Former Senator Edgardo Angara. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines– Former Senator Edgardo Angara and two media men who have been dragged into the “pork barrel” controversy may be invited to face a Senate probe to answer the issues being raised against them, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero told reporters on Wednesday.
Angara was among the four senators, along with 79 representatives, who had reportedly funneled P1.7 billion “pork barrel” funds to questionable nongovernment organizations through the state-owned National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor).
At least two media personalities, Erwin Tulfo and Carmelo del Prado Magdurulang, were also reported to have benefitted from the funds coursed through Nabcor.
“Well, at the very least mabigyan sila ng pagkakataong sumagot din dahil ang hirap minsan sa media, yung accusation nasa front page at headline, yung sagot nasa page 20,” Escudero said when asked if the media men should also be invited by the Senate blue ribbon committee which is investigating the “pork” scam.
(Well, at the very least, they should be given an opportunity to also answer because the problem sometimes in the media, the accusation is at the front page and headline, but the answer is on page 20)
“So at least, pag naimbesigahan sila sa Senado, pagkakataon nila na malathala din sa front page at sa headline anumang sagot o paliwanag na meron sila. Karapatan nila yun,” he said.
(So at least, if they will be investigated in the Senate, it’s an opportunity that whatever answer or explanation they have, may also be published at the front page or headline. That’s their right)
Escudero said the Senate should only invite, and not summon, the members of the media mentioned in connection with the scam.
“Yung patawag iba na kasi yun. Kung imbitahan sila at ayaw nilang gamitin ang pagkakataon para ibigay ang panig nila, nasa sa kanila yun. Pero sa palagay ko kawalan nila yun,” he pointed out.
(It’s different if you summon them. If you invite them and they refuse to use the opportunity to give their side, then that’s up to them. But I think, it’s their loss)
Escudero explained that unlike other committees in the Senate, the blue ribbon committee investigating the “pork” scam has the power to initiate an inquiry on its own on any anomaly involving public funds whether or not the recipients of the funds are members of the media.
Asked about Angara, the senator said he would leave the decision to the chairman of the committe, Senator Teofisto Guingona III.
“But at the very least, again,he should be invited so he should be given the opportunity to give his side. Ngayon kung pipiliin nilang hindi gamitin ang pagkakataong yun, uulitin ko, kawalan nila yun at hindi kawalan ng komite,” said the senator.
(But at the very least, again, he should be invited so he should be given the opportunity to give his side. Now, if they choose not to use the opportunity, I repeat, it’s their loss, not the committee’s.)
But Guingona, in a separate interview, said he would leave it up to Angara whether or not he would like to attend the Senate probe on the scam and answer the allegations reported in the media.
“We will leave that up to him, as we have done for other senators,” he said.
“We will ask him first if he wishes to appear,” he said.
Asked about the news report involving some media personalities, Guingona said the issue could be part of another investigation “if somebody will initiate.”
“But with everything we have that need investigating, we have to prioritize,” he further said.
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