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‘3 Furies’ probing Aquino allies in pork scam

Rappler.com

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Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda says 3 tough women are looking into the pork barrel scam

MANILA, Philippines —As allegations continue that the cases filed over the pork barrel mess is Malacañang’s political vendetta against the opposition, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reminded critics that the Inter-Agency Coordinating Council (IAGCC) is the one investigating administration allies dragged in the alleged pork barrel scam.

“Anything related to the Napoles-NGOs, the DOJ will be investigating because it’s the first one. Anything that is not related, any PDAF scandal which is not related to the Napoles NGOs, that will be investigated by the “Three Furies” of the IAGCC. That will be the delineation,” Lacierda said on Saturday, February 8.

The IAGCC is composed of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Commission on Audit (COA) which are all led by female secretaries with strong personalities. The “Three Furies” are Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, justice secretary Leila De Lima, and COA chief Grace Pulido Tan. (READ: Three women and the pork)

Rappler’s study of COA reports showed that various administration lawmakers were questioned for the misuse of their pork barrel allocations. A succeeding report from the COA showed more. (READ: Admin solons linked to pork barrel scam and COA report: Lawmakers and their pork)

Lacierda said the cases against opposition personalities senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla Jr were filed immediately because of the testimnonies of whistleblowers like Benhur Luy who were able to help in the investigation. 

“Now that Ms. Ruby Tuason has come back to share her testimony, we will see the evidence,” he said. Tuason was the social secretary of former President Joseph Estrada. Her testimony is expected to complete the story of Luy and other whistleblowers and link alleged scam mastermind Janet Napoles to Estrada and Enrile. 

Malacañang will not protect its allies, said Lacierda. “We are not departing from any instruction from the President: We will pursue the cases wherever the evidence leads us. The only consideration is how fast can we obtain the evidence in relation to a particular investigation,” he said. — Rappler.com

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