Manila:
President Benigno Aquino III tried to deflect criticism of engaging in “selective justice” Thursday as he maintained that every person in the country is treated equally before the law, including his political detractors.
“We are following the correct procedures on the matter of bringing people to justice. We gather evidence and at this point were filed charges necessary in the court,” Aquino maintained in the speech he gave Thursday on the occasion of the country’s 116th Independence Day in Naga City in Camarines Sur province.
The speech was also broadcasted by the government-run station dzRB and was heard in Metro Manila.
Although President did not directly refer to it, he was obviously pointing to the recent filing of cases against Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, as well as several other individuals involved in the so-called “pork barrel” scam, including its alleged chief architect Janet Lim-Napoles.
Enrile, Estrada, Revilla and Napoles etc, are the subject of plunder cases filed before the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court last week following nearly a year-long controversy involving the diversion of priority development assistance funds or PDAF — a discretionary fund allotted for projects for their constituents.
Instead of spending the funds for their constituents, the funds, totalling to an estimated P10 billion (Dhs841 million) were diverted to “ghost projects” hence, to the pockets of the politicians and their NGO cohorts, according to testimonies given by whistle blowers.
Aquino said prosecutors should ensure that the rights of the accused are respected.
Meanwhile, members of a political party allied with Aquino marked Independence Day by protesting China’s moves to reclaim land in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where the two countries are locked in a territorial dispute.
About 200 members and supporters of the Akbayan Party protested peacefully at the Chinese Consulate in Manila on the 116th anniversary of Philippine independence from Spanish colonialism to “assert sovereignty” over the disputed area.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea, including the potentially resource-rich Spratly Islands chain, where it has overlapping claims with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Disputes among China, Vietnam and the Philippines have intensified this year.
The Spratlys are mostly barren islands, reefs and atolls that are believed to be atop oil and natural gas deposits. They also straddle one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.
Meanwhile, soldiers based on the nine-island chain hoisted Philippine flags as part of the celebrations.
In 1999, the Philippine Navy grounded the former American ship that served as a hospital in the Second World War on the shoal. Since then, it has served as a symbolic gateway to the Kalayaan (Freedom) Island Group claimed by the Philippines in the Spratlys Archipelago.
The soldiers were not alone as they were joined by their respective family members during the flag ceremonies on the various islands.
The holding of simultaneous flag ceremonies is symbolic of sovereignty, which is important in emphasizing the claim of the Philippines on some parts of the Spratly Archipelago, explained political analyst Prospero de Vera.
China has been accused of harassing private ships that serve the Philippine Navy on Ayungin Shoal.
— With inputs from AP
