PNoy: Making corrupt officials accountable to be difficult if Corona is acquitted
President Benigno Aquino III admitted Thursday that it would be “extremely difficult if not impossible” for his administration to make corrupt public officials accountable in the event Chief Justice Renato Corona is acquitted in the impeachment trial.
At a pulong bayan with students in La Consolacion College Manila, Aquino said their hands would somehow be tied with orders issued by the court.
At a pulong bayan with students in La Consolacion College Manila, Aquino said their hands would somehow be tied with orders issued by the court.
A student asked: "Kung saka-sakali po na ma-acquit si Chief Justice Corona, how will this affect your reform agenda in making corrupt public officials accountable for their past misdeeds?"
To which the President replied: "Extremely difficult if not impossible."
Gatdula case?
Gatdula case?
He cited that an official of the National Bureau of Investigation who is under investigation was able to secure a 20-day temporary restraining order against the Department of Justice.
“Ano po ‘yung restraining order? Hindi kayo pwedeng umakto o kumilos kaalinsunod noong inyong imbestigasyon. Okay. Ano po ‘yung nangyari? May akusasyon. Kung ikaw ang hepe ng isang tanggapan may akusasyon sa isang tauhan mo, anong gagawin mo?” he said.
“Kailangan mong imbestigahan ‘yan, kailangan maibalik mo ‘yung kredibilidad ng NBI bilang isang institusyon. Inutusan ngayon nung regional trial court hindi kayo pwedeng kumilos doon sa resulta ng imbestigasyon niyon,” he added.
Aquino did not mention who the NBI official was but on February 1, sacked NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula was able to secure a 20-day TRO against a fact-finding panel recommendation that he be subjected to a preliminary investigation.
The DOJ panel recommendation was in connection with Gatdula’s alleged involvement in kidnapping and extortion on a Japanese national.
Aquino did not mention who the NBI official was but on February 1, sacked NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula was able to secure a 20-day TRO against a fact-finding panel recommendation that he be subjected to a preliminary investigation.
The DOJ panel recommendation was in connection with Gatdula’s alleged involvement in kidnapping and extortion on a Japanese national.
Likewise, Aquino mentioned the Supreme Court decision that prevented the government from sacking the head of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, whom the Aquino administration believed was a midnight appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aquino said the same NCMF head put some 500 Hajj pilgrims in shame after availing only 4,000 of the 12,000 visas offered by the Saudi Arabia to go to Mecca and accepting 5,000 visa applicants.
He said the government had to request for additional visas but the Saudi government by that time was only able to provide 500 more visas.
“Yung 500 pinahiya nang husto sa kanilang mga komunidad. Nagresulta dun dahil nga ‘yung Supreme Court, papunta na siguro sa two years ‘yang kasong ‘yan, ay hindi kami pinahintulutan na palitan itong nakaupo doon na midnight appointee na bawal ayon sa Saligang Batas. So anong mangyayaring epekto? Dadami ang ganoon,” he said.
During the same event, Aquino said in his speech that with Corona’s impeachment, he just wanted justice to be served and put balance in the society.
“Lilinawin ko lang po: Walang personalan dito; sistemang pangkatarungan ang ipinaglalaban dito. At dahil malaki ang pagbabagong ating hinahangad, malaki rin po ang kinakabangga natin,” he said.
“Papayag ba tayo na magpatuloy ang sistema kung saan may nanlalamang at nilalamangan? Hahayaan ba nating magkatotoo ang sinasabing dalawang mukha ng katarungan sa Pilipinas-- isa para sa makapangyarihan, at iba para sa mga nasa laylayan? Kuntento ka bang hindi patas ang laban? Hindi ba sulit na ituwid ang ganitong klaseng kalakaran? Di po ba't malinaw po ang mga alituntuning kailangang sundin ng lahat?” Aquino added. — RSJ, GMA News
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