Press Release
November 7, 2007

SEN. GORDON'S STATEMENT ON KAMPI'S ADMISSION TO DISTRIBUTING CASH GIFTS IN MALACANANG

Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa of the House of Representatives and regional head of Kampi made a recent admission to distributing cash gifts to various local government officials during a gathering at Malacanang. This admission, for whatever reason, puts to light the basest manifestation of our transactional political culture and should challenge our people to rise up to make political parties more accountable for their actions.

We can't say that what had transpired in Malacanang was bribery or an attempt to secure some kind of action in return for a generous sum of money. However, millions of pesos changed hands under circumstances where the resident of Malacanang was being assailed by scandals and an impeachment complaint had just been filed. It is hard to believe that money, from 20,000 pesos to 500,000 pesos were being distributed without anyone telling anyone what it was for and where it had come from. It is even harder to believe that the President, who we assume is also the leader of Kampi, did not know that money was being distributed like rain or sunshine.

Kampi and other political organizations should be compelled by a law to divulge the sources of their funds and show how the manner in which these funds are disposed.

Just as we are fully intent on pushing for a law that will stop party switching and regulate the practice of mainstream politics, the bigger aspect and the wider view of this action is to craft a body of laws that will make political parties more accountable for their actions and win for everyone a chance to sow the seeds of transforming our rotting political culture.

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