SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday criticized Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for using the issue of the P10-billion pork barrel scam to pursue her plan to run for senator in the 2016 elections.
“Apparently and regrettably, it would seem that Seretary de Lima just rode on the issue and used it as publicity stunt in pursuit of her dreams of joining the Senate,” said Estrada.
De Lima is being eyed as among the senatorial candidates of the ruling Liberal Party. Her term of office ends when President Noynoy Aquino steps down in June 2016.
Estrada said De Lima’s statement that filing a third batch of charges against Aquino administration allies is no longer a priority only proves she is really just after the three senators and assailed the apparent “selective justice.”
“Even from the start, there were only three whom she intended to malign the reputation, send to jail and destroy in their desire to weaken the opposition. And now that they got what they wanted, she’s saying it is no longer their priority to run after the other personalities who might be involved in the (Priority Development Assistance Fund ) scam,” said Estrada.
The two other senators who were incarcerated over the alleged multi-million pork barrel anomaly were Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Bongbong Revilla.
But Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. clarified that the PDAF cases will still go on even if allies of President Benigno Aquino III are involved.
“We need to clarify that the principle of the administration still stands. No preferential treatment is given to anyone and no one can avoid liability if there is concrete evidence against them. The President’s commitment cannot be broken,” Coloma said.
But Estrada noted that even the investigation and prosecution of those behind the multi-billion Malamapaya scam has been deliberately neglected and discarded for good.
“Why? Doesn’t the public deserve to know the truth and attain justice? Are they shelving the investigation because they are protecting the allies of the administration?” he further questioned.
De Lima earlier said she is not sure of sure about prioritizing the filing of charges against the third batch of former and current lawmakers linked to the pork barrel anomaly and the second batch of lawmakers implicated in the misuse of the P900-million Malampaya funds.
She said main issue with the third batch of pork barrel cases, being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), referred to the different signatures from the supposed real signatures of those involved.
On the Malampaya fund scam, De Lima said she was unable to personally monitor developments because she had more urgent cases that she was handling.