Legarda chides PCGG execs for giving ‘excuses’ during Senate hearing

Sen. Loren Legarda (File photo from INQUIRER.net)

“Don’t give us a BS (bulls**t),” a fuming Senator Loren Legarda said as she scolded officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) during a Senate hearing on Thursday.

This after PCGG officials informed a joint panel in the Senate led by the committee on justice and human rights that they need logistical support for “funding and mobility” and a supplemental legislation “to compromise” with the Marcoses and their cronies, which also include other cases that need settlements.

Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on finance, then asked why the PCGG officials did not approach her when its P11 million capital expenditures (capex) had been deleted from the agency’s proposed P131 million budget.

“Why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t you write me like the others did?” she asked, directing her question to the two PCGG officials—Commissioners John Agbayani and Rey Bulay — present in the hearing.

“And if that P11 million had been granted, you would have reclaimed billions of wealth of Filipino people. I don’t believe. And what was the capex? A building, a car…? I don’t believe…” the senator went on.

Responding to the queries, Bulay said: “Mostly vehicles…”

He was cut by Legarda, who said the agency could still perform its job even without the P11 million budget for cars.

“Don’t give us a runaround,” she said, adding that she does not want to be told that the PCGG could not recover the Filipinos’ wealth without the said budget for cars.

“No we did not say that,” Bulay answered.

“No, you said that in so many words. That’s my understanding unless I’m ignorant,” Legarda shot back. “Because you said you’re not able to recover the wealth because your budget is small.”

As to the PCGG’s proposed legislation, the senator also asked the officials if they had approached any lawmakers to endorse it.

Legarda lost her temper again when Bulay told the joint panel that they are still looking for a sponsor.

“If you’re still looking for a sponsor, and you’re telling us Congress that legislation is needed, that budget is needed but you don’t approach anyone, how would we know your needs and second guess that you need P11 million for cars to recover the wealth of the Filipino people?”

“Don’t give us a BS,” she added.

As he lamented how the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has always been used as a “whipping boy,” Legarda also mentioned DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s desire to abolish the PCGG.

“I talked to Secretary Ben Diokno, he really wants to abolish you,” she said.

The senator also reminded the PCGG that she is the author of a bill that if passed into law would result in the abolition of the agency. /jpv

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