House ethics body begins ‘Gang of 5’ inquiry

The House ethics committee is set to open today its inquiry into a group of congressmen known as the "Gang of 5" that is reportedly engaged in extortion activities.

The investigation was prompted by a resolution filed by Rep. Rolex Suplico (LDP, Iloilo), one of the alleged members of the group. Suplico had asked the ethics committee to investigate him and the rest of the Gang of 5.

He and the other suspected gang members — Representatives Jacinto Paras (Lakas, Negros Oriental), Prospero Pichay Jr. (Lakas, Surigao del Sur), Eduardo Veloso (Lakas, Leyte), and Aniceto Saludo (LDP-Lakas, Southern Leyte) — have denied that they are engaged in extortion activities.

The ethics panel, chaired by Rep. Antonio Abaya (NPC, Isabela) is also expected to take up another resolution filed by Pichay naming Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Deputy Majority Leader Francis Escudero as the source of what Pichay described as malicious reports against them.

Gonzales and Escudero have denied the Surigao congressman’s allegation.

Reports about the alleged extortion activities of the Gang of 5 surfaced in the week before the first congressional adjournment last Sept. 7. The reports quoted unnamed but highly reliable sources.

That week, the committee on transportation and communications chaired by Paras, started its inquiry into the plan of cellular phone operators Globe and Smart to cut the number of free short (text) messages they give their subscribers.

The committee opened another investigation into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 project involving Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco).

The resolution seeking the Piatco probe was introduced by Veloso.

One news report alleged that the Gang of 5 extorted money from Globe and Smart, an allegation denied by both the ‘gang members’ and the cellular operators.

In the wake of the controversy, there have been calls for a moratorium on investigations, prompting Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to plead for a ban on inquiries for at least six months.

Since then, the Paras committee has not resumed its investigations into the text reduction plan of Globe and Smart, and Piatco.

In the meantime, De Venecia is trying to patch up the differences between the Gang of 5 and Gonzales and Escudero.