‘Spare no one’ in pork scam — LP

“SPARE no one” in the pork barrel scam probe, Liberal Party stalwarts urge the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Pursue the fight against graft and corruption to the end, they say.

*** A “no-sacred cow” policy must be pursued against the third batch of lawmakers and personalities allegedly involved in the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), urge Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone.

Consistency is the best policy, they say.

*** The leaders of LP, the ruling administration party headed by President Aquino III, ask Justice Secretary Leila de Lima “not to be selective” and run after all those involved in the PDAF scam, regardless of party affiliation.

No selective justice please, they urge.

***

*** Evardone brands as “unfair” claims that the inclusion of Malacañang allies in the third batch of PDAF respondents stalled the filing of the pork barrel charges.

“I think the DOJ will spare no one as long as the evidence warrants, ” he says.

*** Concerned senators, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and Atty. Baligod have criticized the DOJ for declaring that the filing of charges against the third batch of PDAF respondents and those involved in the Malampaya fund scam is no longer its priority.

*** UNA interim President Toby Tiangco recalls that the Aquino administration embraced its “straight path” policy early on and that it even scrambled to go after the multi-billion peso fund scam suspects since 2013.

Loss of interest to go after those who plundered the nation’s coffers is puzzling, he adds.

*** He expresses suspicions that the DOJ could be protecting Malacañang’s allies who could also be involved in the PDAF and Malampaya irregularities.

Prove it, Palace boys say.

*** Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares also recall DOJ Sec. De Leila de Lima’s earlier declaration that there would be no exception in the campaign against corruption.

The people are still waiting for more charges, they say.

*** Meanwhile, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) denies plunder and malversation charges filed against it before the Ombudsman.

“This is just a remake of the previous cases that the court already discarded,” the group says.

*** “The VFP does not handle any pension and finances of veterans… so there is no such thing as mismanaging of finances here,” President Emmanuel de Ocampo says in a statement.

“This is just pure harassment,” the old vets cry.