Palace: No demolition job vs opposition lawmakers
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma (Photo from https://pcoo.gov.ph/)
MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang denied on Tuesday the accusation of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. that the indictment of opposition lawmakers in the multi-billion pork barrel scam was part of the Aquino administration’s demolition job against political foes.
Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that the Palace has no time to engage in any form of demolition job because the government is focused on President Benigno Aquino III’s promise of good governance.
“Ang laking sayang sa panahon kung tayo ay mag-eengage sa demolition job,” Coloma said.
(It is just a big waste of time if we engage in a demolition job.)
Revilla blamed the Aquino administration for the the plunder and graft charges linking him to the pork barrel controversy to discredit his political plans for the 2016 elections.
Coloma, however, said the government has more pressing matters to attend to.
Hold-departure orders
Coloma said the issuance of hold-departure orders against Revilla, Enrile and Estrada was a decision of the court and not of Malacañang.
“’Yun din po ay bahagi ng kapangyarihan at pagpapasya ng hukuman,” he said.
(That is part of the power and decision-making of the court).
He said the detention cell of the three senators was for the court to decide.
“Nasa kapangyarihan at pagpapasya po ‘yan ng hukuman,” he said.
(That is within the power and decision-making of the court.)
Senators Revilla, Juan Ponce-Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada face plunder and graft charges at the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
The Ombudsman said it found probable cause to indict Revilla with one count of plunder and 16 counts of graft; Enrile with one count of plunder and 15 counts of graft; and Estrada with one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft.
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