Evidence needed for bribery probe – DOJ

MANILA, Philippines — Only if and when it gets formal correspondence or evidence from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III or from others concerned will the Department of Justice (DOJ) pursue his call for an investigation on allegations of bribery in the signature campaign to amend the 1987 Constitution.

In an interview yesterday over PTV, DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said any action that the department would take regarding the matter would be “premature” without evidence or formal complaint to back the allegation.

The People’s Initiative for Reform Modernization and Action or PIRMA is spearheading the signature campaign.

“Officially, we haven’t received any report or evidence in relation to that issue. We are just waiting for any formal letter or correspondence from the good senator as well as other local governments who may want to share a little bit of their experience, give their statements and possibly some evidence that can be used as basis for an investigation to proceed,” Clavano said.

Pimentel earlier said the National Bureau of Investigation, which is under the DOJ, should investigate the allegations along with other concerned government agencies.

Specifically, he was referring to allegations that a group advocating Charter change through people’s initiative is paying P100 to every individual who signs a document indicating he or she is in favor of amending the Constitution.

Opposition lawmakers Edcel Lagman and Raoul Manuel said tricking people into signing documents to make it appear there is a clamor for Charter change is tantamount to bribery.