MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis Escudero on Monday downplayed former Armed Forces and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes' filing of charges against Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.
Escudero, in a press statement, described Reyes’ complaint as “squid tactic” meant to avoid allegations made by his former subordinate that he enriched himself while in office.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said Reyes should face the music instead of filing graft charges against Estrada and retired Lieutenant Colonel George Rabusa.
"These charges are simply knee-jerk reactions to the charges thrown into the former secretary's way. This is retaliatory in nature; it is a futile attempt to put up a smoke screen between him and the grave issues surrounding his stint at the AFP," he added.
Reyes has has filed graft charges against his Rabusa and Estrada before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The former Armed Forces chief accused Rabusa and Estrada of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code for allegedly offering false testimony against him during the Senate hearing last week.
Escudero said Reyes should "confront and address the allegations against him squarely."
"It is impossible to forget if someone handed you P50 million unless of course a lot of people gave him P50 million or more, too," the senator added.
He also dared all former chiefs of staff to come out to either deny or admit the existence of “pabaon” tradition during their time.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
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