Aquino to prosecute thieves three times faster than their raid on treasury

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III pledged on Wednesday to prosecute plunderers at a speed three times faster than when they allegedly stole the people’s money.

Aquino, speaking at the 75th anniversary of the National Bureau of Investigation at its headquarters in Manila, noted how he was raking in criticism for supposedly acting in haste in the prosecution of unidentified officials who allegedly committed acts of corruption and other offenses, an apparent allusion to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Ang sagot ko sa kanila: Kung gaano sila ka-agresibo sa pagkakamal ng salapi ng taumbayan noon, magiging triple ang pagharurot natin para panagutin sila ngayon [My answer to them Is: I will go after you three times faster than you were aggressive in stealing the people’s money],” Mr. Aquino said.

The Chief Executive said he was ready to do this because he was “on the side of reason and truth, and more than anything else, the people.”

“Sila ang nagbigay sa atin ng pagkakataong paglingkuran ang ating bayan, kaya sila lamang ang pinagkakautangan natin ng loob, wala ng iba [They are the ones who gave me the chance to serve our  country, and I am indebted to them and no one else],” he added.

“Therefore, whether you are a garbage collector or a former President, driver or justice; if you take advantage of the people, you should be pursued and be made accountable for your crimes,” Mr. Aquino said.

The President was apparently referring to the ongoing controversy sparked by the Palace move to stop former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country purportedly to seek treatment abroad for her bone ailment, and the speed with which charges were filed against here and a warrant issued for her arrest.

Arroyo is now under hospital arrest after the Commission on Elections filed an electoral sabotage against her.

The Arroyo camp had protested the way the Palace, particularly the Department of Justice, had run after the former President, now a representative of Pampanga in Congress.