/ AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
(Eagle News) – Two senators whose fathers had a “negative” experience with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo voiced their apprehension and opposition to the sudden rise in power of the Pampanga congresswoman as House Speaker.
Senators Grace Poe and JV Ejercito both voiced concern about the way that Arroyo was installed as House Speaker just a few minutes before the scheduled State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 23.
Poe, specifically, hit at the alleged “underhanded” (pailalim) way that Arroyo took the House Speakership position as she was reminded of how her father, the late action superstar Fernando Poe, Jr., would have won the 2004 presidential race if not for alleged widespread cheating by Arroyo’s camp.
She also mentioned reports of widespread corruption during the Arroyo presidency, including the fertilizer fund scam, and the alleged anomalous use of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.
“Parang pailalim na naman na hindi ko na sana kailangang ipaalala pa dahil sa puso naman natin alam naman natin ang mga nangyari noon. Hindi lang ito do’n sa nangyaring ‘Hello Garci,’ hindi lang ‘yon. Tandaan na lang natin na noong mga panahong ‘yon, ilang mga anomalya ang mga nangyari. Anong klaseng korupsiyon ang mayroon tayo?” Poe told reporters on Tuesday.
(It was somehow underhanded, which I should not remind [people] again because in our hearts, we know what really happened before. This was not just about the ‘Hello Garci’ [scandal]. It’s not only that. Let us remember that in those days, there were other anomalies that happened. What kind of corruption do we have?)
The senator hinted that Arroyo and her allies might be aiming for a parliamentary form of government where Arroyo could head the legislature and the country eventually by taking over as the Prime Minister.
Poe also questioned why Arroyo, who was supposedly ill, was suddenly more than well enough to grab the House Speakership in a historic power play at the House of Representatives that unfolded just before President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA.
“Alam mo noong eleksyon, tinanong ako: ‘Ako ba ay sang-ayon na siya ay magpagamot?’ Bilang isang tao na may simpatiya, bilang isang Kristiyano, oo naman ‘di ba dahil mukha naman talagang may sakit. Tapos bigla na lang ngayon makikita mo ay parang mas … E talagang niloko lang tayong lahat ‘no,” the senator noted.
(You know, during the elections, I was asked: ‘Would I agree for her [Arroyo] to undergo medical treatment?’ As a human being with sympathy, as a Christian, of course, because didn’t it look like before that she was really sick. And then suddenly, what we see now is that she appeared to be more … So we are really taken for a ride.)
“So parang tuloy nawawala ang simpatiya mo kasi ako naman gusto ko namang maging patas, kung talagang nangangailangan, bakit hindi? Pero ngayon, gano’ng klase, sabi nga naka-isa ka na, naka-dalawa ka, ngayon pangatlo na, baka dapat nang kalusin,” Poe said.
(So it’s as if your sympathy is lost because I for one want to be fair. If it is really needed, why not? But for now, in that kind of manner, as I’ve said before, you’ve put one over us once, twice, and now thrice, it might be time to scrape this off)
Senator JV Ejercito, whose father, former President Joseph Estrada, had been ousted from power in January 2001 through the so-called EDSA 2 which installed then Vice-President Arroyo as the new President, also noted allegations of corruption against Arroyo.
He said there were still ongoing criminal cases against the former President regarding her alleged corruption and that she will be a baggage for the Duterte’s presidency’s anti-corruption drive.
“Tingin ko lang dun sa thrust ng Duterte administration na anti-corruption drive, siyempre meron, kumbaga, bagahe pa eh. (In my view, with the thrust of the Duterte administration in its anti-corruption drive, this is like a baggage.) There are ongoing cases against former president and now congresswoman GMA, syempre parang hindi magandang tingnan (of course, it doesn’t look good)” Senator Ejercito said.
(with a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service)