Lacson spox to Duterte: Why not file charges vs ‘most corrupt’ presidential bet?

Partido Reporma spokesperson Ashley Acedillo. Photo from Facebook account

MANILA, Philippines — If President Rodrigo Duterte’s claims that a presidential aspirant is corrupt, then it could be a good way to help voters make informed choices for the 2022 national elections, the spokesperson of Senator Panfilo Lacson’s party said.

But for now, Partido Reporma spokesperson and former lawmaker Ashley Acedillo said on Wednesday that they would have to wait for the developments in Duterte’s promise to name alleged corrupt candidates.

Lacson is running for president in the 2022 national elections.

“We’ll just wait to hear from President Duterte what he thinks of the different candidates running to succeed him in June 2022,” Acedillo said in a statement.

“If grounded on facts and evidence, this will be helpful to the voters still on the fence as to who to vote for, while allowing others to change their minds if they feel their chosen candidates are wanting either in integrity, capability or potential,” he added.

Acedillo however questioned why information about aspirants being engaged in corrupt activities is not yet used in filing a case before courts, including anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

“Curiously, shouldn’t the same facts and evidence on a particular candidate — especially if pertaining to potential corrupt or criminal conduct — be a basis for pursuing a case in the Sandiganbayan or our regular courts?” he asked. “Abangan.”

The reactions about allegedly corrupt presidential bets came after Duterte, in the second part of his Talk to the People aired on Tuesday morning, said that he would name the ‘most corrupt’ of the presidential bets before the May 9 polls.

According to the president, it is part of his obligation as head of state, adding that one of the candidates “really cannot be a president” while another candidate can be elected but is “too corrupt”.

“In due time… I will personally name the candidates and maybe what’s wrong with them na kailangang malaman ng tao because you are electing the president. Sino yung pinaka-corrupt na kandidato (People had to know this because they are electing a president, who is the most corrupt candidate),” Duterte said.

“Hindi ako namumulitika (I am not politicking); I’m talking to you as your president… Ito kailangan ilalabas ko (I need to bring this out) because we are talking of elections. We are talking of our country and the next rulers so to say,” he added.

But on Tuesday afternoon, another presidential aspirant in labor leader Leody de Guzman claimed that the President is only trying to make himself relevant, as he is already in his “lame duck” state with months to go before his term ends.

De Guzman said that if Duterte is really concerned about the country, then the latter should focus on the big problems faced by his administration, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

EDV