A group of lawyers filed charges against Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and 14 others before the Ombudsman in connection with the controversial "cash gifts" allegedly given to congressmen and local government officials after attending meetings in Malacañang on October 11.

Reports said that Philippine Trial Lawyers Association filed charges against Puno, six governors, six congressmen, an undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and an official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The respondents face charges of bribery, violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Omnibus Election Code.

Lawyer Mariano Santiago, the group's spokesman, said he and the others want the Ombudsman to investigate the allegations of bribery based on the statements of the officials themselves.

Santiago said the Ombudsman, not the Senate, has the jurisdiction to investigate the allegations. The Senate has scheduled its own investigation into the controversy.

The governors who were named respondents in the case were Loreto Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Joel Reyes of Palawan, Joselito Mendoza of Bulacan, Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga and Emilia Macias of Negros Oriental.

The congressmen charged were Cebu City 2nd District Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, La Union 2nd District Rep. Tomas Dumpit Jr., Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Villarosa and Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan.

DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero and former Agusan del Sur governor Adolph Edward Plaza, PAGCOR vice-president and head of PAGCOR's People's Government Mobile Action Department, were also named respondents.

Abante when reached for comment on the charges filed by the lawyer's groups denied any wrongdoing.

"I did not commit any crime. I still maintain there is nothing wrong in money and it has been made clear it came from party funds. If ombudsman has the right to investigate, I will face it," said the Manila solon.

Domogan for his part said: "Why should we worry? We have done nothing wrong. We will answer accusations.

Davao City 1st district Rep. Prospero Nograles who was not part of those charged said: "The Ombudsman is proper forum to answer allegations, not trial by publicity."
President Arroyo had earlier ordered the Ombudsman to investigate the allegations.

SENATE PROBE STARTS TODAY

The filing of the charges took place as the Senate prepared for its investigation Today into the alleged bribery of governors and congressmen in Malacañang last month.

The Senate blue-ribbon and local government committees initiated the joint inquiry after Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a resolution seeking an investigation on the incident.

The hearing is set to start at 9 a.m.

Panlilio and Mendoza were the first to admit that they received P500,000 each from an unidentified Malacañang staff member after a meeting of governors with President Arroyo on October 11. They said the money was placed in paper bags and handed to them inside the palace compound after a governor's league meeting.

Iloilo Vice-Gov. Rolex Suplico said administration congressmen were allegedly given envelopes full of money amounting from P200,000 to P500,000 in exchange for support for the allegedly Malacañang-backed impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo, which was filed by lawyer Roberto Pulido.

Suplico, a former congressman, added that the administration lawmakers were also promised millions worth of pork barrel funds to support the impeachment complaint.

Quezon 4th District Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III said some of his colleagues in the Liberal Party also received cash gifts during the October 11 meeting.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines has admitted funding the cash gifts to governors while Villarosa said Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI), Mrs. Arroyo's political party, provided the funds to congressmen.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate blue-ribbon committee, earlier said Puno and officials of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) were being eyed to attend the probe.

Sen. Ana Consuelo Madrigal also wants to summon Malacañang executive Remedios Poblador and Villarosa. She said Poblador and Villarosa should explain their role as in the distribution of the cash payoffs.

MENDOZA WILL NOT
ATTEND SENATE HEARING

Mendoza said yesterday he will not be able to attend today's Senate hearing.

Mendoza said that he needs to attend an education summit in his province. He said the summit scheduled earlier.

"Actually gustong-gusto ko talagang pumunta bukas and I'm giving my heart na pupunta talaga ako. But sad to say nasabay talaga sa education summit ng lalawigan na kailangang-kailangan nandoon ako," said the Bulacan governor.

(I really wanted to go and I'm giving my heart that I was really going. But sad to say it [Senate hearing] coincided with an education summit of my province where I'm really needed.)

Mendoza however said that he stands by the earlier statements he made on the P500,000 in cash that was given to him after a governors' association meeting in Malacañang on October 11.

"Pupunta tayo sa susunod na imbitasyon. I assure you, kung ano ang sinabi ko papangatawanan ko na iyon talaga ang totoo at iyon talaga ang nakita ko (I will attend upon the next invitation. I assure you I stand by what I said before that it was true and it's what I really saw)," said Mendoza.

He also said that he continues to support Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio and the latter's statements also on the "cash gifts."

Mendoza also revealed that the money he received was placed in a bank for safekeeping.

He said he remains a member of administration party KAMPI. He will just wait if the political party will remove him from its membership rolls but, he said, he will not resign voluntarily.

Mendoza was interviewed at the Senate Tuesday after he attended a hearing of the Senate committees on local governments and public order and illegal drugs.

With Mendoza's absence, Panlilio will be the main resource person in Wednesday's inaugural Senate hearing.