Ping: Joker holds no title to Blue Ribbon committee
by JP Lopez
Malaya
Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said nobody holds a “Torrens title” to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee as he assailed Sen. Joker Arroyo for saying he was lusting after the powerful panel.
Lacson said he was just stating his wish to head the committee in pursuit of his advocacy to stop corruption and promote public accountability.
“May I remind him that no one has a Torrens title over the chairmanship of any committee in the Senate and it is not up to him to decide to whom he shall pass his chairmanship,” Lacson said.
“If I lust for anything, it is to hold bad people in government accountable for their illegal acts. Besides, it only takes supposedly good men to do nothing for the bad and corrupt to triumph,” Lacson also said as accused Arroyo, current Blue Ribbon chairman, of sitting on the “Jose Pidal” investigation.
Lacson said there should be a closure on the Pidal case where it was alleged that First Gentleman Mike Arroyo maintained bank accounts containing hundreds of millions in the name of Jose Pidal.
The investigation was an offshoot of a series of privilege speeches of Lacson made in 2003 during the 12th Congress.
The Blue Ribbon investigation was stalled after bank officials, invoking bank secrecy law, refused to cooperate with the committee on Pidal’s bank accounts.
Sen. Arroyo said it was Lacson who botched the investigation after he failed to get a court order to open the bank accounts.
“Senator Lacson talks through his hat when he says he wants a closure of the Jose Pidal case. Of course there has been closure already, albeit caused by himself, by his own failure and inaction. He botched it, plain and simple,” Sen. Arroyo said.
He cited a ruling of the Blue Ribbon in 2003 which said it “cannot just inquire into the bank deposits of a private individual merely because a senator makes a public issue of it in a privilege speech and a congressional inquiry is constituted to satisfy what one might better describe as a public curiosity rather than the public interest.”
He said the 1955 Bank Secrecy Law “did not empower congressional committees to examine — without invocation of the judicial process — bank deposits but limited it rather to a select number of institutions and situations, one of which is Congress in an impeachment case.”
Arroyo said Lacson must present proof “of illegal and not merely improper, of criminal and not merely salacious, conduct that could be traced to the First Gentleman.”
But Lacson said: “There can only be closure in any investigation at the Senate if the committee comes up with its report. In the case of the Pidal investigation, there is none. So what closure is (Sen. Arroyo) talking about?”
He said a committee report signed by its members is also required to send the investigation to the archives. “Again, in this case, there is none,” Lacson said.
“I’ve presented more than enough evidence including the original copies of the checks issued from the Pidal accounts but his committee clearly sat on the case,” Lacson said.
“Is Senator Joker concerned that a Blue Ribbon committee not under his control will investigate government-owned and controlled corporations like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes or Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation for financing his campaign ads in the last senatorial election like they did in his first senatorial run-up in May 2001?” Lacson said.
Pikon itong si Joker Arroyo dahil nasa bakuran na siya ni Gloria at Mike Arroyo. Lalo’t naungusan pa siya ni Alan Cayetano at hindi niya masikmurang ang minamaliit niyang si Trillanes ay tinangkilik ng mamamayan.
Granting that Lacson failed to get a court order to open the bank accounts of Jose Pidal, bakit kailangan niyang kontrahin ang reopening of the investigation? Hindi ba siya ang nagsasabing lagot sa kanya kapagka corrupt ka? Walang dudang pinagtatakpan niya si Mike Arroyo kapag nagpatuloy siyang hahadliang sa Blue Ribbon committee investigation sa bagong pamunuan ng Senado. Hindi na pakikinggan ng tao ang mga teknikalidad niyang sinasabi na sarado na ang kaso.
Siempre, pinondohan ni Gloria at Mike Arroyo ang kandidatura niya, kakalimutan niyang galit siya sa mga corrupt. Nakakain at nakainon siya ng perang galing sa corruption, pikit mata na niya itong tatanggapin. Ganyan lang kasimple yan.
I don’t know why Filipinos would love still this Joker Arroyo. When they were selling the Roppongi property in Tokyo, he would come here and then something would happen to the property so the lousy Philippine government then could sell it, but they could not because we persevered in protesting against it, and the Japanese were more responsive to the people’s call than those greedy Philippine officials who took over the reins of government after Marcos.
