MANILA — Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., on Saturday warned the public against immediately believing any report that a politician is corrupt unless supported by strong evidence.
“It is easy to make a list but proving a person included in the list is one of the beneficiaries is another thing,” Pimentel told reporters at the weekly forum, Kapihan sa Annabel’s in Quezon City.
He said the three list which came from different persons might be another squid tactics to muddle the issue and make it complicated to anyone which is real ad not.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday had submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee the signed list of lawmakers alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles implicated in the Philippines’ biggest corruption scandal in recent history.
De Lima told committee chairman Sen. TG Guingona that she will submit the accompanying affidavit of Napoles and asked for a one-week extension or until May 22.
Pimentel said the public should not be carried by reports that have no basis at all or supporting documents to prove the allegations.
“Kawawa naman ang mga nasa listahan na hindi naman nailalabas ang mga supporting documents na talagang nagpapatunay na sila ay nagkasala,” Pimentel explained.
The veteran lawmaker clarified that he is not protecting any person including his son, Sen. Koko Pimentel but just warning the public not to believe if there are no supporting documents.
“What I am trying to drive at is prosecute and jail those who have violated the law whoever they are but spare those innocent,” Pimentel pointed out saying that submit all evidences if there is any to the Office of the Ombudsman and let them analyze if there is a prima facie evidence.