Pangilinan questions Duterte's motive in exposing 'corrupt' lawmakers sans evidence

Published December 29, 2020 10:54 AM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte's revelation of names of lawmakers allegedly linked to corruption without concrete evidence might be just a move against the opposition.

"Kung walang konkretong ebidensya laban sa mga ito ano nang motibo para isiwalat? Bakit 'yung mga kakampi na klarong klaro at konkreto ang ebidensya ng palpak o kurakot na pamumuno tulad ng overpriced na testing kits, pagpapalusot ng toneladang shabu sa Customs wala silang imik?" Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said in a message.

"Anti-corruption ba talaga, o anti-opposition at pro-sunud-sunuran sa mga kakampi ang layunin?" he added.

On Monday night, Duterte said there were allegations that LP members Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Sato, former Ifugao Representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr., and Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza were linked to corruption, among other congressmen. All three denied the accusation.

The LP dismissed Duterte's list of corrupt solons as a mere diversionary tactic

and urged the administration to focus instead on the massive corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, police abuse, and the coronavirus pandemic.

In a separate interview on ANC, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he would reserve his comments on the issue as he has yet to process the names mentioned by the President.

Nevertheless, he underscored that public servants should not abuse public funds.

"Kickbacks from projects [are] nothing new and we have to pursue that, we have to pursue the investigation and make sure that people are prosecuted, especially those who work in government," Gatchalian said.

During the televised address, Duterte said the graft allegations against the lawmakers he named have yet to be proven.

“I just want to assure everybody that ‘yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo is not a condemnation or an indictment that you are guilty of something,” Duterte said.

“Do not take it as a gospel truth na totoo talaga ito. Lumabas lang ito sa investigation ng PACC (Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission),” he added.—AOL, GMA News

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