Solon: Politicians more answerable than mediamen on pork scam

Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Public officials involved in the “pork barrel” scam should be more accountable than certain members of the media who are now being dragged into the issue, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Wednesday.

This was how Escudero, who initiated the pork scam probe in the Senate, reacted when sought to comment on the alleged involvement of more members of the media into the controversy.

“Bear in mind na mas malaki pa rin ang responsibilidad ng public official dahil nanumpa kami, at gayundin may responsabilidad kami kumpara sa mga pribadong indibidwal katulad ng media,” Escudero said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporter.

(Bear in mind that public officials have a bigger responsibility because we took an oath, and we have responsibilities compared with the private individuals like those in the media.)

But while more and more people were being dragged into the pork scam, Escudero noted that not a single case has been filed in court yet.

All charges pertaining to the scam are still pending at the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Actually ang problema ko dyan, pinapalawak nang pinapalawak, baka hindi na matapos ‘yan…” he said.

“Sana habang lumalawak, eh bumibilis din sana ang galaw.  Baka mamaya habang lumalawak, pabagal ng bagal ang resolution. Matatapos na ang term ng pangulo eh wala pa ring natatapos,” Escudero said.

(My problem is that the case’s scope has been expanding. I can only hope that with its expansion, it will move faster in our courts. I am afraid that our president’s term may already be over and this might not be resolved yet.)

But the senator said the blue ribbon committee, headed by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, was already planning to come up with its report on the scam.

“… I think he was planning to come up with a report whether it’s a preliminary, partial whatever you call it, I think they were planning to come up with a report,” he said.

Escudero said he would support if the committee would come up with a report at least on the issue involving detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

But he reiterated that the committee should proceed to investigate not only the non-government organizations identified with Napoles but also other organizations that have been allegedly used as conduits of lawmakers’ pork barrel funds.

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