Blunders in plunder case Senate didn’t recommend Barredo prosecution
MANILA, Philippines—Expressing surprise at Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s recommendation to file plunder charges in the Sandiganbayan against Jose Barredo along with the alleged key players in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said Barredo, who was a witness in the Senate inquiry, was not among those recommended to be prosecuted for the fund diversion.
“I’m surprised that he’s one of those recommended to be charged. He was one of our many witnesses, and he came forward voluntarily,” he said.
Barredo testified as a witness at the Senate agriculture committee’s inquiry into the alleged diversion of the fertilizer fund to the presidential campaign of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.
Credible witness
“He’s a credible witness. I’m sure he will try to help in the impeachment trial or in the trial of the fertilizer fund scam to come out with the truth,” said Magasaysay, who chaired the agriculture committee that inquired into the scam in 2005 and 2006.
Magsaysay came to the defense of Barredo as a group of witnesses to large-scale irregularities during the Arroyo administration cried foul after one of its members, Barredo, was included in the plunder case to be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
READ FULL STORY
0 comments:
Post a Comment