JPE to Trillanes: Prove ex-President involved in AFP corruption

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is urging Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to prove that the administration of former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was involved in alleged corruption in the military. "There must be evidence that exists. Kung may suspicion siya laban sa dating pangulo, he must present his evidence to the public at the soonest possible time," Enrile said on dzBB radio Sunday. Trillanes — who led two attempts to topple the Arroyo administration in 2003 and 2007 — indicated last Thursday that the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines may go all the way up to the former president. If former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, who has been accused of illegally amassing more than P303 million, got this hefty amount, "those higher than him at the time got more," Trillanes has alleged. Enrile said that Trillanes could be subjected to disciplinary action should he give false testimony on Arroyo's involvement in alleged corruption in the military. "He would be testifying under oath. If what he's saying is true, he should have to stand the cross examination," according to the Senate President. Enrile said senators must start observing "moderate proceedings" during Senate investigations, after former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes committed suicide last week. Enrile said Reyes was called "moron" by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and a "person without reputation" by Trillanes, when he was called by the Senate to stand as a witness. But former Senate President Franklin Drilon said there is "no urgency" to revise the rules as to how one questions during Senate investigations. "We could revise the rules, not because [Reyes] committed suicide, but because there is a valid need to revise them," said Drilon, chair of the Senate committee on finance. Drilon pointed out: "Hindi dapat lagyan ng limitasyon ang pagtatanong. Kelangan niyang itanong kung ano ang gusto niya in the interest to divulge the truth." Enrile said the suicide of Reyes should not bog down the Senate investigation into some unprofessional conduct in the military. "I will not allow the investigation to end. We have to finish the investigation to its final conclusion," he said. While it was "unfortunate" that the former military chief took his own life amid the ongoing investigation, the Senate is serving a bigger interest for Filipinos, Enrile said. "It is unfortunate that somebody took his life because of any investigation done by us... If we're going to stop that, 'di kami ang masasaktan. Ang masasaktan ang bayan. We are serving the interest of the nation," he said. — Jesse Edep/VS, GMA News