Edcel: Palace used ‘no-pork’ threat to ensure impeach vote

The leader of the House opposition bloc said Wednesday that Malacañang officials are behind the text message threatening to withhold the “pork barrel" of lawmakers who will vote against the impeachment case of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Minority Floor Leader Edcel Lagman answered a resounding “Yes" when asked by reporters if the Palace is behind the “ominous" text message that circulated among House members two days before the plenary vote on the Ombudsman’s impeachment case. “Definitely, the names and positions of members of Congress were used with aggravating premeditation... Sino ba magprofit sa ganoong [Who will profit from such] text message? Who will reap the benefits of this?" he said in a press briefing Wednesday. Sought for comment by GMA News Online, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda did not directly meet Lagman’s accusation head-on, but replied by text message: "You should have greater faith in the ability of many of our legislators to transcend their narrow, parochial interest and aspire for the greater good." Both Lacierda and Communications Development and Strategic Planning Sec. Ricky Carandang had earlier said they were not aware of any “pork barrel" offer to members of the House, supposedly coming from the President, in exchange for their "yes" votes in favor of Gutierrez's impeachment. A total of 212 congressmen voted on Tuesday early morning to approve the articles of impeachment against Gutierrez, paving the way for the official to be tried by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. Two days before the vote, a text message allegedly sent by Cavite Rep. Jose Emilio Abaya circulated among congressmen, supposedly threatening to give “zero" priority development assistance funds (PDAF) – the current name of the traditional congressional “pork barrel" – to those will oppose the Ombudsman’s impeachment. Abaya and his pro-Aquino administration allies have denied sending the text message and dismissed it as a mere “disinformation campaign." (See: Pro-Aquino solons wash hands off impeachment 'intimidation' text) Lagman however said that “someone in the know" confirmed to him that the text message is “real" and not a hoax, and renewed his call to investigate the matter. “All those possibly involved must be investigated. I think no member of the House would do that to their colleagues. I think they were used. Their position and names were used by people who want to deliver that ominous message, which took its toll on the vote," the minority lawmaker said.—With Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMA News