aquino.
“Perhaps, if I may just add, whenever anybody talks about corruption, they talk about the person in government. But what about the necessary partner who is the briber? A bribee doesn’t exist without a briber … I think, it’s very clear—’yung nakikiuusap. Kaya nga nakikiusap dahil malabo,” he said.
“And if both parties, those that feel it’s easier to bribe the person who actually accepts the bribe are, shall we say, brought to a new direction, then I think we will eliminate that idea of corruption,” he added. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC, INQUIRER
Question: Then why close your eyes on Marinduque, Mr.
President? DILG has not served the suspension order.
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| Manila Bulletin front page |
Marinduque gov suspended
Sandiganbayan cites use of PDAF in 2004 fertilizer scam
The Sandiganbayan has ordered the two-month suspension from service of Marinduque Governor Carmencita Reyes for graft and corruption in connection with the alleged misuse of her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the 2004 fertilizer scam, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) announced yesterday.
The Sandiganbayan granted the Ombudsman prosecutors’ motion to suspend the accused pending the trial of the case, according to a resolution written by Justice Teresita Diaz Baldos of the anti-graft court’s Second Division.
“The authority of the court to order the preventive suspension of an incumbent public official has both legal and jurisprudential support,” the resolution stated.
The court dismissed Reyes’ opposition, declaring that “political considerations or factors being raised by the accused cannot override the mandatory character of suspension pendente lite that must be observed by the Court, which should remain apolitical.”
The court instructed Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento to implement the suspension order.
The OMB had charged Reyes and several others with graft and corruption for their alleged involvement in the 2004 fertilizer fund scam.
Reyes was cited for allegedly using her PDAF in the purchase of unsuitable fertilizer and farm implements from favored suppliers without the required public bidding. - MANILA BULLETIN
