PAGC starts probe with bribe 'whistleblowers'

The "whistleblowers" of the alleged bribery in Malacañang will be the first people to take the "hot seat" in the investigation of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) into the matter. PAGC commissioner James Jacob on Friday said investigators will promptly get the side of governors and congressmen who confirmed getting cash gifts amounting to as much as P500,000 each. "We'll start with those who already spoke to the media. They showed that they know something and are willing to talk. Hopefully they can give us more details when we interview them," Jacob said in Filipino on dzBB radio. Officials who had admitted receiving "cash gifts" from the Palace include governors Ed Panlilio (Pampanga), Joselito "JonJon" Mendoza (Bulacan) and Emilio Macias III (Negros Oriental); as well as Representatives Rolando Uy (Cagayan de Oro City), Mauricio Domogan (Baguio City), Bienvenido Abante (Manila City) and Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City). Panlilio and Mendoza both asked the Palace to explain its intentions for giving out the money, even as Cuenco and Abante said they did not think of the "cash gift" as a bribe. In the interview, Jacob said PAGC has also informed in writing the other lawmakers and local officials about the probe. These officials were in the guest lists for the Palace meetings last October 11, when the bribes were supposedly given. He said that while the PAGC cannot make recommendations against elected officials, it can directly file criminal charges against them before the Justice Department or the Ombudsman. "The public is very interested in this case. Even the PAGC's credibility is at stake," he said. Jacob said the PAGC aims to finish its investigation well before the 90-day standard deadline. While Malacañang said the investigation started last Friday, Jacob said the PAGC started its leg work Monday. This early, Jacob said PAGC cannot make public its findings, which will be sent to the Office of the President. However, Jacob also said the PAGC is willing to give way to the Ombudsman if it decides to investigate the matter. "To avoid a doubling of work, we are willing to give way to other agencies in the investigation. We are all after the truth," he said. Jacob said that while the PAGC will not involve President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself, it can "ask for an explanation" from the Office of the President, if necessary. "We agreed that if the investigation links her to the incident, we will ask the Office of the President for an explanation. We will not summon her but we might go to her office to politely ask for an explanation," he said. As this developed, Jacob asked the public to send in their information, even anonymously, to the PAGC hotline at (+632) 9241311-12 and fax lines at (+632) 9296445 and (+632) 9258928. - GMANews.TV