|
Sunday, June 10, 2007
4 lawmakers say GSIS funds used for Garcia's speakership bid
MANILA -- Four senior members of the House of Representatives accused Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia of using the pension funds to offer lawmakers P300,000 to P400,000 each to support his father's speakership bid.
Led by Parañaque City Representative Eduardo Zialcita, the four appealed to the GSIS president and general manager to stop "heavily aiding" Congressman-elect Pablo Garcia's campaign by using the pension funds.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
View here the list of local winners
The four, however, failed to substantiate their claims against the former Cebu governor and his son. Zialcita was joined by Representative Edcel Lagman of Bicol, Benny Abante of Manila, and Nur Jaafar of Tawi-Tawi.
In a separate interview, Congressman-elect Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district) denounced the accusation as "ridiculous" and said it merely "showed the desperation and nervousness" of House Speaker Jose de Venecia's camp.
The Garcia family found the accusations very grave and will consider legal actions against Zialcita and all other congressmen who made such accusations, Pablo John said.
"How can you take money from GSIS and give it to the congressmen when everybody knows that GSIS, like any other government institution, is subject to audit? This is black propaganda to cover up that JDV is using the funds of the House of Representatives to induce congressmen to support him," he added.
Since GSIS funds are subject to the Commission on Audit's inspection, the Garcia camp instead challenged de Venecia to open the records of the House of Representatives for an audit by COA.
This way, Pablo John said, the public will know who is telling the truth.
Zialcita said Representative Garcia and the GSIS president "are insulting members of the House with this highly immoral and anomalous practice that demeans the institution and that of the GSIS."
A small band of Kampi congressmen estimated by party leaders at less than three percent of Kampi's total House contingent in the 14th Congress is believed to be pushing Garcia's bid and aided heavily by GSIS funds, Zialcita said.
Zialcita, Lagman, Abante, and Jaafar are with the majority coalition of six major political parties that have signed a declaration of unity for development in support of de Venecia.
As of last week, more than 170 legislators already signed the document, in which majority coalition members committed their support for de Venecia and his continued leadership in the House.
Pablo John, for his part, pointed out that the accusations against his father are an insult to the legislators who support him because this shows that de Venecia's camp thinks they can be bought.
He added that de Venecia's allies have resorted to such a desperate move because they cannot explain the support Congressman Garcia is getting, especially from the Visayas and Mindanao blocs, in just over a week of campaigning.
His father's merits, not money, are what their Speakership campaign is anchored on, the congressman-elect added. (RP with reports from MBG of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (June 10, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
