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Arroyo likely knew cash gifts were given - Gordon


An administration senator on Wednesday expressed belief that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was aware that “cash gifts" were distributed among congressmen and local government executives last month in Malacañang, during the height of calls for her impeachment. This, as the Senate set for next week the start of hearings on the “cash gift" controversy. Senator Richard Gordon, who ran under the administration ticket in 2004, said Mrs Arroyo who heads the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) was likely to have knowledge on the distribution of cash gifts. House Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Kampi secratary, earlier admitted that cash gifts distributed to various local government officials were from Kampi’s funds. “It is hard to believe that money, from 200,000 pesos to 500,000 pesos were being distributed without anyone telling anyone what it was for and where it had come from," Gordon said. “It is even harder to believe that the President, who we assume is also the leader of Kampi, did not know that money was being distributed like rain or sunshine," he added. Gordon said Villarosa’s admission “puts to light the basest manifestation of our transactional political culture and should challenge our people to rise up to make political parties more accountable for their actions." “We can't say that what had transpired in Malacanang was bribery or an attempt to secure some kind of action in return for a generous sum of money. However, millions of pesos changed hands under circumstances where the resident of Malacañang was being assailed by scandals and an impeachment complaint had just been filed," Gordon said. The administration senator said that in light of the cash gift scandal, he would push for a legislation to compel political organization to divulge the sources of their funds and how these funds were disposed. “The bigger aspect and the wider view of this action is to craft a body of laws that will make political parties more accountable for their actions and win for everyone a chance to sow the seeds of transforming our rotting political culture," he said. Opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson supported Gondon’s sentiment, saying the President should clearly explain the alleged bribery inside the Palace. “The mere fact that the bribery incidents happened inside Malacañang ang Presidente dapat magpaliwanag. Ang problema ang paliwanag niya huwag mamulitika," Lacson said. Lacson said Senate hearings on the matter have been scheduled next week, with Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Gov. Jon-jon Mendoza as resource persons. For his part, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said: "Kampi is the party of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It admits to disbursing the funds which some say amounted to some P120 Million cold cash and it happened right inside Malacañang, the President's official residence. It would be incredible to believe that given all these, the president had no knowledge of the incident… Malacañang cannot claim ignorance of something that happened right under its nose." "Even my daughter in Grade 1 will find that difficult to believe. They are either lying, or we have a President who is totally oblivious to what is going on in the Palace. Either way it certainly doesn't look good," he added. Senators Lacson and Pangilinan also joined Minority Leader Francis Escudero in saying that Malacañang was caught weaving web of incredible tales that are hard to believe. “When they come up with a script of lies at hindi pumasa at hindi umubra they always come up with a script of lies. This time they should make up their minds kung saan ba talaga galing ang pera," Lacson said. Pangilinan slammed Kampi’s claim as "an incredible tale concocted by storytellers lacking in imagination and creativity." "First (Interior) Secretary (Ronaldo) Puno, Kampi chair, said it came from House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Now Kampi is saying it came from them & admitting to it three weeks after the incident & despite their initial vehement denials," he said. The senator criticized Kampi for "producing a bad script that reeks of a cover-up" on the most recent bribe-giving scandal allegedly involving no less than the President herself." Escudero, for his part, said “As the saying goes… more talk more mistake. Nobody believes the claim which to say the least is a mere afterthought." - GMANews.TV

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