MANILA, Philippines – Nag-debate sina Senators Erwin Tulfo at Robin Padilla nitong Martes kaugnay ng pahayag ni Tulfo sa Blue Ribbon Committee hearing na “sometimes you have to bend the law to please the people” habang iniimbestigahan ang anomalya sa flood control projects.
Ayon kay Tulfo, dapat isauli ng mga sangkot ang nakaw na yaman bago payagang mapasailalim sa witness protection program.
Binigyang-diin niya ang sigaw ng mga raliyista noong Setyembre 21: “Tens and thousands of people went out last Sunday… I heard the cry of the people—‘Return our money.’ It’s clear.”
Mariing tumutol si Padilla, iginiit na hindi maaaring isantabi ang due process.
“The law is not a restraint on freedom. It is the basis of a civilized and orderly society… As lawmakers, we should be the first to defend the law,” aniya. Dagdag pa niya, kung pagbabasehan lang ang popular na sigaw, “If celebrities, for example, say, ‘let’s not pay taxes,’ should we allow it just because that’s their voice?”
Nilinaw naman ni Tulfo na ang contractors gaya nina Sarah at Pacifico Discaya ay dapat kusang isauli ang nakuhang yaman kung nais nilang maging state witnesses.
“If they are sincere… in good faith, they should return what they got,” wika niya. RNT
