Angry Pichay turns tables on accusers

Suspected members of the so-called "Gang of 5" in the House of Representatives turned the tables yesterday on two leaders of the chamber, accusing them of mounting a campaign to discredit them.

In Resolution 179, Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. (Lakas, Surigao del Sur), who is supposed to be the leader of the group, named Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Francis Joseph Escudero as the source of newspaper and television news reports about their alleged extortion activities.

Pichay asked the committee on ethics to investigate the two and impose on them the appropriate sanctions.

Reached for comment on the Surigao solon’s accusation, Gonzales said: "We won’t dignify it. It is just intended to divert attention away from the reports about the Gang of 5 and its alleged extortion rampage."

Gonzales said they would await the result of an inquiry by a task force formed by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. to look into the supposed questionable activities in the group.

A separate resolution was filed by Rep. Rolex Suplico (LDP, Iloilo), another suspected member of the Gang of 5.

In Resolution 177, Suplico said he is submitting himself to an investigation by the ethics committee to prove that he is not engaged in extortion and that he has nothing to hide.

Pichay said he, Suplico and Representatives Jacinto Paras (Lakas, Negros Oriental) Eduardo Veloso (NPC-Lakas, Leyte) and Aniceto Saludo (Lakas, Southern Leyte) have been named in various news reports as members of the so-called Gang of 5.

He said they have also been linked to an alleged P4-million payoff by telecommunications giants Globe and Smart.

Last week, the committee on transportation and communications chaired by Paras inquired into the plan of Globe and Smart to reduce the number of free text messages they give their subscribers.

Pichay said the news reports about their supposed extortion activities "appear to be a smear campaign or demolition job" launched against them by Gonzales and Escudero.

He added that because of the reports, all future House inquiries "will be met with suspicion and apprehension."

Suplico also referred to the alleged Globe and Smart payoff.

He said the report "besmirched and tarnished the reputation not only of Hon. Suplico but the entire House of Representatives as well, an institution which is the bulwark of democracy in this country."

For his part, Veloso issued a statement denying he received any money from the cellular phone companies.

He also denied he is a member of a group of congressmen extorting money from businessmen, private companies and corrupt public officials.

He described the reports as "malicious and unsubstantiated."

Paras and Saludo have made similar denials.