P45-M pork offered to undecided solons, says Pimentel

First posted 01:16am (Mla time) Sept 05, 2005
By TJ Burgonio, Philip C. Tubeza
Inquirer News Service

SENATE MINORITY Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had dangled a P45-million "pork barrel" bonanza before undecided congressmen, plus juicy government posts for their relatives, in a bid to crush a last-ditch opposition effort to unseat her.

The President's offer had proven too irresistible to at least three congressmen, Pimentel said.

He spoke to the Inquirer before Monday's anticipated vote in the House plenary on the report by the committee on justice recommending dismissal of an impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo for alleged fraud, bribery, and graft and corruption.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye denied opposition claims that Malacañang was offering money to lawmakers and resorting to threats of political retribution to ensure a House vote against Ms Arroyo.

"These allegations are coming from friends on the other side who seem to have a weak case," Bunye told RMN radio in Filipino could not obtain the 79 votes needed to send Ms Arroyo to trial in the Senate, Bunye said the opposition was making these charges so it could use them as an "excuse" in case it lost the House plenary vote.

Pimentel said Malacañang's offer to congressmen came in the form of the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF), the official term for the pork barrel.

Going rate

"The going rate is P45 million, but it's not outright cash. It comes in the form of fund releases for the congressmen's projects," he said in an interview, quoting at least three lawmakers who had accepted the offer. He did not name them.

"It's a big bonanza to the House representatives who have been ignored all these years by Malacañang. And it comes with a bonus -- appointment of their relatives and protégés to key government positions," he added.

The senator's claims came on the heels of allegations that administration congressmen were doing the rounds of colleagues' homes and offering cash to convince them to snub this week's sessions and ensure Ms Arroyo's survival.

Pimentel said Ms Arroyo herself had been calling congressmen who were still weighing their options.

"She's talking to those who she thinks will sign the complaint," he said, referring to the complaint lodged by several lawmakers to amend the first one filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano, which was perceived to be defective.

By trying to buy off lawmakers, the President risked being charged with another impeachable offense, Pimentel said.

Obstruction of justice

"She's using government money to stop a legal procedure from being completed. At the least, she could be charged for obstruction of justice and for a possible charge of bribery," he said.

Pimentel said the House lawmakers, whom he had talked to, had justified their decision to accept the offer.

"The acceptance was made on the basis of the needs of their constituents. How do you argue against that? How do you put a price on patriotism?" he said.

The pro-impeachment camp yesterday admitted that it had yet to gather the 79 votes needed against Ms Arroyo. Its spokesperson, Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, said that up to late last night, the group was still talking to undecided colleagues.

The opposition earlier said it had 73 supporters, but Cayetano said eight to 12 of them wanted to formalize their signatures only when the pro-impeachment camp got the 79 votes.

Cayetano said 10 to 18 administration lawmakers had initially intended to vote against impeachment but changed their minds after the committee railroaded the killing of the complaints. He said he remained optimistic his camp would get the 79 votes.

Opposition warned

In a statement, House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and Deputy Majority Leader Antonio Cerilles warned the opposition against disrupting the impeachment proceedings in the plenary with publicity stunts and inflammatory statements.

"Please do not destroy the House as an institution if you fail to get 79 votes," Nograles said.

"The opposition's statements of administration offers of cash and travel to House members so as not to impeach the President are simply base foul play and the height of arrogance, posturing as if they are the anointed of God when their intention is nothing more than a political power grab," he said.

The National Capital Region Police Office goes on full alert today for an expected massive protests.

"We have the situation under control," said Director Vidal Querol. He said protesters would not be allowed within 50 meters of the gate of the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

The advocacy group TXTPower over the weekend posted on its website the cell phone numbers of 47 reportedly undecided congressmen. It called on millions of mobile phone users to swamp these congressmen's phones with SMS messages calling on them to support Ms Arroyo's impeachment.