Aquino blasts previous admin over series of scams

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III criticized the scandals that rocked the previous administration in his last State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday.

Speaking before lawmakers at the plenary of the House of Representatives, Aquino mentioned the fertilizer fund scam, the NBN-ZTE anomalous deal, the declaration of state of emergency all of which occurred during the administration of former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The said fertilizer funds totaling P728 million were said to have been diverted to Arroyo’s campaign kitty to pay off favored local officials. The program was implemented months before the 2004 presidential elections, which catapulted Arroyo to the presidency anew.

“Nung papalapit ang eleksyon ng 2004, lampas 700-milyong piso ang diumano’y pinambili ng fertilizer na ‘di angkop sa pananim, sobrang taas ng presyo, at sa maraming pagkakataon ay hindi man lang nasilayan ng mga magsasaka. Sino kaya ang napataba ng patabang ito? Klarong hindi pananim o magsasaka,” Aquino said.

Aquino also mentioned the NBN-ZTE deal, a $329-million national broadband network deal with China under the Arroyo administration.

“Naalala rin po siguro ninyo ang NBN-ZTE scandal, inimbestigahan namin ito sa Senado, may nagsabing siya raw ay tinangkang suhulan. Nang usisain, ayaw namang magsalita dahil may executive privilege daw siya. Hindi rin naman maipatawag ang dating Pangulo, kaya ang natirang matatanong ay ang alipores niyang akusado ng panunuhol. Natural, itinanggi niya ang paratang,” Aquino said

Arroyo was charged with two counts of graft and one count of breach of the code of conduct for public officials for her approval of the NBN deal.

Arroyo was accused of approving the deal despite knowing it was replete with irregularities, and for having lunch and playing golf with ZTE officials while their broadband project proposal was still being assessed by the government.

Arroyo later canceled the project after a scandal over its supposed overpricing and the alleged bribery of public officials erupted. The project would have interconnected government offices nationwide through broadband technology.

The President likewise mentioned the alleged rigging in the 2004 elections that gave Arroyo a fresh term. He mentioned the “Hello, Garci” scandal, when Arroyo allegedly talked with then Commission on Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano purportedly to rig the poll results. When the scandal was exposed, Arroyo made a televised public statement and said, “I am sorry.”

“Noong mga panahong ‘yon, maski bata natutunan na ang salitang ‘scam.’ Naalala siguro ninyo ang ‘Hello, Garci’ na sinagot lang ng ‘I am sorry,'” Aquino said.