Gov: No need for separate probe into bribery attempt -- Erap
Balita News
said today there is still no need to conduct a separate investigation
into an apparent P3 million bribery attempt in Malacanang last Jan. 19.
The President expressed confidence that the National Bureau of
investigation can get to the bottom of the foiled payoff even as he
urged the public to wait for the NBI to wrap up its investigation.
"Bigyan muna natin ng pagkakataon ang NBI. Matapos ang kanilang
imbestigasyon, saka tayo mag isip kung ano ang susunod na gagawin. So
let's give them a chance, huwag nating pangunahan (Let's give the NBI
time to finish its investigation, instead of preempting their moves with
speculations)." he said.
Mr.Estrada also said while there may be truth to the suspicion raised
by Sen. Francisco Tatad that the entire incident was set up to embarass
the Palace, all speculations at this time are premature.
"There are possibilities like that one that can happen. Di natin
malaman kung planted yon.( We don't know if the bribe giver was planted)
to embarass the palace employees and officials, but we don't know yet.
We have to complete the report on the investigation," he said.
Last week, the NBI linked a certain Mary Ann Maslog to a P3 million
bribe attempt in Malacanang which was purportedly meant to seal a P200
million textbook contract.
The NBI has yet to identify, however, the recipient of the bribe
money.
Meanwhile, the President maintained that there is no more need to
further delineate the functions of the office of the Executive Secretary
(OES) and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
Last Wednesday, the President transferred to the PMS the function of
reviewing all government contracts involving at least P50 million, a
function previously held by the OES.
This led some sectors to speculate that the move indicated a loss of
confidence on the part of the President in Executive Secretary Ronaldo
Zamora
"Nilalagyan agad ng kahulugan, eh na wala naman dapat. Pagkat nakita
ko lang na our Executive Secretary is overloaded. (That move was given a
negative meaning when there should be none. I made the transfer because
our Executive Secretary is overloaded with work.)," Mr. Estrada said.
Besides, he added, the President has the power and authority to
reorganize all departments under his office.
"So as the need arises, I can change people in the department, I can
reorganize any department. I think I have the mandate to reorganize. So
it doesn't matter, yung mga maliliit na bagay na yon (those little
things) that's not an issue anymore. That is not a national issue that
you should worry about," he said. (PNA) DCT/OPS/rvs
PNA 02141658