Kampi's claim on cash gifts raises more suspicions – CBCP prexy
The belated admission of administration officials on the source of the cash gifts given to lawmakers and governors last month has raised "more suspicions" rather than give "clear answers," according to the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
"Why do this admission now, three weeks after (the cash-giving happened)? Why not earlier?" Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said in an interview.
Lagdameo was reacting to the admission of Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa that the money that was given to majority coalition congressmen in Malacañang last October came from President Macapagal-Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).
Villarosa, regional head of Kampi, said the money was part of the party's "assistance" to lawmakers and denied that there were irregularities in the distribution done after officials met the President in Malacañang.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) had earlier admitted that it was the source of the cash gifts amounting P500,000 given to governors. The LPP said the funds were part of its "capacity building program for new governors."
But Lagdameo said the delayed admissions failed to satisfy the questions raised by various sectors including the Church.
"They should have come out as soon as (Pampanga Governor) Fr. (Eddie) Panlilio came out with the money," the prelate said.
Panlilio was the first official to disclose that he received P500,000 after attending the Oct. 11 meeting with the President in Malacañang.
Lagdameo said it was up to the appropriate government agencies to continue the investigation on the controversy.
"They must ensure that government officials are honest, transparent, accountable and responsible," the prelate said.
The CBCP through Lagdameo last month issued a statement questioning the giving of money from P200,000 to P500,000 to mayors and governors during the meeting.
"From the moral standpoint, one should not accept money about which questions can be asked because it renders responsibility, accountability, and transparency a dubious subject matter," Lagdameo had said in his statement.
The prelate also said that with the reported giving out of money to officials, "our country is not only suffering from economic bankruptcy but also moral bankruptcy, disappointingly being shown by our leaders. We are very much concerned with our youth who are looking at our leaders for models in honesty, integrity, and transparency."