Graft raps vs Lichauco a clear case of harassment — Dinky

Former social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman took the cudgels for her fellow impeachment complainant Josefina Lichauco, claiming the revival of graft charges against the former transportation secretary is simple political harassment.

The Supreme Court’s recent recommendation to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to "reinstate" the corruption charges against Lichauco is obviously impeachment-related, she said.

Soliman and Lichauco were among the former Cabinet officials seeking the ouster of President Arroyo.

"I think it’s a real case of harassment. Yung revival ng graft charges against Josie ay malinaw na may kinalaman sa impeachment," Soliman told reporters Thursday in a briefing held beside the office of House Minority Leader Francis Escudero.

Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also supported Soliman’s claims.

"Buo ang suporta namin kay Ginang Lichauco. At alam namin na ito ay may kinalaman sa kanyang (Lichauco’s) aktibong paglahok sa impeachment ni GMA (Mrs. Arroyo)," Reyes said.

But Lichauco, a lawyer, was more careful with her words. She told The STAR that she never said the Supreme Court acted on behest of Malacañang.

Rather, Lichauco expressed apprehension on the timing of the recommendation.

"Why order the reinstatement when I exercise my freedom of speech?" she asked.

The high court’s third division, through Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, earlier directed the Ombudsman to hold Lichauco liable for the December 1997 offering of Philippine orbital slots to an unnamed firm, instead of the Philippine Agila Satellite Inc. (PASI).

The SC ruling reversed the July 1998 decision of retired Ombudsman Aniano Desierto, which threw away the PASI complaint for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 3019.

"I denounce the reinstating of graft charges filed almost a decade ago," Lichauco said.

"I condemn this as an outrageous lie. This (RP orbital slots) is part of patrimony of the land and cannot just be given away," The STAR columnist said.

Records showed that in June 1994, PASI entered into an agreement with DOTC for the operation of a Philippine satellite by a Filipino-owned corporation.