MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 5, 2013) – Mass organization Anakbayan has criticized the provision of P140 million in funds in the care of party-list Representative Kaka Bag-ao, saying this is no different from the campaign funds they received from the Aquinos.
“True to their nature as Noynoy Aquino’s attack dog in the party-list arena, Akbayan has again received millions from the Aquinos to ensure their survival in the elections,” Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
He said that in the 2010 elections, the Aquinos and other close associates of the presidential family provided a total of P140 million in support of Akbayan’s campaign.
Crisostomo said the P140 million received by Bag-ao last December was “nothing but political patronage, pure and simple,” considering that the Akbayan solon was no longer eligible to be appointed as “caretaker” of the congressional district of Dinagat Island after its previous congressman was removed.
Citing Section 15 of Republic Act 7941, or the Party-list Law, Crisostomo said Bag-ao forfeited her seat as a nominee of Akbayan when she submitted her candidacy for the sole congressional district of the Dinagat Island last year. Hence, she was ineligible for appointment as “caretaker congresswoman.”
“It is enraging. Akbayan is shameless when it comes to corruption,” Crisostomo said.
Anakbayan also condemned the appointment of another Akbayan official in the Aquino government, calling it “the latest political dynasty.”
Tomasito Villarin was recently appointed to replace another Akbayan official as Undersecretary in the Office of the Presidential Advisor for Political Affairs, an office headed by former Akbayan president Ronald Llamas. Barry Gutierrez, the previous occupant of the seat, resigned to run as the 2nd nominee of Akbayan in the 2013 elections.
“It’s like a crown being passed around,” Crisostomo said.
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