TACLOBAN CITY-Militant lawyer Argee Guevarra warned President Benigno Aquino that he may see himself at the New Bilibid Prison if he continues shielding his Cabinet members allegedly linked to the multi-billion pesos pork barrel scam which involved over a hundred lawmakers. “He (Pres. Aquino) is accountable, he is not above the law,” Guevarra said during an interview with DzRH on June 12. Guevarra, convenor of the Abolish Pork Movement, added that “if Aquino is serious with his campaign against corruption he should also pursue the allegations of corruption in some of his Cabinet members.” “Aquino’s ‘straight path’ will lead him straight to prison because of his negligence, “he said. Cabinet officials and allies of Aquino tagged in the pork barrel scam include Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Sec.Joel Villanueva, among others. Villanueva was charged for malversation of funds in connection of alleged misuse of his pork barrel when was still a congressman. According to Guevarra, Aquino’s job doesn’t only mean running after the opposition party members allegedly involved in the scam but also include making his allies be responsible on the corruption issues being raised. “Ikaw ay maaring humarap sa patong-patong na plunder cases matapos ang iyong termino (You may be facing multiple plunder cases after your term ends),” Guevarra said, also addressing Aquino’s culpability of his Cabinet members being linked to the scam. “If he is not going to correct this, I could see him being thrown into jail. And this would be another national embarrassment, from then President Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo to this new administration, we will see another president being arrested,” he added. (RONALD O.REYES)
