Aquino: Govt to start filing cases vs. Mrs. Arroyo by Nov.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who is in Japan for a state visit, said the government will start filing cases against former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo by November. “Sunud-sunod ‘yung ifa-file namin, mag-uumpisa pa lang kami by probably November," Aquino told Filipino journalists covering his official visit in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday evening. Arroyo, the country's 14th president who served from 2001 to 2010, was tagged in several controversies such as alleged election fraud in 2004 and 2007. GMA News Online is still trying to obtain the comment of the Arroyo camp on Aquino's statement but the Arroyos have repeatedly denied in the past all allegations against them. Biggest sin Aquino said he intends to go after the one who committed the biggest sin in the controversies that hounded the previous administration. “Improtante ‘yung pinaka-head, ‘yung pinakamatindi ang ginawa ‘yung ang klarong [dapat] maparusahan para magkaroon ng lesson, kabahan ang iba," he said. Depending on the discretion of the Ombudsman, Aquino said the cases that the government will be filing can be consolidated with the complaints earlier filed by private individuals. “Yung Ombudsman will look at it, will present cases that are reasonable, [that] have a good chance of prospering. But, at the same time, kung malabo talaga ‘yung bintang, eh ‘di i-abswelto mo sila," he said. No deadline However, Aquino said he will not give a deadline on when the cases should be finished. “You’re asking me kasi to give a deadline to a co-equal branch of government, how would I do that?" he asked. Aquino also refused to mention the intended schedule, methodologies, and pieces of evidence already at hand, saying it will be foolish of him to do so. “Hindi ko naman pwedeng ibibigay ‘yung mga strategy ko na eto ang gagawin ko sa inyo, maghanda kayo -- papahirapan ko lang ‘yung sarili ko," he said. Asked on what he will do on those accused of corruption but decided to turn into a whistleblower, Aquino said they should first prove that they are trustworthy. “Pwede bang may gantimpala ka dahil hindi kasing laki ang ninakaw mo? Hindi naman yata tama ‘yon. Ako, Katoliko ako eh, ‘di ba, ‘pag nagkumpisal ka hindi lang [basta] sinabi mo sa pari okay na. May penance eh (dahil) may injury to the community," he said. “So kung gusto mong mabalik ‘yung karapatan mo, eh gawin mo namang tama ‘yung clearance mo sa lipunan," the President added. — VVP/VS, GMA News