Filing of charges against three senators, major
step to unearth truth about 'pork barrel scam', says Palace
The filing of charges by the Office of the
Ombudsman against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy
Estrada is a significant step to ferret out the truth with regards to the
P10-billion pork barrel scam, the Palace said on Saturday.
"This constitutes a major step forward in
our mission to find out the truth about these anomalies," Deputy
presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
And in the midst of misinformation brought about
by dishonesty and politicking, the administration remains firmly committed to
unearthing the facts, Valte added.
At the same time, Valte noted that the
administration will continue to push for reforms in government aimed at
strengthening the foundations of transparency and accountability in the
bureaucracy.
Asked if the Palace is prepared for any backlash
from the followers of the three lawmakers, Valte said the government has enough
measures to deal with such circumstances.
And if the court issues arrest warrants for the
three senators being accused of plunder, the executive branch is ready to
execute the court order, she said.
"The executive will be the one to be tasked
to carry it out. So in that case, as in any high profile case that involves
high profile personalities, gagawin lang po ng ating pamahalaan ang iuutos sa
ng korte at kung ano lang ang nararapat," she said.
The palace has not received any information
about destabilization plots against the government, she said.
Valte also brushed off allegations that the
filing of charges against the three senators was rushed as the President
prepares his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
She said the Office of the Ombudsman was given
enough time to review and to consider all the pieces of evidence that was submitted
by the Department of Justice.
Also, the Office of the Ombudsman is an
independent constitutional body from the executive branch, Valte added. PND
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Aquino to lead flag-raising rites in Naga City
during Independence Day celebration
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the
flag-raising rites in Naga City during the Independence Day celebration on June
12.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President has
been holding Independence Day celebrations in different places to highlight the
significance of different provinces to the country's freedom and democracy.
The President led the Independence Day
celebration in Kawit, Cavite in 2011, in Malolos, Bulacan in 2012 and at the
Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila last year.
On June 12, 1898, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo led the
declaration of Philippine independence from Spanish colonial rule in Kawit,
Cavite.
After the flag-raising event in Naga City at 7
am, the President will fly to Manila to lead the Vin D'Honneur in Malacanang at
11 am.
Vin D’Honneur is a traditional ceremony made
during the Philippines’ Independence Day, where the President meets the members
of the diplomatic corps.
Vin D’Honneur is derived from a French term,
meaning ‘wine of honor,' which aims to strengthen diplomatic relations with
other countries. PND (as)
