Former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros today urged Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take a leave from Congress to insulate the House from the dishonor that the inquiries on poll fraud and PCSO corruption would bring upon the former President.
“As Congress and other government bodies start looking into the mega-anomalies that happened during the previous administration, it would be prudent for Rep. GMA to take a leave from Congress. These controversies are clearly linked to the former President, and new testimonies would attest that GMA herself has a direct hand on these anomalies. As a member of Congress, it is her right to avail of the privileges accorded to a lawmaker, but that would undoubtedly besmirch the reputation of the 15th Congress,” Hontiveros said.
She said that she should not use Congress as a political shelter.
“GMA should take leave of absence and spare Congress the embarrassment that she inflicted upon herself,” said Hontiveros.
“As a congresswoman, she could manipulate the situation and transform this into a battle between Congress and the Executive, or claim that the Executive is harassing a member of Congress. She can use her congressional privileges, from the so-called parliamentary courtesy to her immunity, and make Congress her own political asylum. We can’t allow that to happen, and out of delicadeza GMA should just take a leave from Congress,” Hontiveros added.
Hontiveros also chided lawyer Raul Lambino for claiming that the revival of the poll fraud controversy is a Malacanang ploy.
“This is nothing of that sort. Don’t tell me that the GMA camp actually assumed that with the election of a new government, the Filipino public would simply forget about Garci and the cases of corruption that happened under the GMA administration. GMA’s past is simply catching up with her,” Hontiveros said.
“Sya ata ito na ang tingin sa publiko ay utak dilis. Maraming baho na sinubukan nilang pagtakpan nuong sila ay nasa pwesto na hanggang ngayon ay umaalingasaw,” Hontiveros said. “Babaho at babaho ang mga anolmalyang ito hangga’t hindi nila pinapanagutan.” ###
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