Nene questions Reyes’ new post

Opposition Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. questioned yesterday the propriety of the appointment of former defense secretary Angelo Reyes as ambassador-at-large for counter-terrorism.

"The appointment of General Reyes is, to say the least, insensitive to the demands of the people that those who are appointed to government positions be cleared of charges of wrongdoing or anomalies," Pimentel said.

He said it was improper for President Arroyo to appoint Reyes without first waiting for the outcome of the Palace-sponsored investigation of the recent Davao City bombings in which Reyes and former Armed Forces intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus were implicated.

"The appointment casts doubts as to whether Malacañang is really interested in finding out the truth and apprehending the culprits behind the bombings of the Davao International Airport, the Sasa wharf and a Muslim mosque in the southern city," he said.

He pointed out that Reyes should be cleared of alleged involvement in a terrorist act especially since his new post gives him responsibility over counter-terrorist plans and operations.

The former defense secretary should also have been cleared of the allegation that he has acquired illegal wealth, a charge that arose from his construction of a mansion at Fort Bonifacio, he added.

"By appointing Reyes, it may be said that the President is running true to form. She could not care less whether or not the people she consorts with in her official family are tainted with abuse or misuse of power," Pimentel stressed.

Meanwhile, Pimentel said the two newspaper advertisements that came out last Thursday and which seek to abolish the Senate were "deceptive and smacked of ignorance about the workings of a legislative body in a democratic setting."

"Contrary to the baseless and irresponsible allegation in the paid ad, the task of legislation has not been impaired by the series of investigations undertaken by the Senate to check and prevent alleged wrongdoing by public officials in conformity with its constitutional duties," he said.

Pimentel’s colleagues suspect that groups advocating Charter change or the camp of embattled First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who is facing a Senate investigation in connection with the Jose Pidal controversy, were behind the costly advertisements.

The ads came out only a few days before opposition Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson is set to drop his third bombshell against the President’s husband and the Arroyo administration on Monday, when Congress resumes its session. — Jess Diaz