Kiko laments raps vs PNoy Cabinet men

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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Sen. Francis Pangilinan trusts the Office of the Ombudsman to “render impartial justice” and be “fair” in deciding on the charges filed against nine Cabinet members of the Benigno Aquino III administration.

“We are confident that the former secretaries accused of wrongdoing will be able to defend and exonerate themselves,” said the Liberal Party president.

On Tuesday the Department of Transportation filed graft and plunder complaints against former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and former Transportation secretary Emilio Abaya for allegedly rigging the bidding for MRT-3 maintenance in favor of Busan Universal Railways, Inc.

Pangilinan lamented the charges against the critics of the Duterte administration.

The Aquino ally pointed out that officials under the Duterte administration were facing more severe charges.

He cited the murder case against Superintendent Marvin Marcos, the extortion case against Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles involving almost P50 million, and the P64-billion shabu smuggling case involving Customs officials Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo.

“Critics are silenced, allies go scot-free,” Pangilinan said.

The senator also believes the MRT is facing more pressing issues on public convenience and safety.

“When change is promised, the line and the wait at the MRT should be shorter, not longer,” he said. “And the primary consideration should be that commuters are safe, not having their arms cut off or the coaches decoupled.”

Pangilinan was referring to recent incidents, including a woman losing an arm in an accident at the MRT Ayala Station and MRT coaches accidentally detaching.

“When the issue is shifted from the quiet, everyday suffering of commuters who only want to get to work or school or home, it is not simply disrespectful, it is deception,” he said.

Also charged were former secretaries Florencio Abad (Budget and Management), Cesar Purisima (Finance), Jericho Petilla (Energy), Mario Montejo (Science and Technology), Voltaire Gazmin (Defense), and Rogelio Singson (Public Works and Highways), and former National Economic and Development Administration director general Arsenio Balicasan.

Former Transportation undersecretaries Edwin Lopez, Rene Limcaoco and Catherine Gonzales and a certain Marlo dela Cruz were included in the charge sheet./PN
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