Malinis magtrabaho ang mamang ito. Hindi madaling mabistong may ginagawang hindi matino, palibhasa kamag-anak noong Fatso! Isa pang deceitful ang ungas who has ridden on the Ninoy Aquino bandwagon so the people would believe he’s for real.
Between him and Lacson, I would choose Lacson if I were you. Hindi pa man nag-uumpisang magtrabaho for this term, itong si Joker trying his best nang gawin ang ipinapagawa sa kaniya ng mga amo niya, ha? Remember ang goal ng mga TUtang ito is to make sure the unano becomes permanent president if not a queen.
Remember Josef Tito of the former Yugoslavia. He made himself permanent president, and looked what happened to his country after his death—nawala!!!
Knowing how Lacson works, his insisting upon the reopening of the Pidal Scandal indicates he has more ammo to blast away with, his porcine (or porkly) nemesis – the ugly beast that lives in the pigsty by the river. Lacson is one of the leading protagonists for the 2010 winner-take-all and he just won’t create such noise for a dud that will only hurt his chances. It isn’t in his character.
The wicked one whispering to my ear also says Ping might just test drive to the limit the newly-installed plastic plumbing that surgeons at Saint Luke’s might have no other way of affirming the stated quality control data. Lacson will be doing Medical Science a big favor, too, heheh.
As for Joker, let him fool himself to senility. The “people’s dragon”, for crying out loud, is a perfect allusion to a myth, just like Joker’s self-professed anti-corrupt crusade which doesn’t even exist.
Sabi nga ng isang blogger when referring to IpDye’s distant relative’s campaign line, “Pag Pidal Ka, Lusot Ka!”
Good luck to Sen. Lacson at sana nga makuha niya ang Blue Ribbon Committee. Ang worry ko lang si Villar baka naman ibigay niya ulit kay Arroyo yan since he is a member of Wednesday group.
Since the Congressional records on investigations and inquiries in the past were so dismal, with most taking so much time without resolving most issues to proper closures and resolutions, my question; why not review these process and either replace them with independent outside inquiries that will be established for every investigation, probe, or inquest that may come up from time to time, for the purpose of “aid to legislation” or criminal or civil investigations to go deep into the root causes of the problems and find solutions for them, or improve on the process that even with the Senate or the House still maintain the power to conduct, should be fully non-partisan and objective.
We used to have the Senate, an appointed and partisan body, the other house of the Parliament (the other house with elected members is known as the House of Commons) do a lot of these investigations and inquiries, but they too, became irrelevant, because of partisan politics that now it is usually done by an outside independent body that is called for specific matter. And it works..
Jojo,
All opposition senators have an agreement that prevents them from giving any committee chairmanship to their admin counterparts. The president who violates that, whether Villar or Pimentel, faces removal. Villar, if he is favored by the straw votes, cannot afford to risk it, as he just may kiss goodbye this early his presidential ambition, too.
I think Lacson has the Blue Ribbon chairmanship in the bag if Pimentel wins, otherwise, he will be contesting it with Pimentel himself in case of a Villar win.
Vic,
While your suggestion seems ideal, in our present situation, it isn’t applicable or even just not sufficient. Gloria still has her MC 108 in effect replacing the previous EO 464.
Even with congress’ power to summon, Pandak’s lapdogs have all snubbed the congressional hearings, except of course, those pertaining to the budget.
We’ve also had investigations outside congress like you propose, Feliciano Commission, Mayuga Report, dozens of task forces, although initiated by Malacañang, never yielded results.
Gloria’s “transparent” gov’t even tried to hide the Feliciano report, and to this day, is hiding the Mayuga report.
The civilian-led fact-finding missions were as ineffective as well. I cannot even remember now the purpose, nor the outcome of that hearing conducted last year by the group of Tito Guingona, Father Dizon, and Dinky Soliman, among others.
Any investigation now will probably face the same fate, unless, as Sen. Trillanes says, we remove Gloria first.
From the time of Marcos until todate, hindi uso ang independent commission sa Pilipinas to investigate on something with the power to recommend prosecution of guilty parties. A citizen group who put to trial and found Gloria guilty of election fraud as evidenced by Hello Garci was just laughed off as insane by Malacanang.
