KIKO TO DAR SECRETARY - INHIBIT SELF FROM SONS' CASE

Independent Senator Kiko Pangilinan urged Sec. Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agararian Reform not to intervene in the controversy involving his two sons and a certain businessman from Pampanga and his children. The Senator is reacting to statements of Secretary Pangandaman defending his two sons and several bodyguards who are being accused of assaulting and beating up Mr. Delfin Dela Paz and his 14 year old son, Bino in a golf club in Antipolo.

A Cabinet Secretary of the Arroyo government speaking on behalf of those accused even if they are his children can duly influence the course of the ongoing investigation. "In the interest of a having an impartial investigation on the incident, I advise Sec. Pangandaman to refrain from issuing statements defending his sons. Let the accused, one of which is a mayor of Masiu, Lanao del Sur, defend themselves", Kiko said.

The Senator also laments that the simple misunderstanding resulted to a brawl causing serious physical injuries to Mr. dela Paz and his 14 year old son. Kiko is particularly enraged with the fact that even a minor wasn't spared even as he was already crying and pleading for them to stop.

Secretary Pangandaman is an alter ego of the President and therefore any move he makes to intercede can be suspected as exerting undue pressure to whitewash the case. Public Officials are men and women of probity and therefore should exercise utmost restraint even in the face of provocation. Abusive public officials, especially those with bodyguards cannot just be allowed to roam in public brandishing their firearms and using it to intimidate ordinary citizens.

A possible whitewashing of the case will just reinforce the public's perception that the influential and powerful in this country are indeed untouchables. "Let the rule of law prevail and punish swiftly those responsible for the shameful act." Kiko ended.