KIKO HITS LPP LEADERSHIP, RALLIES
BEHIND AMONG ED AND GOV. JONJON
"First time governors and local officials untainted by bad habits is the way to the future."

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today slammed the leadership of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) for "producing a bad script that reeks of a cover-up" on the latest bribe-giving scandal allegedly involving no less than the President herself.

"Obviously, it is scripted," said Pangilinan, referring to the revelation made yesterday by LPP spokesman Gov. Joel Reyes of Palawan and LPP secretary general Gov. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar regarding the source of the money amounting from P200,000 to P500,000 that was distributed to administration Congressmen and local government officials in a meeting with the President at Malacanang Palace.

More than two weeks after news of the alleged wholesale distribution of cash gifts broke out, Reyes and Evardone surfaced to claim that the money which was clandestinely stuffed into a paper bag was "capability Building Project" (CBP) funds from the LPP.

"Matapos ang ilang linggong pananahimik, bigla na lamang nilang naisipang aminin na sa kanila nga galing ang pera at hindi sa Malacanang? We cannot help but come to the conclusion that Evardone's and Reyes' motive behind their revelation is not exactly pure and for the truth. Hindi naman nila maitatangging sila ay mga kaalyado ng Pangulo," said Kiko.

Kiko, meanwhile, rallied behind Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio and Bulacan Gov. Joselito "Jonjon" Mendoza for their "courage to tell the truth and to expose corruption in government."

Both governors, said Kiko, deserve the support of the public, since they "have stuck their necks out, stood on a matter of principle and stood for the truth even if it is unpopular."

Kiko also appealed to other public servants to "start walking the talk by following the example of Among Ed and Gov. Jonjon" and "move away from politics as usual and move towards the politics of performance and principles."