As mentioned by Tongue Twisted, there’s the Feliciano report, although some findings were known nothing was implementation from its recommendations. The Mayuga report was never revealed. There’s also the Melo Commission. One that made a mark although rather controversial was the Constitutional Commission from which the People’s Initiative was born but killed by the Supreme Court.
Sorry, should be “nothing was implemented”.
Iyang mga commission ay talagang mga konsumisyon lang. Katulad na lang ng comelec. Dapat independent commission iyan, pero ang totoo, como-collect lang ang mga tao diyan. Maalala ko din ang Agrava commission. Naging starring diyan si Siraulo Gunggongzales, at pati din yata iyang si Joker. Nakalimutan ko na kung ano ang naging resulta doon.
I have been wondering why pinoys still voted for this Joker. Akala siguro nila ay talagang payaso. What did the Blue Ribbon Committe achieved during his stint there as the Chairman? Nothing significant that am aware of. Tama na Joker, magretire ka na lang.
Tongue:
Salamat sa info kahit kanino jay Sen.Lacson or Sen. Pimentel okay lang sa akin huwag lang mapunta kay Sen. Joker.
Mapagbiro talaga itong si Joker. Paano nagkaroon nang closure ang Pidal case. Did Pidal close all his accounts?
Ooo nga pala baka they were stolen kaya? wala na.
“I have been wondering why pinoys still voted for this Joker.”
Para dun sa mga apolitical, madaling ma-sway ng mga advertisement.At hayan ang role ng PR at makinarya.
Pero dun naman sa nagbabasa ng kasaysayan, sino ba talaga si Joker Arroyo?
Kung ihahanay natin siya kanila Rene Saguisag, Bobbit Sanchez, Nene Pimentel, Ernie Maceda, Tali Gonzales, Pepe Diokno at Lorenzo Tañada?Sigurado ako na kapag pinili mo siya(Joker), hardcore Anti-Marcos ka?O maka-kaliwa.
Matatandaan din natin kung ano ang nagtulak kay Joker para sa pagbibitiw nya bilang executive secretary ni Cory noong 1987.
Human rights lawyer noong panahon ni Marcos at independent Congressman naman noong panahon ni President Joseph Estrada.
Kung consistency ang pag-uusapan.
Pipiliin ko si Homobono Adaza.
(Isa sa magiging Ama ng Mindanao pag nagkataon)
Sa ipinakita ng relasyon Lacson-Angara nitong nagdaang 12th at 13th Congress, masasabi ko na isang pagtatagpo ng “lawmaker-law enforcer”
Samantalang ngayon, 14th Congress –eksenang Tatay-Anak(the Seniors & the siblings ; Sr.Cavaliers and the poster boy of rebellion).
Pero noong nakaraang linggo na ipinakita ni Miriam Defensor Santiago sa isyu ng pork barrel , na direkta namang ipinapatama kay Ping Lacson.
Aba’y hindi ganyan ang itinuro nina Geronima Pecson(mula sa Pangasinan), Eva Kalaw at Helena Benitez.
Sana Nikki Coseteng tumakbo kang Presidente noong 1992!
Senator Arroyo is blaming Lacson for the latter’s failure to secure a court order to open the Jose Pidal account. But that was really the strategy: require Lacson to secure a court order before continuing the probe. That requirement effectively stopped all inquiries, shielding Mike and company from further appearing before the Senate committee where they have only shown unbounded capacity to prevaricate. Aha, see the genius in this charlatan of a graftbuster! Now, who is the court judge who would have the balls to grant such a court order.
Si Joker pincipled lang kunyari kung ang pinaguusapan ang kaniyang mga kaaway: si Marcos at Estrada.
court order ang gusto ni joker noon para mabuksan yung pidal account. at pagkatapos, sino sa korte ang magbibigay na hawak naman ni gloria?
ay naku, talaga itong si joker, hanggang pagbiro na lang siya. siya ang taong tumanda ng paurong. ang ganda kunwari yung dating niya noong panahon, eh ngayon, hayan, laughingstock nga siya.
kung ako naman si lacson, talagang pursigihin niya ang pidal account na iyan. katulad ng garci, na halos ayaw ipabuksan ng malacanang, sabi ni claudio, gone na daw. anong gone….baka siya, malapit na, pati kanyang unanong amo!
