Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
A fuming Senator Manny Pacquiao took the Senate floor on Tuesday to express his dismay on the “intentional misuse” of public funds by corrupt officials, whom he also described as “scammers.”
“Mr. President, last month, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II released information that there are cases of false right of way claims in my hometown, General Santos City. This caused our government to lose at least P8.7 billion,” Pacquiao said in a speech.
“Mr. President, I’m very disappointed with these public officials, who are nothing more than mere scammers, magnanakaw, kurakot…”
“To be frank, I’m furious. If there is something that really causes my dismay, it is their intentional misuse of public funds,” said the neophyte senator.
The funds, he said, were supposed to be used for the development of the country and for the betterment of the lives of the people.
“Hindi ko maintindihan kung paano nakakatulog ang mga taong ito nang mahimbig sa gabi nang alam nila ang kalokohang ginagawa nila. These actions are done by human with no conscience,” Pacquiao said.
“Mr. President, naniniwala ako na merong problema sa ating sistema kaya unti-unting lumilitaw ang mga lamat sa ating gobyerno.”
This was the reason why, he said, he filed Senate Resolution No. 561 calling for the committee on public works, which he chairs, to look into the reported misuse of government funds for its right-of-way (ROW) project covered by alleged ‘spurious land titles” in his home town.
In the resolution, Pacquiao cited reports that a group of individuals submitted fake land titles in the name of non-existent people claiming to be landowners of various properties in General Santos City to secure payment from the government for its ROW project.
“These reports have brought to light some gaps relative to government budgetary, project implementation and auditing rules and practices,” it said.
While he recognized the inherent power of the state to appropriate any property for a public purpose, Pacquiao said it would be the “ultimate act of hypocrisy” to bypass the law in the guise of public service.
“Mr. President, hindi ko masikmura ang galawang ganito. Ang perang galing sa buwis ng ordinaryong mamamayan, napunta lang sa bulsa ng iilang alagad ng gobyerno,” he said.
“I believe that it is our duty, as legislators, to solve these faults in our system,” the senator added.
Pacquiao vowed not to stop until the erring officials are held accountable.
Just last month, the senator has admitted that the thoughts of resigning from politics had crossed his mind also dismayed by politicians who have hidden agenda and those who have been trying to destabilize the government.
READ: Resigning from politics crosses Pacquiao’s mind