PNoy says plunder charges vs. him 'very extreme'

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday simply brushed aside the plunder complaint filed against him and other officials in connection with the alleged misuse of the Malampaya funds.

Aquino said is "very curious" to know what he supposedly gained from the Malampaya funds, as claimed by those who have filed the plunder complaint.

"'Yung element kasi ng plunder you have to have personal gain. So what did I, Secretary Abad, or Secretary Alcala gain?" Aquino said in an interview with media.

Though he recognizes that filing complaints against him is expected in a democracy, he said the claim that he was allegedly involved in anomalies was "very extreme."

"Besides yung teknikal na aspect dito, siguro part of the democratic process, ay ipakita yung talagang napaka-extreme ng kanilang pananaw,"

Last January, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) filed a plunder complaint against Aquino, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles for the disbursement of the P125-million Malampaya funds to bogus foundations.

The militant farmers' group said Aquino had no basis for directing funds to projects not related to energy.

Last year, the same group also filed a plunder complaint against Aquino, Abad, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala and six others for their alleged involvement in another controversy, the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

The KMP urged Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate Aquino for purposes of impeachment based on the so-called Doctrine of Qualified Political Agency, which states that "acts committed by the department secretaries under the executive department are deemed acts of the President."

At a televised press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma said Aquino is immune from lawsuit while in office.

He added that Abad and Alcala "are capable of answering the allegations against them."