Mitos Magsaysay backs Aquino for halting PNP arms purchase

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III found an unlikely ally in Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay for his decision to halt the allegedly anomalous procurement of firearms for the Philippine National Police.

Magsaysay, a staunch supporter of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said on Wednesday that she had to agree with Aquino’s move to stop the purchase of assault rifles for the PNP.

“We should stop first if there’s malfeasance. The President himself questioned the P80,000 price for the rifles, on that stand I’m with the President.”

“That’s good, we should all be transparent and accountable,” said the Zambales lawmaker.

Magsaysay slammed the decision of the House of Representatives to drop its plans to launch an inquiry into the arms deal in which Aquino’s shooting buddy Rico Puno resigned from his post as undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“I did not like the idea of having the probe scrapped; I’d rather that they allow the PNP and its and personnel involved to be questioned not only to expose their guilt but even to expose their innocence,” she said.

Magsaysay said that Puno’s resignation was merely damage control on the part of Malacañang, adding  “the mere fact that there’s a cover up did more harm than good.”