Palace leaves Corpus-Legarda row up to Senate

Malacañang is leaving the fate of Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, who earlier accused Sen. Loren Legarda of "sharing her bed" with "enemies of state," up to the Senate.

In an interview aired over Radio Mindanao Network, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said it is not for the Palace to act on Corpus’ allegations against Legarda, the vice presidential running mate of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr., during a Senate hearing last Friday.

"These are things that Corpus mentioned, which he said in his testimony at the Senate hearing. Whatever they (senators) want to do with that, and what they want to do with Corpus should have been made during that Senate hearing," he said.

"So we will just leave these things. Anyway, there was an opportunity for others to ask Corpus," Bunye added.

Senators who grilled Corpus at the hearing, led by administration Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, sought a stiffer punishment against him for earlier accusing Legarda of being a "political prostitute."

Corpus alleged that Legarda "sponsored" the Jan. 9 meeting at the exclusive Manila Polo Club of five Army captains accused of destabilizing the government and Pastor "Boy" Saycon, secretary-general of the Council on Philippine Affairs.

Bunye said earlier that the Palace has adopted the decision made by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Narciso Abaya to issue a written reprimand against Corpus for conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. He said Malacañang agrees with Abaya’s decision to "rebuke" Corpus and make him explain his allegations.

However, Bunye stopped short of saying if the Palace will compel Corpus to make a public apology as demanded by Legarda.

Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo, for his part, reiterated a "general policy" by Malacañang that government officials who make serious accusations must produce "solid" evidence to back up their claims.

"In general, I would say that anybody making allegations against anyone should be ready to substantiate those allegations. I mean in general, anyone, I’m not talking about any particular person," he told reporters.

"The general rule (is that) when we make statements, we do not make them lightly and this applies to any official. And if any statements are made, it had better come with solid reasons," Saludo added.

However, Saludo said Corpus, chief of the AFP civil relations service, has not violated directives issued by President Arroyo prohibiting members of the military from engaging in partisan political activities related to the May elections.

"But I will say that being a person who is involved or was involved in intelligence service, he may, from time to time, make statements about intelligence findings that are not necessarily — in fact, for the most part — are not intended to be political," he said.

Saludo insisted that Corpus’ allegations against Legarda cannot be classified as a partisan political statement.

He also said Corpus is not connected to Malacañang in his new assignment as the AFP’s civil-military relations chief. Corpus resigned as chief of the Intelligence Services of the AFP last year after officers behind the failed Oakwood mutiny demanded his resignation.

Corpus, however, is seen to regularly report to the "war room" of Mrs. Arroyo, who earlier designated him to supervise her Strong Republic Barangay Distance-Learning School in barangays infested with communist rebels.

After Malacañang vehemently denied earlier claims by the opposition that the Arroyo administration has been using the military to spy on opposition candidates, Corpus told The STAR the other day that Legarda was monitored in one of the meetings with Saycon.

Meanwhile, Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. said the Armed Forces "should go beyond simply reprimanding" Corpus for his continued attacks on Legarda.

"Unless the AFP leadership imposes heavier sanctions against Corpus, then the only conclusion our people can draw is that Corpus is expressing the official view of the Armed Forces," he said.

Guingona said the leaders of the AFP "cannot wash its hands of Corpus’ wanton accusations" that "insult the Senate and the sensibilities of our people."

Guingona, who earlier accused the AFP of putting him under surveillance, said the military’s denial "carries little weight."

"Corpus’ admission that military intelligence has a dossier against Legarda unmasks the reality that our Armed Forces are undertaking illegal spying activities which should be immediately terminated," he said.

He noted, however, that "the larger segment of the Armed Forces is non-partisan and loyal only to our Constitution. Our soldiers should not allow themselves to be manipulated and made to undertake illegal activities."

Poe is reportedly wooing Guingona, who earlier resigned as president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party, to become one of his key advisers. — With Sammy Santos