Thursday, April 28, 2011
MANILA -- Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday expressed his willingness to present more evidence in the case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her three former officials.
"I still have many documents (against Arroyo)," Lacson told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway Extension Project that was also graced by President Benigno Aquino III.
The senator said he will review the documents and will coordinate with someone who might have more evidence against the former President, who is now a representative of Pampanga's second district.
Arroyo and three of her former Cabinet secretaries were charged with plunder for alleged misuse of P530 million funds belonging to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).
The case was filed on Tuesday by former solicitor general Francisco Chavez before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Other respondents in the case are Alberto Romulo (executive secretary), Francisco Duque (health), and Virgilio Angelo (Owwa).
Lacson said someone offering documents on a scandal that has yet to be exposed contacted him. "It's an old anomaly that can only be revealed now," he said.
The senator, who disappeared for more than a year after he tagged in the Dacer-Corbito murder case, earlier said the warrant for his arrest was part of a conspiracy against him.
Lacson said he was being punished for his advocacy against corruption in the Arroyo administration.
He exposed the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and the aborted ZTE National Broadband Network deal in privilege speeches at the Senate.
Lacson resurfaced in March, after the Court of Appeals nullified the arrest warrant against him.
At the time, he said he did not feel like a friend of the Aquino administration, which launched a manhunt for him.
On Wednesday, however, he said he is now one with President Aquino in his fight against corruption.
"We have to unearth past anomalies so there can be retribution, so money that was stolen can be recovered," he said.
Meanwhile, a Malacañang official on Wednesday said officials of the Owwa should cooperate in the investigation of the plunder case filed against Arroyo.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang is expecting Owwa officials to help in providing documents that would shed light on the case.
But Valte denied that the plunder case against Arroyo is part of "witch-hunting" by the Aquino administration.
Valte encouraged other individuals who have additional evidence to come out and help in the plunder case.
"We've always encouraged people who have facts, who have evidence against any supposed wrongdoing, to come out and to support the government in the hearing of these cases," she said.