MANILA, Philippines鈥揝enators strongly denied on Monday the alleged P100 million bribe offer by Malacanang to defy the Supreme Court鈥檚 temporary restraining order 聽on the opening the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
鈥淲ell that鈥檚 not true at all. It鈥檚 pure rubbish,鈥� Senator Panfilo Lacson said of the allegation by Corona鈥檚 lawyers.
鈥淚n my humble opinion, that鈥檚 contemptuous,鈥欌�� he said, adding that the latest issue might be a way to preempt the senators who will be discussing the TRO in a caucus and vote on whether or not to follow the TRO.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 contemptuous because it will affect the decision of some if not most of the senators. I won鈥檛 be affected, I鈥檓 sure about myself, hindi ako kasama kung totoo mang may offer na ganoon (I鈥檝e not been a party to this if it鈥檚 true there was an offer). But I doubt it very much and I don鈥檛 believe there is such an offer,鈥� Lacson said.
He also said such allegation was offensive to the senators, who sit as judges in the impeachment trial.
鈥淧ara bang we鈥檙e a bunch of people for sale, na may ida-dangle na P100 million at gawa noon magpapalit ang aming position whether or not i-defy ang TRO (It鈥檚 as if we鈥檙e a bunch of people for sale, who would be offered P100 million just to change our position),鈥� he pointed out.
Lacson said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, should ask the defense team to reveal their source and cite the team鈥檚 members for contempt if necessary.
鈥淲e can force them under pain of being cited for contempt. That鈥檚 really contemptuous sa impeachment court to say the least,鈥� the senator added.
Senate Pro-Tempore Jose 鈥淛inggoy鈥� Estrada said the defense team should identify the senators who had been approached by Malacanang lest all senators would be suspect.
He said in an interview over television that he was hurt by the allegation of the defense team because every senator鈥檚 credibility and integrity might be questionable now. 鈥淜aya siguro karapat-dapat lang na banggitin ng defense panel kung sinu sino ang mga senador na gustong i-bribe ng Malacanang (That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 but proper for the defense panel to name who among the senator-judges Malacanang wants to bribe).鈥欌��
Senator Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero, a known ally of the Aquino administration, also denied the allegation.
鈥淚 can only speak for myself, it鈥檚 not true,鈥� Escudero said in a text message to reporters.
Escudero said he spoke with Executive Secretary Paquito 鈥淛ojo鈥� Ochoa, who allegedly made the offer to the senators, in two occasions this week but no offer was made to him.
鈥淣o such offer was made. We respect each other and that would be out of character for Jojo to do that,鈥� he said. Escudero and Ochoa have been good friends even before the latter assumed office in government.
Besides, the senator said, he already made known his position last Friday that while he does not agree with the SC decision, the Senate should heed and respect it.
鈥淭he Senate should defend the subpoena we issued before the Supreme Court but we should heed and respect it and not even put it to a vote,鈥� Escudero added.