Lacson wants to probe Arroyo cash ‘gifts’ to solons, local pols

(Update 3, 5:55 p.m.) The executive branch could be embroiled in another highly politicized Senate inquiry, after Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio disclosed that he received a P500,000 'gift' from Malacañang. On Sunday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he would immediately file a resolution calling for an investigation into the "envelopes" that were allegedly distributed by Palace staff, not just to administration congressmen, but to local officials as well. "I will file a resolution on Monday for the Senate to investigate (this matter), in time for the budget hearing. Sino-sino ang nagpunta (sa Malacañang) at tig-mamagkano (ang tinanggap nila) (Who went to Malacañang and how much did each of them receive)," said Lacson in an interview with radio dzBB. "Now that the governor, no less than the local head of the President's home province has provided first hand public testimony that money changed hands, it is appropriate to determine where the money came from," Lacson said in a separate text message he sent to media on Sunday. "If it (money) was from the personal funds of (President Arroyo), there should be an explanation of its source in her income tax return and statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth. If it was public money, as Gov. Panlilio believes so, what was the justification in the covering disbursement voucher, and from what account were the distributed monies sourced?," he added. Under Philippine laws, the release of intelligence and confidential funds provided for in the budgets of departments, bureaus, offices or other agencies shall be released only upon approval of the President. Malacañang is poised to face another investigation at the upper chamber, if the Senate decides to look into the said issue. On October 25, the Senate will resume its inquiry into the alleged anomalous $329.48-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE), Corp. The project was canceled by President Arroyo on October 2 amid allegations that her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and government officials were involved in the NBN-ZTE deal. Cash gifts? Panlilio said that on Thursday, as he was going to his car, a Palace staff handed him a brown paper gift bag stuffed with crisp P1,000 bills, amounting to P500,000. The governor said that he was told by the man who handed him the bag that the money could help in the barangay elections. Panlilio said he believed the money came from public coffers as he was told that it could help in the polls. Panlilio was handed the money after President Arroyo's early morning meeting with 200 officers and members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap). It was reported that during Mrs Arroyo's meeting with Ulap members, envelopes containing P20,000 to P500,000 were allegedly distributed to mayors and governors. But Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos, president of the League of Provinces, on Sunday denied that local officials were not given money when they went to the Palace last week. Radio dzBB quoted Ocampos as saying that league members did not know about Panlilio’s claim that he received a cash gift from Malacañang. DzBB said that according to Ocampos, the league and the members of Ulap were not waiting for any cash gift from the Palace, as they were already satisfied with the programs being implemented by President Arroyo in their areas. Ocampos reportedly said that local government units (LGU) were thankful of the President’s “special attention" to provincial government programs, such as the creation of “super regions," the representation of LGUs in projects with China and the allocation of the P5-billion Kilos Asenso fund and P2-billion Kalayaan fund in the 2008 national budget. He said these projects were enough “to reaffirm" their support to President Arroyo. Ulap is an umbrella organization of all the leagues of local government units including the leagues and federations of local elective and appointive government officials. The Ulap national executive board is comprised of the presidents of the 12 leagues of local government and local officials. There are at least 10 organizations of governors, vice-governors, mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, provincial board members, legislators, barangay officials and other LGU officials under ULAP, namely: League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, League of Vice Governors of the Philippines, Provincial Board Members’ League of the Philippines, Philippine Councilors’ League, National Movement of Young Legislators, Pambansang Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan and the Lady Local Legislators League. After the Ulap meeting on Thursday, another one was held between President Arroyo and about 190 majority congressmen. House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, who was among the 190 representatives, confirmed that the impeachment complaint against Mrs Arroyo was discussed during the lawmakers' meeting in Malacañang. Also in a report last Thursday, radio dzBB quoted Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis as saying that the emergency meeting called by Mrs Arroyo was indeed a "loyalty check" on the President's allies in the Lower House. Congressmen, however, denied reports that they received "bribes" from Malacañang. But Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco confirmed that he received P200,000 as a "Christmas gift." No bribery Malacañang on Sunday said there was nothing questionable about the “gift" received by Panlilio. “There is nothing wrong with receiving a donation, provided it is put to good use," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told Malacañang reporters. Bunye also dismissed allegations that the Palace was bribing congressmen and other government officials, amid impeachment threats against President Arroyo. He said giving a cash gift to Panlilio was a “non-issue," because even the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin saw nothing wrong in accepting donations. On Saturday, a Palace executive also denied claims that President Arroyo had a hand in giving said "gifts" to public officials. Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff said that money might have changed hands during the meeting with congressmen, but the President had nothing to do with it. “That is a possibility but in so far as the president is concerned hindi kami nanunuhol (we don’t bribe anyone)," he said in an interview on dzRH radio on Saturday, when asked about the possibility that someone “other than" Mrs Arroyo gave the money. In the same interview, Remonde sought to quell reports that Cuenco admitted getting money at the meeting. “Sabi niya he was only joking daw (Cuenco claimed he was just joking)," Remonde said, adding Cuenco made the “clarification" when he called him up after reading the newspaper report. “We maintain walang bribery (We maintain there was no bribery)," Remonde added. - GMANews.TV