By Angie M. Rosales and Charlie V. Manalo
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
Making good his threat to file graft charges against Sen, Loren Legarda, public advocate Louis “Barok” Biraogo filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a string of cases against the senator, including charges of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
At the same time, en-dorsements and statements of support from Legarda’s allies, made the rounds of media, with the senator furnishing the media with a statement of support from President Aquino in a Malacañang letterhead.
It was not explained why it was Legarda who had issued the presidential statement, when it is usual for Malacañang to issue presidential statements.
Biraogo charged Legarda with five counts each of violating both laws for not disclosing for five years in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALn) her purchase of a $700,000 (P36 million) condominium unit at #77 Park Avenue in New York City.
Each count of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) carries a prison term of five years, thus the five counts charged against Legarda would translate to a prison term of 25 years.
A single violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713), on the other hand, carries the penalty of removal from office, thus even if Legarda wins in the May 13 elections, she risks facing the same fate as impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
A single violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713), on the other hand, carries the penalty of removal from office, thus even if Legarda wins in the May 13 elections, she risks facing the same fate as impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Let us see how Lady Corona would wiggle out of the ever-tightening noose which she herself put around her neck by hiding her immense wealth through falsification of public documents and perjury,” said Biraogo.
Exactly a week before election day, the cracks in the administration coalition among its allied political parties have become more evident, with one of its partners indicating serious repercussions from among its ranks due to the incessant attacks against Legarda.
Exactly a week before election day, the cracks in the administration coalition among its allied political parties have become more evident, with one of its partners indicating serious repercussions from among its ranks due to the incessant attacks against Legarda.
“They are just making us (Nationalist People’s Coalition) all the more unsupportive of the coalition with the NP (Nacionalista Party) and LP (Liberal Party),” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday said in a statement.
Sotto, a party mate of Legarda, said the NPC has expressed dismay over the continuing vicious attacks through text messages and the social media directed against Legarda over the alleged inaccurate entries in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALn).
NPC spokesman Rep. Rex Gatchalian (1st District of Valenzuela City) echoed the sentiments of Sotto saying that the party is “disappointed and saddened”, adding that the smear campaign perpetrated by some groups and individuals who are out to pull her down for consistently topping all pre-election surveys, is totally unfair to Legarda and the NPC as they have given their full support and commitment to all the senatorial bets under the banner of Team PNoy.
“We are cognizant of the fact that the senatorial bets under Team Pnoy come from various parties, nevertheless we are committed in fully supporting the coalition” Gatchalian said.
Sotto, however, is convinced that the barrage of attacks against Legarda is part of a black propaganda operations against his colleague and aimed at only getting her out of the No. 1 slot in the senatorial race.
“I’ve been with her in the Senate for almost nine years and she is the last person who will do something to deceive the government and the people. Well, I have bad news for those people who are doing this to her, she has gone through worse and she always pulls through because she simply is right! The people love her. They may not want her as vice president or president, but they will always vote for her as senator,” he said.
Besides Sotto, another Senate leader also came to the defense of Legarda.
“I stand behind Legarda as she is known for her integrity and honesty,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said in throwing his support to his colleague, even if she has decided to stick it out with Team PNoy and not with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).”
The senator said he had worked with Legarda since 2007, “and all the glittering possessions that I had seen from her are her firm principles on social justice, human rights, peace, and cultural diversity.”
“The other valuable properties that I had seen from Legarda are her fierce commitment to issues on the environment, education, and employment,” he said.
The senator said these are the same assets that millions of voters had seen from Legarda, making her the number one senatorial candidate in the past elections.
“And her moral uprightness will continue to make her the top senatorial choice of the electorate,” Estrada said.
Vice President Jejomar Binay of UNA earlier also came out with a statement rallying behind Legarda.
Vice President Jejomar Binay of UNA earlier also came out with a statement rallying behind Legarda.
“I know Sen. Loren as a person of integrity. The allegations against her are obviously politically motivated, and I’m confident she would get through these unscathed. The Filipino people trust her and in her commitment to be their voice in the Senate,” Binay said.
Team PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin Drilon questioned the timing of what he branded as venomous smear drive against Legarda even as he admitted being appalled by the continued use of black propaganda and character assassination in the current senatorial campaign despite their efforts to elevate the debates to significant issues and platforms of government.
“I find the timing of questions raised against Senator Legarda on her SALn highly suspicious given the proximity of the May 13 elections. Why bring it up only now?
“As a fellow senator and friend, I have known Legarda as a person of respect and integrity. She was my indefatigable Majority Floor Leader when I was Senate President during the 11th, 12th and 13th Congresses.
“As an outstanding legislator and politician, Legarda has established an impressive track record of unsullied public service and I am certain that any attempt at character assassination against her would fail in the face of her impending victory in the elections,” Drilon said.
“It is unfair on the part of Senator Legarda who has been working very hard to ensure the victory of all of her fellow Team PNoy bets, to be the subject of a purported demolition job by some personalities from her own team,” Gatchalian said.
“We are convinced that Legarda’s impressive track record as a legislator of good standing and impeccable commitment to public service will serve her in good stead that would propel her to the top in the coming polls” Gatchalian stressed.
Malacañang has earlier assured that the incident would not create cracks within the administration ticket.
But even as Legarda has virtually identifed the senator behind what she and her allies call “black propaganda,” and media have named him, there has been no mention of cracking the whip on Sen. Alan Cayetano, nor even a censure for being the brains behind what Legarda and her allies claim is a vicious attack by Cayetano, a Team PNoy senatorial candidate against Legarda, a Team PNoy candidate.
But even as Legarda has virtually identifed the senator behind what she and her allies call “black propaganda,” and media have named him, there has been no mention of cracking the whip on Sen. Alan Cayetano, nor even a censure for being the brains behind what Legarda and her allies claim is a vicious attack by Cayetano, a Team PNoy senatorial candidate against Legarda, a Team PNoy candidate.
Not one word of denial has been uttered by Cayetano, despite the accusations of Legarda against him.
Nor are the allies of Legarda denouncing Cayetano.
Nor are the allies of Legarda denouncing Cayetano.
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