IBP hits Palace use of ‘pork’

President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Thursday denounced alleged moves by President Benigno Aquino III and his political lieutenants to use pork barrel funds to convince senators to vote for the conviction of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Pork barrel is a detestable political tool that should have no place in the impeachment process,” said IBP spokesperson Dennis Habawel, who was reacting to news reports about the purported Palace attempt to influence the outcome of Corona’s impeachment trial.

‘Not worth a denial’

Sen. Franklin Drilon, a close Aquino ally, threatened to cite in contempt those responsible for the accusation, saying “that canard is not even worth a denial.”

The state-recognized organization of lawyers, in a statement, vowed to closely monitor the impeachment trial of Corona in the Senate and oppose external influences on the objectivity of the senator-judges.

“While we put much faith in our senators, any monitoring should expose any moves to corrupt the process with pork barrel,” the IBP said.

“Impeachment may be a political exercise in the sense that it is the political organs of government, like the House and the Senate, who impeach and try, respectively. But the essence of the proceedings still embraces fair play and due process to the end that senators decide on the basis of the merits of the case,” the group said.

Senators get P200 million each, while every congressman receives P70 million yearly in Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson initially hinted that there could be substance to the allegation.

“I know that very, very few senators are capable of selling their votes to lobby groups on a pending bill and a major issue like an impeachment case should not be an exception,” he said in a text message.

However, Lacson immediately sent another text saying he had just received an SMS “from an obvious text brigade saying that P400 (million) from the (conditional cash transfer) fund of the (Department of Social Welfare and Development) is being offered by Malacañang to secure the conviction of CJ Corona.”

“That makes the IBP report a dubious one and a cheap shot to put the senator-judges on the spot,” he said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who described himself as a lifetime IBP member, said: “This charge is not only unfounded.  It is old, rehashed allegations.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada recalled that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo used the pork barrel to shoot down the yearly impeachment complaints filed against her.

“I am not aware of any moves to offer us pork barrel in exchange for a conviction (of Corona) and I don’t think anyone would do what Gloria did when she was president.”

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., a known Arroyo ally, said in a text message, “In fairness, I don’t believe that the President will allow this nor consent to it.”

Morally wrong

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said on the Church-run Radio Veritas it was “morally wrong” for the President to personally lobby the senators to have Corona impeached.

“It is wrong for him to influence the senators because the Senate decision in the case of Corona would then have the blessings and influence of the President. That is not right. He should allow the senators to decide without mixing it with politics,” Bastes added.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said he was not surprised that the President was talking with senators about Corona’s fate because Mr. Aquino also did this with members of the House of Representatives.

“The President just wants the assurance that Malacañang will succeed in the end. This is not surprising because this is what politics is like in our country,” Cruz said.