By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — At least 10 senators signed the Blue Ribbon Committee report recommending the filing of plunder charges against senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.
Enrile, Estrada and Revilla were accused of misusing the public funds by allegedly allocating their pork barrel to Janet Lim-Napoles’ fake nongovernment organizations (NGOs).
Among those who signed the report were Sergio Osmeña III, Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Grace Poe, Aquilino Pimentel III, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino and JV Ejercito.
Poe said that while she signed the report, she still recommended for another hearing on the alleged multibillion-peso scam.
“I believe na meron ding mga ibang pwede pang idagdag sa report katulad ng mga opinion namin tungkol doon sa ibang whistle-blowers,” she said.
Ejercito, half-brother of Estrada, said he signed the report “with reservation,” adding that the report is “partial” and “incomplete.”
“Hindi ako satisfied. Dapat lahat ng NGOs na sinasabing bogus ay paiimbestigahan. Dahil kung seryoso ang pamahalaan na labanan ang corruption ay dapat lahatin. No stone should be left unturned,” he said.
Last month, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said it found “sufficient” bases in filing cases against Enrile, Estrada and Revilla.
It also recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of charges against Napoles “for giving false testimonies” and “violating the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act.”
Senate President Franklin Drilon previously said the committee decision was “purely based on honest and objective appreciation and appraisal of facts and evidence.”
He also urged the Sandiganbayan to conduct a speedy trial on the case so the innocent would be cleared of the charges./PN
