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Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Camacho: Settle Jose Pidal issue immediately
By She Caguimbal-Torres
FINANCE Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho said on Tuesday that the sooner the Jose Pidal controversy is brought to court, the better for the country.
Camacho in a briefing in Malacañang said all the political noise and public pronouncements concerning the controversy, which dragged the name of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, have not resulted in anything good or beneficial to the country, particularly its economy.
He said that if opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson or those interested in getting to the bottom of the controversy are really sincere in their goals of unraveling the truth, they should bring it to the courts.
"It would be good if some of these charges be conducted in the most effective forum which are the courts, etc. Sometimes, what we have are just public pronouncements, accusations, but they don't really lead to many results," he said.
"I think if there is a sincere concern about some of these things that have been brought out to the public, the best way to effectively deal with them is to bring them to the proper forum, if that's the Ombudsman, if that's to file charges, I think that would be the most effective way of seeing results rather than a lot of noise that do not lead to much," he added.
Some administration allies like Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., and Reps. Magatanggol Gunigundo Jr. and Apolinario Lozada Jr. have expressed concern over the effects of the controversy, not only to the country, but even to their political careers as well.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye reiterated that the decision of the Senate to continue its investigation on the Pidal issue is the sole prerogative of the Senate and Malacañang respects it.
A ranking Lakas official on Tuesday said the Jose Pidal controversy may be taken up during the Lakas national directorate meeting at the end of September or first week of October.
Jose Ma. Rufino, Lakas executive director and presidential liaison on political affairs, said Lakas leaders would discuss party matters in general and identify its local candidates.
"Possibly, (the Jose Pidal issue) will be taken up. I don't want to speculate or jump the gun (but the issue) is important enough," Rufino said.
Rufino reiterated his position that sanctions should be imposed on Lakas members who don't foster party unity. However, he did not say what the sanctions should be.
"Hindi puwedeng naglalaro. According to the general majority, sanctions are in order, dapat members are disciplined. Hindi puwedeng kenkoyan," he said.
He said he has nothing against Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., Lakas president, but just "called his attention" to his seeming oppositionist stance in the issues concerning the Jose Pidal accounts and US presence in the Philippines.
However, he said Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo Jr. was out of line when he suggested that President Arroyo and First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo should legally separate.
"Si Gunigundo, he has no right to do that. Ang 'guni-guni' niya ay colorful," he said.
He said Negros Oriental Rep. Apolinario Lozada Jr., Lakas vice president for foreign relations, is criticizing President Arroyo on the Pidal accounts, because he is eyeing a higher post.
"Si Lozada, he plans to run as senator. He is using this issue," he added.
Rufino earlier labeled Guingona, Lozada, and Gunigundo as "termites" within the party, adding that they should choose if they want to join the opposition in criticizing the President instead of masquerading as Lakas members. |
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