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Lawmaker to Ombudsman: What about Mike Arroyo?


MANILA, Philippines - What about the First Gentleman? The first lawmaker to endorse the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez posed the question on Wednesday after the Office of the Ombudsman recommended the filing of charges against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials involved in the alleged collusion between seven construction firms. In a statement, deputy minority leader and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel noted that the Ombudsman's findings on the World Bank controversy did not say a word about First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, who was implicated in the scandal after a certain Noelito Datu Policarpio alleged that the had close ties with Eduardo de Luna, owner and sole proprietor of EC de Luna which was one of the sanctioned firms. "What about FG Mike Arroyo, whose name was mentioned in the World Bank report? It took them two years to release their findings, and still the Ombudsman is mum about the involvement of the first gentleman?" Baraquel asked. She said the Ombudsman is in effect "performing a political surgery" by pointing only to former DPWH officials as the ones guilty of violating the law. She said the Ombudman's move virtually cleared the First Gentleman of any involvement in the scandal. She also said the Ombudsman's report , which came out two years after the agency first got wind of the World Bank document as early as 2007, will not affect the impeachment case lodged against Gutierrez. “She will be impeached," Baraquel said. Last March 2, former government officials and civil society leaders led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga lodged an impeachment complaint against Gutierrez accusing her of inaction on and mishandling of several high-profile cases, including the World Bank controversy. Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said earlier in the day that administrative charges and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act should be filed against former DPWH Secretary Florante Soriquez and other former department officials. The World Bank sanctioned three Filipino firms and four other Chinese firms last January for supposedly rigging bids to bag contracts under the National Roads Improvement and Management Project Phase 1 (NRIMP 1). The World Bank referral report cited witnesses as saying the construction firms paid off government officials and other individuals, including Arroyo, to bag local road projects. Arroyo has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged mess. - GMANews.TV
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