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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
3 governors admit receiving cash from Palace
CEBU CITY – At least three governors confirmed Monday that they received cash from Malacañang, but they differed in how they handled the admission.
The admission came after two lawmakers also confirmed receiving “cash gift” from Malacanang after a meeting called by the President last week.
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Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, however, said she never received anything from Malacañang except for the cake, 52 candles, and a leather organizer President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave her for her birthday.
The President attended Garcia’s birthday celebration the day after the governors’ league meeting last October 11.
Garcia said she left the governors’ meeting early because she had to fly back to Cebu to prepare for the activities for her birthday.
Also, two governors in Davao Region -- Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Ra Cagas and Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon -- said they did not receive any gift from Malacañang even as they attended the meeting.
But at least one Central Visayas governor, Emilio Macias III of Negros Oriental, admitted in a radio interview Monday that he received P200,000 from Malacañang after the League of Provinces in the Philippines (LPP) meeting.
Bulacan Governor Joselito “Jonjon” Mendoza also admitted receiving P500,000 from Malacanang after the governors’ meeting and was the one who handed the P500,000 share of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.
Panlilio, the first governor to confirm the distribution of money, showed reporters in a press conference Monday at the Capitol Executive house in Pampanga the bundle of cash amounting to P500,000.
Panlilio reiterated that his office will be requesting Malacañang for the necessary paperwork and the source of the money before they would proceed to using the money for community projects.
But, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said Monday if there was money distributed to congressmen and other local officials during an emergency meeting in Malacañang last October 11, it did not come from his department.
“The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) cannot give cash directly. We can only give a piece of paper that advises the availability of funds for projects. Pero ang magbigay ng ganitong cash ay impossible sa aming department,” he said.
Opposition officials are feasting over the issue, with some saying that the alleged bribery will add to the reasons why Arroyo should be impeached.
The United Opposition (UNO) challenged Malacañang Monday to explain if the money came from public or private sources.
UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said administration officials cannot simply brush aside the “gift-giving” as a non-issue since the reported distribution of “cash donations” was made at the height of a new impeachment complaint against President Arroyo.
He said if the cash donations came from public funds, Malacañang needs to explain why the disbursement apparently did not follow official government procedures.
Malacañang, through Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, earlier said there is nothing wrong with receiving a donation provided it is put to good use.
“I did not think it was bribe money, otherwise I would not have accepted it,” Panlilio told reporters. His view was shared by Macias, who said he does not believe that the amount was meant to rally support for Arroyo, who is facing an impeachment complaint.
“Pastilan… Unsa may isuburnos nga di man mi kabotar ana… Puro ra ni akusar ba,” Macias said in a radio dyLA Monday.
He refused to elaborate how he got the money, whether it was in an envelope or inside a bag.
“What is your problem? I’m admitting nga gitagaan ko ngano mangutana paman?” an irked Macias said.
Last Thursday, Panlilio attended a meeting in Malacañang for a proposed interchange in the province that would connect it to the P21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), then proceeded to the governors’ gathering also held inside the Palace compound.
Panlilo said that after the meeting, Bulacan Governor Jonjon Mendoza informed him money would be distributed later.
Before he left the Malacañang compound, Panlilio claimed that Mendoza handed a paper bag to Archie Reyes, the governor’s chief of staff.
Panlilio said that if the money came from legal sources, then he will use it for public purposes such as the much needed medicines for district hospitals in Pampanga.
“We have lined up projects for the money if Malacañang affirms that it came from them,” he said. “I do not believe it was a bribe, and I do not believe I am being bribed.”
Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz however said Panlilio should refuse to accept the “cash gifts” given by some Palace officials.
“He (Panlilio) went to Malacañang, was given a bagful of money, took this home without knowing real source, and said so only when asked. ‘Yon lang makapulot ka ng kaunting pera, itatanong mo kaagad kung kanino yon eh,” Cruz said.
“The end does not justify the means,” he added.
Cruz similarly noted that everybody knows Malacañang is not Santa Clause to give the alleged “cash gifts” without getting any benefits from their actions.
Secretary Andaya meanwhile said no special allotment release orders (SAROs) were given out during the emergency meeting because of the election ban for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
“Gustuhin man namin o ayaw namin, hindi puwedeng mangyari iyon. Sa iyung napapabalita na namigay, yung DBM or the President is not true,” he said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita for his part said he had no personal knowledge of money being distributed in Malacañang last October 11.
But he echoed Andaya’s statement that local officials, especially those who do not have much funds, take advantage of every opportunity to ask for projects and other assistance from the President. (JPM/BOT/Sunnex/Sun.Star Cebu)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (October 16, 2007 issue)
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