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'Cash gifts' likely came from PNP funds - Lacson


At least P160 million of the money used as "cash gifts" to congressmen who attended a meeting in Malacañang last October 11 may have come from funds allotted for the Philippine National Police's (PNP) counterinsurgency drive, an opposition senator said. Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday this was the gist of information reaching him, adding that he will follow this up with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno when the Senate begins its probe into the bribe scandal on November 14. "We have sources in the PNP who said the money given to congressmen as supposedly funds from the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) actually came from PNP funds. When President Arroyo released P1 billion for counterinsurgency operations we received reports that the money was cleared through the interior department or the National Police Commission. Part of the money was then given to congressmen," Lacson said in Filipino. Lacson, a former PNP chief, said the money was likely "cleared" through the PNP's Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) and the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer). However, he took notice that neither the PSPO nor PACER are the PNP units tasked to fight insurgency. He said the PNP's Special Action Force and regional offices should have received the funds. Citing information reaching him, Lacson said P100 million was cleared through Pacer and P60 million was cleared through the PSPO. Pacer handles anti-kidnapping operations while PSPO provides security to VIPs and high-profile personnel. Lacson said that Puno – as Napolcom head and secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government – should shed light on all these reports. "If Puno refuses to go to the hearing, he will have to face us in the budget hearing for his department. And if he still refuses he will have to face us in the Commission on Appointments," he said. When told that Malacañang will not cooperate in the investigation, he said, "that was expected" as Malacañang will not cooperate in anything leading to President Arroyo. However, he said the Senate will honor the "time honored tradition" of inter-chamber courtesy in inviting but not summoning elected lawmakers to the investigation. He said the first hearing will likely have Governors Ed Panlilio (Pampanga) and Joselito Mendoza (Bulacan) testifying. As this developed, Lacson admitted the money used to "bribe" local officials is a "gray area," though Kampi has much explaining to do. "Kampi can claim its funds for congressmen was private. But even Rep. Solis of Kampi admitted they collect only P5,000 dues. Where will they get the P100 million to give to each member and recruit?" he said. - GMANews.TV

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