Lacson links ex-President Arroyo to PIATCO anomaly

For allegedly not acting on it, the Arroyo administration may have something to do with the allegedly anomalous construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3), Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday. “Kung wala silang kinalaman, dapat naresolba na nila ito noong sila’y nasa kapangyarihan," said Lacson, a vocal critic of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her family. “Instead na may gawin sila para maimbestigahan talaga nang maayos itong mga scam, bakit walang nangyari?" he added. GMA News Online tried contacting Raul Lambino, Arroyo’s legal spokesman, through text and phone call, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. The NAIA Terminal 3 was a joint project of the Philippine government, the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (PIATCO), and German firm Fraport AG. However, the government ended up in a legal battle with the firms over the ownership of the airport. During Thursday’s weekly forum at the Senate, Lacson said the two companies would not have been able to get away with the contract had the Arroyo administration acted on it. “I suppose so," Lacson said when asked if he thinks the Arroyo administration was somehow liable in the alleged anomaly. “Sino ba ang nasa power noon nung nangyari ito, nang pumutok ito? Kung walang tatak Arroyo ito they could have gotten to the bottom of this case." On Wednesday, Lacson claimed to have documents indicating that several remittances as big as $1 million were remitted to Hong Kong-based companies Jetstream Pacific Ltd. Intl. and Mainlands Global Ltd. between 2001 to 2004, which was the height of the PIATCO anomaly. The companies, which were registered with the British Virgin Islands, were reportedly dissolved right after the money transfers. On Thursday, Lacson said the remittances were probably used as bribe money although he admitted that he does not have proof the money ended up with Arroyo and her allies. “Pag may remittances ibig sabihin may mga government officials sa Philippines na nakinabang," he said. “We try to scratch the surface of corruption in the Philippines and we’ll find an Arroyo underneath. It is a statement of fact," he added. Lacson said he will be able to get more information once the Hong Kong Court of Appeal unseals the documents that were confiscated by the HK Independent Commission Against Corruption from the law firm Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc Delos Angeles in 2006. He said the Department of Justice (DOJ) should ask the HK court to unseal the documents, which will supposedly point to the people behind the remittances. “Without an effort from the Philippine government, paano na magmo-move yun?" Lacson also said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima should act on the other anomalies that have been hounding the country and have even been investigated by Congress. “I think it is incumbent upon the DOJ to do something about this," he said. Among the anomalies Lacson mentioned were NBN-ZTE deal, the fertilizer fund scam, the “Hello, Garci" scandal, and the alleged misuse of funds of former PCSO officials. He said all de Lima or the DOJ has to do is to coordinate with the Senate blue ribbon committee and the House of Representatives to get the evidence that they have obtained throughout the years. - KBK, GMA News