Lacson files graft raps against DOJ chief

Sen. Panfilo Lacson charged Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday with attempted corruption of public officials.

The re-electionist senator also accused Gonzalez of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for offering barangay officials in Iloilo P10,000 each to ensure a 12-0 victory for administration senatorial bets in the May 14 elections.

Challenging Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to act "swiftly and fairly" on his complaint, Lacson said: "On a larger perspective, said offer of Secretary Gonzalez will have a far-reaching effect as this will make the officials concerned and the public in general complacent and look the other way even in the face of massive cheating that will be committed just to ensure the victory of Team Unity candidates."

Lacson said the action of Gonzalez offering P10,000 to barangay officials for a 12-0 victory for Team Unity is "tantamount to vote buying" and punishable under the Omnibus Election Code.

"The statements and pronouncements clearly show the blatant disregard of our laws by no less than the Secretary of Justice who should for all intents and purposes be the epitome of honesty and justness," he said.

By claiming non-candidates are not prohibited from buying votes, and that the funds will anyway come from his own pocket, Gonzalez has defied the law which he had sworn to uphold as secretary of justice, Lacson added.

He said Gonzalez had evidently violated his mandate under the Constitution as to the conduct required of public officers.

"Public office is a public trust," he said.

"Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives."

Lacson said under the Revised Penal Code, the crime of attempted corruption of public officials involves "any person who shall have made the offers or promises or given the gifts of presents."

The Anti-Graft and Corrupt and Practices Act penalizes the "persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations," he added.

Controversial lawyer Elly Velez Pamatong will also seek the disbarment of Gonzalez, whom he accused of vote-buying and desecration of the dead.

In a petition for disbarment filed with the Office of the Bar Confidant at the Supreme Court, Pamatong accused Gonzalez of "desecrating a dead foreigner, obstruction of the electoral process and using sexist language."

"Recently, a United States Peace Corps volunteer, Ms. Julia Campbell, was murdered somewhere in Banawe (sic), Ifugao Province," read the petition.

"However, instead of expressing condolence in behalf of the Filipino people, Raul Gonzales (sic) virtually blamed the victim for traveling without a companion. Secretary Gonzales’ comment was published not only throughout the Philippines but throughout the world community, thereby exposing the Filipino people in bad light."

Pamatong also wants Gonzalez disbarred for alleged vote-buying and obstructing the electoral process when he offered P10,000 each to barangay chairmen in Iloilo City to deliver a 12-0 sweep for senatorial candidates of Team Unity.

In Iloilo City, Gonzalez said the cases filed by Lacson against him "smack of politics."

"In the case of Lacson, he is looking for every reason to charge me because he is a staunch oppositionist. Well," he said, "Ping Lacson does not know what he’s talking about. Where is the graft there when no government money is involved. I’m not the one charged with the Kuratong Baleleng and the murder of Bobby Dacer." – With Sandy Araneta, Mike Frialde, Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag