Facing a deluge of lawsuits, Aquino says he is now becoming an expert in law

Former President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said that he is now becoming an expert in law because of the sheer number of cases filed against him by the current administration.

“May mga nagtatanong sa akin, kumusta po kayo?  Ito, nagiging dalubhasa sa batas (Some people are asking: how are you? I’m here, becoming an in law),” Aquino said during the Liberal Party (LP) National Executive Council Meeting in Barangay Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

“Baka matanong niyo kung bakit, eh sa dami ng sinasampa nilang kaso na walang katuturan (You may want to ask me why. It’s because of the sheer number of cases filed against me),” he added, drawing laughter among LP members present during the event.

Aquino was referring to the charges he is facing for improper tax collection and unlawful spending on Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia, an imported vaccine used by his administration for the national anti-dengue immunization program, which allegedly resulted to numerous deaths of children and adults.

“Meron ho isang kopya ng investigation report, finorward sa Ombudsman, pinag-uusapan ‘yong funding ng Dengvaxia.  Bakit daw namin ginamit ‘yong savings, sabi nila ang savings, dapat gamitin ito sa katapusan ng taon, December 31, ‘yon po yung unang paragraph,” he explained.

(There is one copy of the investigation report orwarded by the Ombudsman which discussed the Dengvaxia funding. They were asking why we used our savings for this. Well, we need to use the savings at the end of the year, December 31. That’s the first paragraph.)

“Dahil yung pondo raw po ay 2015, hindi pwede gamitin before December 31. Sa madaling salita, kung gagastusin niyo bago December 31, 2015, mali kayo.  Kung gagastusin ‘yon matapos ng December 31, 2015 mali pa rin kayo,” he added.

(Because the fund was allotted for 2015, they were saying we cannot use it before December 31. In short, if you are going to spend it before December 31, 2015, you were wrong. If you are going to spending it after December 31, 2015, you’re still wrong.)

The former president said  he will file counter-charges against those who filed a complaint against him.

“Okay lang po sa akin ‘yan, dahil kami naman po ang magsasampa ng kaso…at malapit-lapit na rin po ‘yon (It’s OK with me because we are also filing a case soon),” he said.

He also shared that he was ordered by the Supreme Court to comment on the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who was removed when her colleagues voted 8-6 in favor of the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“I have an order to comment on the complaint filed against us for the appointment of Chief Justice Sereno to that position.  It’s a one-page letter,” he said.

“Naka lagay ‘don, may reklamo daw sa pagkakatalaga kay Chief Justice Sereno bilang Chief Justice, violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices.  Sa totoo lang, kapag pangulo kayo, hindi kayo pwedeng maki-alam sa pagtatalaga ng Chief (Justice),” Aquino explained.

(It was stated there that there is a complaint against the appointment of Chief Justice Sereno and violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices. The truth is, if you are the president you cannot meddle in the appointment of the chief justice.) /ee