Gov’t dared to go after Arroyo allies

MANILA, Philippines – A senator dared the Aquino government on Thursday to also go after allies of then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who have now joined the present administration.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, a known ally of the former president, noted a perceived harassment against them, citing the latest move to file tax evasion charges against Arroyo’s son and now Ang Galing Pinoy Partylist Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo, and the criminal and administrative cases lodged against Local Water Utilities Administration chairman Prospero Pichay, a staunch-ally of the ex-president.

“In my opinion, I hope this won’t be a template. All those who were part of the past administration will be charged, including their allies. A lot of those with links to the previous government have since allied themselves with the incumbent,” Zubiri told reporters after attending a weekly forum in the Senate Thursday.

“Dapat siguro tingnan po sila lahat kung may kasalanan ba o hindi. Huwag lang po i-personal ang dating administration [Maybe they should first look if the persons involved have committed a crime or not. Let’s not get personal with the previous administration],” he said.

Asked if he was seeing a pattern that the Aquino government was singling out the previous administration, Zubiri said, “Didn’t they file a case against Pichay? They also filed a case against Mikey [Arroyo’s nickname]. Isn’t there perceived harassment towards the previous administration?”

“As far as I’m concerned, if they committed a crime, then there is nothing to argue about. If they are at fault, then let the punishment falls on whoever heads it may fall,’” he said.

“Everybody should be treated equally. Dapat diyan hindi lang sa [In this instance, it should not be limited to] one particular administration. Everybody should be treated equally,” he further said.

But Senator Teofisto Guingona III, an Aquino ally, immediately defended the government, saying that the move against the younger Arroyo and Pichay was not a political vendetta.

“Let’s enforce the law. Anyone who violates the law should be held liable,” Guingona said in a separate interview.

“It’s really following the laws rather than political vendetta,” he added.