Senators deny, slam alleged P100M bribe offer by Palace

MANILA, Philippines–Senators strongly denied on Monday the alleged P100 million bribe offer by Malacanang to defy the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order  on the opening the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Well that’s not true at all. It’s pure rubbish,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said of the allegation by Corona’s lawyers.

“In my humble opinion, that’s contemptuous,’’ he said, adding that the latest issue might be a way to preempt the senators who will be discussing the TRO in a caucus and vote on whether or not to follow the TRO.

“That’s contemptuous because it will affect the decision of some if not most of the senators. I won’t be affected, I’m sure about myself, hindi ako kasama kung totoo mang may offer na ganoon (I’ve not been a party to this if it’s true there was an offer). But I doubt it very much and I don’t believe there is such an offer,” Lacson said.

He also said such allegation was offensive to the senators, who sit as judges in the impeachment trial.

“Para bang we’re a bunch of people for sale, na may ida-dangle na P100 million at gawa noon magpapalit ang aming position whether or not i-defy ang TRO (It’s as if we’re a bunch of people for sale, who would be offered P100 million just to change our position),” he pointed out.

Lacson said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, should ask the defense team to reveal their source and cite the team’s members for contempt if necessary.

“We can force them under pain of being cited for contempt. That’s really contemptuous sa impeachment court to say the least,” the senator added.

Senate Pro-Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said the defense team should identify the senators who had been approached by Malacanang lest all senators would be suspect.

He said in an interview over television that he was hurt by the allegation of the defense team because every senator’s credibility and integrity might be questionable now. “Kaya siguro karapat-dapat lang na banggitin ng defense panel kung sinu sino ang mga senador na gustong i-bribe ng Malacanang (That’s why it’s but proper for the defense panel to name who among the senator-judges Malacanang wants to bribe).’’

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a known ally of the Aquino administration, also denied the allegation.

“I can only speak for myself, it’s not true,” Escudero said in a text message to reporters.

Escudero said he spoke with Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa, who allegedly made the offer to the senators, in two occasions this week but no offer was made to him.

“No such offer was made. We respect each other and that would be out of character for Jojo to do that,” he said. Escudero and Ochoa have been good friends even before the latter assumed office in government.

Besides, the senator said, he already made known his position last Friday that while he does not agree with the SC decision, the Senate should heed and respect it.

“The Senate should defend the subpoena we issued before the Supreme Court but we should heed and respect it and not even put it to a vote,” Escudero added.