‘You can’t bribe a senator,’ says Recto

Sen. Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –  “You can’t bribe a senator,” so said Senate Pro Tempore  Ralph Recto amid questions on the alleged millions of pesos worth of  projects given to senators during and after the impeachment of then Chief Justice Renato Corona last year.

“Sa tagal ko na rin sa Senado, naging congressman din ako, it’s hard to believe that you can bribe a senator. That’s my experience here… Mahirap  isipin (It’s hard to think) that you can bribe a senator,”  Recto told reporters on Wednesday.

“Some people would be suspicious like many of you are asking now but…my thinking is that you can’t bribe a senator…” he added.

But Recto himself admitted that he did not make any requests for projects at the height of Corona’s impeachment out of prudence.

“Because at that time, I know there’s an impeachment and of course, prudence dictates that I should not make a request,” he said.

He said he only made a request after the impeachment trial was over.

Former Senator Joker Arroyo said Tuesday that 11 senators were given more than P500 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund  (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds in April, 2012.

Last week, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, in a privilege speech disclosed that senators, who voted to impeach Corona in May, 2012, were given P50 million “incentive” each but clarified that it was not a bribe.

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