Senate probe on Malampaya scam sought

MANILA, Philippines - While the Senate probe on the alleged multi-billion peso pork barrel scam has yet to be concluded, Senator Alan Cayetano is now calling for another inquiry, this time for the Malampaya scam.

Cayetano is urging the Senate to start its probe on the the alleged plunder of P900 million in Malampaya gas funds that were supposed to aid farmers affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009.

"This is another atrocity that has been committed against the Filipino people who are still in outrage over the P10-billion pork barrel scandal. Dapat nating malaman kung sino ang mga ito at parusahan," Cayetano said.

"Alam naman natin kung gaano ang pinsala sa buhay at sa kabuhayan ang dala ng mga bagyong Pepeng at Ondoy, lalo na sa ating mga magsasaka. Itong P900 million ay dapat nagamit upang sila ay tulungan na makabangon," he added.

The lawmaker said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee should already come up with a partial report on the alleged pork barrel scam and that the Malampaya controversy should be the next agenda.

Cayetano said he has  asked Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Teofisto Guingona III to start scheduling hearings for the Malampaya probe.

"Hiningi ko sa kanya na dinggin at simulan ang hearing sa Malampaya scam para ang bawat isyu na lumabas ay ma-imbestigahan upang makita ng mamamayan kung sino ang mga nangungurakot at kung saan napupunta ang pondo," Cayetano said.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee had already conducted 10 hearings on the pork barrel scam. Among the personalities who had appeared were suspected scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, the whistle-blowers led by Benhur Luy and potential state witnesses Ruby Tuason and Dennis Cunanan.

It was during one of these hearings that the alleged embezzling of P900 million in Malampaya funds came to light.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, one of those accused of plundering pork barrel funds that went to Napoles' fake foundations, earlier criticized Cayetano for allegedly using the Senate hearings to advance his own political agenda for the 2016 elections.

Cayetano, who has announced his intention of becoming president, dismissed Estrada's claims.