Hehehe, get agad ni ricelander. Mismo!
Yan ang moro-moro. He cannot just whack the whip on the Big Gorilla, friend yata yan ni Genuine, his biggest financier. Kaya Blue ribbon committee under the Big Joke is just simple that, “a big joke”.
Never liked this joker as a matter of fact. Kurakot din iyan. Kunyari lang Mr. Clean! Pwe! Kung talagang Mr. Clean iyan hindi iyan kakampi sa mga palpak! Riding on lang iyan noon sa pangalan ni Ninoy!
But Lacson said: “There can only be closure in any investigation at the Senate if the committee comes up with its report. In the case of the Pidal investigation, there is none. So what closure is (Sen. Arroyo) talking about?”
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Re: Closure of the case,
Siguro Sen.Lacson ibig sabihin ni Joker, close na iyong case as in…. Bayad na siya !
kasi ba naman, kapag binuksan muli ang kaso ni jose pidal ay malamang na lumabas ang tunay na katotohanang inupuan lamang ni joking arroyo ang tungkol dito noong siya pa ang tserman ng blu ribon kumitae.
kung wala siyang itinatago at kinatatakutang multo at pinagingibabaw niya ang kapakanan at interes ng sambayanan, hindi siya manggagalaite sa pagpapabukas ni ping ng mga kasong kinasangkutan ng haring baboy!
Ang alam ko sa Jose Pidal hearings, may natitira pang mga isyung hindi nailabas noon. Pinatagal kasi ni Joker kaya inabutan ng 2004 elections.
Isa na yung ipinakita ni Serge Osmeña sa ANC na comparison ng pirma ni Iggy sa Senado vs. yung pirmang na-verify daw ng PNP Crime Lab. HINDI YUNG PINIRMAHAN NI IGGY ANG VERIFIED NG CRIME LAB! (Pwede mong i-check iyan Ellen sa archives ng Strictly Politics.) Iyan din ang sabi ni Arnold Clavio sa kanyang radio program, hindi naman iyon yung papel na pinirmahan ni Iggy sa kanyang exclusive interview na ipinalabas sa news!
Suma nito, yung report ng PC Crime Lab (na ang head noong panahong iyon, si Gen. Mosqueda, ay ang dating Chief ng PNP Masbate na itinuro ni Sandra Cam na nagkamal ng milyones sa Jueteng) ay ibinase sa pirmang ipinalit sa unang nai-submit na specimen signatures kuno ni Iggy. Siguradong poprotektahan ni Mosqueda ang tunay na Lord of all Jueteng Lords na hindi lang umagaw sa pwesto ni Erap, pati intelihensiya sa jueteng, inagaw!
Baka yung tunay na Pidal na ang gumawa kaya nahawig ang pirma sa mga ebidenssiya ni Lacson? Dapat talagang mabuksan uli ang Pidal Scandal!
Tignan natin kung matibay yung plastic na puso.
Dapat isipin ni Joker na kaya siya ibinoto ng mga tao ay dahil naniniwala sila na may paninindigan siya! Bakit ngayon ay siya mismo ang lumalabas na nagpoprotekta kay Madam Tianak and her famous Pig? Leaving up ba to his name “Joker” ang Arroyong ito?
Kaya, Ping, walisin mo na ang Arroyong ito! Hindi natin kailangan ang “Joker” sa Senado!
Elvira,
Hindi lang si Joker ang dapat walisin, dapat LAHAT NA NG ARROYO!!!
yan bang si joker arroyo eh magaling talagang abugado? if i remember right ang lagi nya kaharap dati eh si solicitor general (marcos time) estelito mendoza. and laging lamang si mendoza. during batasan days, it was joker and bono adaza against mendoza. and it was adaza who was always making sense and the better arguments. si joker puro porma.
during erap’s trial, kung nde nag walkout sila joker at that time, i think mendoza, fortun, flaminiano and daza had better arguments of the case and would have won. my opinion of course.
now, against ping lacson, i think may nakatapat na naman si joker. sana lang tuloy-tuluyin ni ping ang pagbira para maturuan na ng leksyon ang mga kurakot at walanghiya sa gobyerno.