KIKO TO FELLOW PUBLIC SERVANTS:
FOLLOW AMONG ED'S EXAMPLE!

If, indeed, each of the government officials present at the Palace meeting last Thursday were given P500,000, then the public can kiss goodbye to at least 143 Million Pesos of funds that could have been allocated to basic social services such as education, housing and health.

One Hundred Forty Three Million Pesos is at least 286 classrooms, which costs P400,000 to P500,000 only.

One Hundred Forty Three Million Pesos is at least 1,191 homes for the urban poor at P120,000 each.

One Hundred Forty Three Million Pesos could have greatly contributed to the fight against the scourge of tuberculosis, still the greatest health problem in the country.

In view of the above, Majority Leader Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today, challenged his fellow public servants to tell the truth and follow the example of Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, who admitted being one of those who received P500,000 from the Palace last Thursday.

"Those who receive the money must make an accounting. They must follow the example of Among Edofficially acknowledge receipt and inquire with Malacanang as to what the purpose of the fund is.

There must be transparency, there must be accountability, " said Kiko.

Palace officials still won't confirm nor deny that the money came from the President herself. However, Kiko said "Malacanang cannot claim ignorance of something that happened right under its nose."

"Whether it's just Five Pesos or Five Hundred Thousand Pesos, the fact remains that cash gifts were given to at least 200 congressmen and 86 governors last week after a breakfast meeting with the President. And this took place amid talks that a weak impeachment complaint against her was allegedly being endorsed to protect her, not to find out the truth," said Kiko.

"I just hope the money didn't come from the President's social fund," lamented Kiko. Disbursement of the President's social, calamity and intelligence funds requires a special release allotment order or SARO from the Budget Department.

In light of the new bribery scandal involving at least the entire House membership, Kiko called on the legislative branch to fast- track measures that will strengthen the judiciary's prosecutory arm to up the country's conviction rate.

Kiko is the author of SBN 140 or the Independent Counsel Act of 2007 which seeks to establish an independent counsel that would conduct investigations on impeachable officials, the Executive Family and members of Congress.

"One of the primary reasons why some government officials are emboldened to enter into anomalous deals is the low conviction rate of our courts. If we want to deter graft and corruption in government, we have to strengthen our judiciary's prosecutory arm and support our courts through bills that empower them," Kiko said.