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Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Speaker’s ally links Arroyo party to cash gifts
MANILA -- A supporter of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. on Tuesday named the political party of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), as the source of the controversial funds that were allegedly given to each congressman in Malacañang last October 11.
Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., who earlier admitted being a recipient of P500,000 cash, said it was Deputy Speaker for Women Amelita Villarosa, a stalwart of Kampi, who informed him through telephone on Monday until Tuesday about the source of the funds.
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“Yes, Deputy Speaker Villarosa explained to me that it is party funds (Kampi),” said Abante, a member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), adding that the information was relayed to him after he was interpellated Monday night by Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero regarding the funds.
Abante came with his statement after de Venecia, president of Lakas-CMD, and President Arroyo, founder of Kampi, kissed and made up last Saturday in Malacañang through the intercession of former President Fidel Ramos.
The issue has been almost laid to rest after the Glorietta mall 2 bombing in Makati City last October 19 until it was resurrected by Abante on Tuesday.
Sources claimed that the statement of Abante “was part of well-calculated moves of de Venecia aimed at flexing his muscles to fight back at continued threats of his ouster.”
Villarosa confirmed the statement of Abante but stressed that not all congressmen who attended the breakfast meeting in Malacañang were given funds.
Villarosa explained that the funds were part of the help extended by Kampi to majority allies.
In a related development, Anakpawis party-list Representative Crispin Beltran said Abante’s revelation that the cash gift to lawmakers really did come from President Arroyo's party does not exonerate her from culpability and charges of alleged corruption.
"All these cash-giving sprees smack of deep seated corruption. It appears that this is a practice that the President's own party maintains, and to its immediate political benefit. Loyalty and support for the President's policies and programs -- as well as for her over-all beleaguered claim to the presidency -- is maintained through the regular distribution of grease money in the guise of financial assistance," said Beltran.
“President Arroyo is the head of Kampi, it's impossible that she doesn't know that its officials are distributing large amounts of cash to various lawmakers, and this constitutes bribery,” he added.
"Knowing the President's reputation for being a hands-on manager, it's doubtful that she would not be aware of developments and practices such as this within the very party she founded," he said.
Beltran added: "Now the issue is becoming more complicated. First the leadership of Kampi led by Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno said something to the effect that it's not the habit of Kampi to distribute cash because it might be misconstrued as bribery. Then the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said the money came from them. Now, we have the deputy speaker, an official of Kampi admitting that she herself disbursed the funds which, using the strictest, most ethical standards, can be seen as bribesr," he said. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (November 7, 2007 issue)
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