BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Western Visayas lawmakers urged President Benigno Aquino III to discuss the filing of plunder cases against those involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow.
“The arrest of and detention of powerful legislators is a necessary consequence of the transparency and anti-corruption efforts of the Aquino administration,” said Rep. Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City.
Calling the prosecution of those allegedly involved in the scam an “achievement”, Treñas told Panay News it also shows the Aquino government’s seriousness in making institutional reforms.
The investigation and prosecution of high profile individuals accused in the pork barrel scam has never happened in the country’s history, the congressman pointed out.
Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta of Iloilo’s 2nd District believes so, too.
Politicians being charged or jailed because of corruption is now an “international trend”, he said.
People are crying for blood, said the lawmaker from Pavia, Iloilo.
“They expect someone will be imprisoned because of corruption. Such will send a strong message to all,” Gorriceta told Panay News.
Meanwhile, Rep. Niel “Jun-jun” Tupas Jr. of Iloilo’s 5th District said President Aquino should also discuss his action plans to promote economic growth and fight corruption.
He said he also wants to know Aquino’s plan for the protection of the country’s territorial integrity.
Former Ilonggo congressman Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco Jr., on the other hand, said he has no big expectations on the SONA.
It will only “have certain similarities with his previous (speeches), as well as certain differences,” said Syjuco.
Aquino, Syjuco said, will also defend and claim good faith in his government’s implementation of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
On July 21, Syjuco, former chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority under the Arroyo administration, filed an impeachment complaint against President Aquino.
He accused the country’s chief executive of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust and bribery.
He claimed Aquino used DAP to prod lawmakers into impeaching then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.
Aquino is to deliver his SONA before a joint session of Congress at the House of Representatives tomorrow afternoon./PN
