Burden of proof on Magtubo - Villar

The burden of proof is on sectoral Reps. Renato Magtubo of the leftist group Sanlakas and Loreta Ann Rosales of Akbayan.

Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. told reporters yesterday that Magtubo and Rosales should prove their claim that congressmen were each "bribed" with P500,000 in connection with the controversial Omnibus Power Bill.

"They should prove their sweeping accusation before the ethics committee," he said.

Acting on a letter-complaint of Deputy Speaker Erico Aumentado, the ethics committee has decided to inquire into the allegations of the two sectoral representatives.

Asked what sanctions would be imposed on Magtubo and Rosales if they snub the ethics panel or fail to support their claim, Villar said he would leave that to the committee.

He reiterated that no such bribery has taken place and that the House majority which he heads does not have to bribe anyone because it has the numbers to get priority bills passed.

Villar lamented that despite the many important legislative measures approved by the House, including the Retail Trade Liberalization Law and the controversial power bill which would reform the electricity industry, his chamber will be remembered for the alleged bribery.

Asked about the revelation of Assistant Minority Leader Raul Gonzalez (NP, Iloilo City) that Sanlakas leader Felimon "Popoy" Lagman had warned him that he would destroy the House about a week before Magtubo's bribery expose', Villar neither confirmed nor denied it.

"We congressmen have been hurt by these allegations, but we want to be fair to everybody," he said.

He said what he could confirm was the fact that he received an intelligence report that leftist groups such as Sanlakas would try to undermine democratic institutions such as Congress.

Before Villar met with reporters, Gonzalez said he heard from his sources about Lagman's warning to the Speaker.

"I only heard it, I cannot of course document it, but according to the information I received, Mr. Lagman warned the Speaker that he will destroy the House," he said.

For his part, Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Lakas, Quezon City) said that his staff, Grace Andres, accused of allegedly handing the money to Magtubo and Rosales, would attend the inquiry.

"I was not aware or have I anything to do with the alleged delivery of money,"he added.