Duterte hits admin, groups' silence on allegations made by Zaldy Co's self-confessed bagmen
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)
Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, March 5, hit the "silence" of some groups on allegations made by self-confessed security personnel of former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co.
"Sadyang nakakabingi ang katahimikan ng mga civil society groups na dati ay mabilis maglabas ng pahayag, ng mga religious leaders na handang manindigan sa usapin ng moralidad, at ng mga mambabatas na nagsasabing sila ay para sa transparency at accountability (The silence of civil society groups that were once quick to issue statements, of religious leaders ready to take a stand on morality, and of lawmakers who claim to champion transparency and accountability is really deafening)," Duterte said in a statement.
Duterte said it appeared that the administration also has no interest and immediate plan to investigate the allegations made by 18 self-confessed aides of Co, especially about the billions-worth of bribe regarding the probe on flood control project anomalies, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the impeachment complaint against her.
The Vice President reiterated her admiration for the supposed courage of these 18 individuals, many of them are supposed former Marines, for admitting in the public they were bagmen.
"Hindi dapat selective ang galit sa isyu ng katiwalian. Hindi maaaring pumili kung sino lamang ang iimbestigahan (Our indignation against corruption must not be selective. We cannot choose who to investigate and who to spare)," Duterte said.
She also said we must not remain silent if those involved are those in power.
"Ang pera ng bayan ay hindi dapat inilalagay sa maleta, at ang katotohanan ay hindi dapat inilalagay sa katahimikan (People's money should be put to the treasury and not in suitcases, and the truth must never be buried in silence)," she added.