Opposition bloc accuses Aquino of cronyism

Members of the minority bloc at the House of Representatives on Wednesday accused President Benigno Aquino III of cronyism by appointing close friends to key government post. Minority lawmakers also urged their colleagues in the chamber to investigate anomalies involving some administration officials. Minority Floor Leader Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman vowed to spearhead the opposition’s efforts to monitor the actions of Aquino’s supposed “cronies" in government. “We will make public the lack of credentials of these people," he said at a press briefing. GMA News Online was still trying to reach Malacañang officials for their comment as of posting time. According to Lagman, the minority bloc will be more vigilant of President Aquino’s appointees to ensure that qualified persons and not just his friends, classmates and shooting buddies get government posts. In a separate statement, lawmakers from the minority Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD) party criticized Aquino for “dragging his feet in investigating, reprimanding and firing" his supposed cronies. “A year ago, we were promised a government run by people chosen on the basis of integrity, competence and performance. Today, we have a government where there is a surfeit of kakampi, kaklase and kabarilan," they said. “Kung panay politika at barkada ang aatupagin, ang tuwid na daan ay pupunta sa bangin," they added. The opposition bloc specifically named Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Margie Juico, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres as some of Aquino’s alleged cronies. The House minority members even likened Aquino’s supposed cronyism to that of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was replaced by President Aquino’s mother, the late Corazon Aquino, after being ousted by a popular mass uprising in 1986. “Dalawampu’t limang taon matapos mapatalsik ang mga kampon ni Marcos, nakapwesto naman ang mga katuwang ni PNoy," they said in the statement. The opposition lawmakers also vowed to file a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate supposed anomalies involving administration officials, particularly Ochoa and his alleged P40-million mansion and the supposed irregularities in Finance chief Cesar Purisima’s tax returns. — KBK, GMA News