Palace sees more charges filed vs Arroyo officials

The Aquino administration has yet to stop gathering evidence on the supposed anomalies committed by the past government, and is just waiting for the next Ombudsman to be appointed to file the necessary complaints. “We don’t want to file a case which is half-cooked and we prefer that there’s already a permanent Ombudsman in place," said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda at a press briefing Thursday. Among the personalities associated with former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who are facing charges are her son, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep Mikey Arroyo and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Merceditas Gutierrez, an Arroyo appointee, was forced to resign last April as Ombudsman after the House voted to impeach her. Despite this, Lacierda denied that they are harassing officials in the Arroyo administration, adding that they only file cases against personalities based on evidence. “We will file our cases when there’s evidence to do so, when evidence warrants, not based on innuendoes, not based on half-truths, not based on propaganda," he said. Lacierda was hitting back at opposition lawmakers at the House of Representatives who want some officials of the Aquino administration investigated for their alleged involvement in anomalies. Sound bites He said instead of mouthing “sound bites," the minority bloc should diligently study some documents before throwing accusations. “Kung magiging mas diligent po imbes na sound bite na lang ang ginagawa ng oposisyon, pag-aralan po ‘yung dokumento, obviously, sound bites ang ginagawa nila… for headline lang ito," Lacierda said. The minority bloc at the House of Representatives, led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, has accused Aquino of cronyism and vowed that they would bare to the public the questionable credentials and anomalies of some of the current Cabinet officials. The opposition bloc named, among others, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, 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. Lacierda said most of the issues raised by the opposition were rehashed and have been explained by the government officials concerned. He said the transfer of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from Quezon Institute (QI) to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) was to the advantage of the government. He said Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, as early as August last year, advised PCSO to leave QI, which was declared unfit to be habited. He added retrofitting just one column of the building would cost the government P75 million to P150 million. “So what’s the best thing that they did? They decided to move the PCSO, it’s a government to government move anyway. Ano nangyari? Meron po tayong savings na P2 million a month dahil sa paglipat ng PCSO," Lacierda said. Lacierda said the issue on the alleged non-declaration of tax of Purisima had been thoroughly explained during the CA hearing, and that there is already a fact-finding body investigating Torres. He said Ochoa had already explained the issue on his supposed mansion. Bring it on He said Malacañang would not stop any of its officials from attending any investigation that will be conducted by Congress on the supposed anomalies. “When did we stop anyone since the start of the administration? Did we ever invoke some sort of EO (executive order) 464? We never did," said Lacierda, referring to an issuance of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo barring government officials from attending congressional hearings without her approval. He further said that Malacanang expects the House members, in general, to be responsible and be able to sift through what is propaganda from truth. “I’m challenging the opposition to be more diligent with their work. They just keep on mouthing all these accusations." - KBK, GMA News