Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Wednesday accused former Chief Justice Reynato Puno of “politicking” after he warned of chaos if the people’s initiative to scrap the controversial “pork barrel” funds would fail.
“Nakakalungkot po yung ganong salita na nangagaling sa dating Chief Justice,” Drilon said on radio when sought for his reaction to Puno’s reported statements.
“Sa akin po ito’y kaso na naisampa sa Ombudsman, may imbestigasyon sa blue ribbon (committee), ang taumbayan nagbabantay kung ano ang mangayayari. Sa aking paningin, wala pong basehan.”
(For me, the case has been filed at the Ombudsman, it is being investigated by the blue ribbon committee and the people are closely monitoring. So in my view, there’s no basis)
“Yan po ay salitang pamumulitika, ang sinasabi ng ating dating Chief Justice. Nakakalungkot po ang mga ganitong klaseng salita na mangagaling sa ating dating Chief Justice,” the Senate leader added.
Drilon was referring to the plunder complaints filed at the Office of the Ombudsman against those allegedly involved in the P10 billion “pork barrel” scam, including Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
The three senators though have repeatedly denied any involvement in the scam, allegedly masterminded by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
It was Puno, who initiated the people’s initiative to push for the abolition of the “pork barrel” system in government amid alleged abuses in the use of the funds.
Drilon, in the same interview, also dismissed Puno’s reported statement that former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment may be declared void if it would be proven that senators had been bribed with additional “pork barrel” funds in exchange of his conviction.
Estrada, in a privilege speech, claimed that the senators who voted to impeach Corona were given additional “pork barrel” funds. The senator though immediately clarified that it was not a bribe.
But Drilon said all these bribe talks were just rumors.
“Sa akin akin po, hanggang ngayon yan po lahat ay kuro kuro na nagkasuhulan at walang pruweba ni isang dokumento na nagpapakita na ito’y suhol,” he said.
(To me, all these talks of bribery are just rumors and there’s no single document that would show that it (the additional pork) was a bribe)
Estrada himself, he said, had claimed that the additional funds released through the Disbursement Acceleration Program, did not influence the senators because it was released after Corona’s conviction.
“ Kaya wala pong basehan yung sinasabi na may suhulan,” Drilon added.
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