‘Duterte’s blind item could be a basis for case’

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s blind item about his potential successors, if related to corruption or criminal conduct, should be a basis for pursuing a case in the Sandiganbayan or regular courts, a spokesman for Partido Reporma presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Former congressman Ashley Acedillo said their camp will just wait for the pronouncement of the President.

“Abangan,” said Acedillo. “We’ll just wait to hear from President Duterte what he thinks of the different candidates running to succeed him in June 2022.”

Duterte said he will expose the issues hounding the candidates vying for the top job. He even described one of the presidential aspirants as corrupt.

Aside from Lacson, other presidential candidates include former senator Bongbong Marcos, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Acedillo noted that if grounded on facts and evidence, the President’s pronouncement will be helpful to the voters still on the fence as to who to vote for while allowing others to change their minds if they feel their chosen candidates are wanting either in integrity, capability or potential.

“Curiously, shouldn’t the same facts and evidence on a particular candidate – especially if pertaining to potential corrupt or criminal conduct – be a basis for pursuing a case in the Sandiganbayan or our regular courts?” asked Acedillo.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating the latest revelations of President Duterte that a presidential aspirant is corrupt.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos was asked for an update on the background checks of all the presidential bets in the wake of Duterte’s latest pronouncements.

“Continuous naman po ’yun. At the end of the day, we will not jump the gun,” he said.

Carlos said they were not directed to mention names but to just do their work and submit a report of their findings, after studying the allegations at different levels.

Duterte earlier said he would name the most corrupt presidential candidate before the elections in May. The Chief Executive said he received complaints from Chinese individuals about the politician for being too corrupt.

Carlos said they have yet to obtain evidence to prove that a presidential candidate is a cocaine user.

He said what they have is information that one of the aspirants for the presidency is hooked on illegal drugs, and if there’s evidence then they will file a case in court.

Duterte has revealed that a presidential bet is into cocaine. Carlos said the PNP Drug Enforcement Group is still working on the information but added whatever the result could not be revealed in public immediately.

“Once verified, we submit our report,” he said.

Lacson said Filipinos have nothing to worry about exercising their freedom of expression and dissent under his administration as he has no plans to control or suppress media organizations despite their making his life miserable in the past. – Emmanuel Tupas, Paolo Romero