Malacañang won’t come to Aquino adviser’s defense

Presidential Adviser on Environment Neric Acosta. comelec.gov.ph photo

Malacañang will leave it to the lawyers of Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection Nereus Acosta to defend him in his ongoing graft case at the Sandiganbayan, a Palace official said.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace would not comment on the “legal defense” put up by Acosta in challenging the impending preventive suspension order against him in connection with the graft case he is facing.

Acosta had told the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division that he could not be suspended from office because he was a presidential appointee and a member of the Cabinet and, thus, suspending him was tantamount to suspending the President.

At a news briefing, Lacierda said he did not think it was arrogance on the part of Acosta to make this argument as this was his “legal defense” to the impending preventive suspension order.

Asked if the President should not sanction Acosta for making the argument, Lacierda declined to answer the question, saying only that he had been trying to call Acosta to clarify “if he indeed said that.”

He also said he would have to ask President Benigno Aquino III for his reaction to Acosta’s arguments.

Acosta is on trial for the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel in 2000 and 2001 when he was the representative of Bukidnon in Congress.

Acosta is a member of the Liberty Party chaired by President Aquino. He lost in the senatorial race in 2010, but curiously was not among the LP senatorial bets whom the President is urging to run again in the senatorial race in 2013.

“That’s a legal issue that he is trying to contest right now so let’s wait for the Sandiganbayan to rule on that matter,” Lacierda told reporters.