Palace keeps distance from Miriam, Ping word war

MANILA, Philippines - Without taking sides in the word war between former senator Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago over the creation of an anti-corruption body under the Office of the President, Malacañang said yesterday only crooks would be afraid of an anti-corruption body.

“If you’re not corrupt, what should you be afraid of,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.

However, Lacierda said the Palace would rather distance itself from the clash between the two senators. 

“We do not want to indulge ourselves or engage ourselves in the debate between the two good senators,” he said.

Lacierda said the two senators are “coming from different legal bases” in defending their stand on the issue.

He said there is nothing final about the proposal at this point because the executive order is not yet finished.

He added that President Aquino has yet to decide on the position that he will give Lacson. 

“When it is finished, when it is right for announcement, we will do so. But, in the meantime, there has been no advice from the President yet,” Lacierda said.

“Let’s just wait for the decision from the President,” he added.

Lacson had said the proposed Presidential Commission Against Corruption would only “complement” and not duplicate the powers and functions of the Office of the Ombudsman. 

He said the commission would target all public officials and their cohorts, regardless if they are appointed or elected.

Santiago had said the plan is “unconstitutional, illegal, immoral and egotistic,” apart from being “unintelligent.”

She questioned the validity of creating a new office without the approval of both houses of Congress, citing a series of Supreme Court decisions. 

She said Lacson’s plan violates the Constitution and the Administrative Code and the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990.