Ombudsman to charge personalities tagged in ‘pork’ scam – Noy

KUALA LUMPUR – There will be indictments very soon in the graft and plunder complaint filed against dozens of individuals – including three senators – in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, President Aquino said here late Thursday.

“I think you know our ombudsman is close to filing charges and we have gathered evidence against the wrongdoers,” Aquino said in Filipino before a gathering of some 500 members of the Filipino community here.

If the ombudsman investigators find enough evidence against the respondents, charges would be filed with the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

He did not name the respondents, who include Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. and more than 30 others.

Aquino gave the assurance after an impassioned speech delivered by a Filipino community leader urging the President to make sure those involved in the embezzling of taxpayers’ money are punished.

In response, Aquino said he is determined to curb bureaucratic corruption, citing gains his nearly four-year-old administration has made in significantly reducing anomalies in government transactions.

He said a clean government can be achieved not by chance or mercy of God alone, but through hard work – with God’s help and guidance.