Lacson: Graft case vs Perez will not be resolved under Arroyo
MANILA, Philippines - The public should not expect the graft case against former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez over a $2-million bribery mess to be resolved under the Arroyo administration, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday night.
"Don't count on those charges prospering, for as long as this government remains in power. They have to protect those who know too much about the rest of the money trail," Lacson told a forum on corruption in Makati City.
Perez, who was reportedly close to the First Family, was linked to the questionable multimillion-dollar power deal with an Argentinean firm in January 2001, or barely a week after the Arroyo government seized power from then President Joseph Estrada.
Yet, Lacson noted that Perez was charged before the graft court only recently, nearly eight years after the incident.
"All of us hoped that in the aftermath of the second ousting of a president by people power, the successor government would consecrate itself to good governance and minimum corruption," he said.
Lacson also told the forum of President Arroyo’s alleged links to government irregularities, particularly to the Hello Garci scandal where she supposedly paid off allies to lie and cover up for cheating in the 2004 polls.
"Corruption could not possibly be worse than this, where the corruptor is no less than the sitting president of the republic," he said.
The opposition senator also lamented that impunity has taken root, with people tending to forget about cases of graft quickly.
"We see the crooks at Holy Mass, the first even to receive the sacraments, and we forget their mortal sins of corruption and avarice. We see them at parties, and we oblige them with greetings. Some would call that social form. Just like our so-called democracy – all form and little substance," Lacson said.
"For crooks, crime pays in our corrupted body politic, because no one is severely punished. In time, even the shame disappears. As it has. The culture of impunity has firmly taken root," he added.
Lacson called for leaders who can lead by good example, instead of those who can sweet-talk their way to power.
"We need a leader who is ready and willing to ‘break glass’ in fighting all forms of corruption, not someone who would rather sweet-talk or pass by through propaganda spins," he said. - GMANews.TV
"Don't count on those charges prospering, for as long as this government remains in power. They have to protect those who know too much about the rest of the money trail," Lacson told a forum on corruption in Makati City.
Perez, who was reportedly close to the First Family, was linked to the questionable multimillion-dollar power deal with an Argentinean firm in January 2001, or barely a week after the Arroyo government seized power from then President Joseph Estrada.
Yet, Lacson noted that Perez was charged before the graft court only recently, nearly eight years after the incident.
"All of us hoped that in the aftermath of the second ousting of a president by people power, the successor government would consecrate itself to good governance and minimum corruption," he said.
Lacson also told the forum of President Arroyo’s alleged links to government irregularities, particularly to the Hello Garci scandal where she supposedly paid off allies to lie and cover up for cheating in the 2004 polls.
"Corruption could not possibly be worse than this, where the corruptor is no less than the sitting president of the republic," he said.
The opposition senator also lamented that impunity has taken root, with people tending to forget about cases of graft quickly.
"We see the crooks at Holy Mass, the first even to receive the sacraments, and we forget their mortal sins of corruption and avarice. We see them at parties, and we oblige them with greetings. Some would call that social form. Just like our so-called democracy – all form and little substance," Lacson said.
"For crooks, crime pays in our corrupted body politic, because no one is severely punished. In time, even the shame disappears. As it has. The culture of impunity has firmly taken root," he added.
Lacson called for leaders who can lead by good example, instead of those who can sweet-talk their way to power.
"We need a leader who is ready and willing to ‘break glass’ in fighting all forms of corruption, not someone who would rather sweet-talk or pass by through propaganda spins," he said. - GMANews.TV
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