CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Noting that its farmer-members comprise the bulk of victims of the P10-billion pork barrel scam, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) urged yesterday the formation of an “independent body” to probe even Janet Lim-Napoles’ high-level protectors in government.
“An independent probe body should fear nothing even when evidences lead to Malacanang,” said KMP Secretary General Antonio Flores.
He said that “as the main victims of the pork barrel scam, the Filipino farmers have the right to demand a truly independent probe on the P10-billion pork barrel scam.”
The same call was issued earlier by the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, San Beda College Graduate School, the Former Senior Government Officials, and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Flores said that “given the magnitude of the pork barrel scam, we believe that Napoles enjoys the protection of top government officials.”
“An independent probe should dig deeper to pin down Napoles and unmask the mastermind and protector that fuels her audacity to raid government coffers,” he said.
The KMP said “an independent body should be composed of individuals with known probity and integrity and not by Malacanang-appointees who will surely bend over to Palace whip.”
“Farmer-victims whose names were used by Napoles and her co-plunderers will not hesitate to testify before a credible independent body. On the contrary, they will surely think twice if the probers cannot be trusted,” Flores said.
Flores recalled reports said that P900 million Malampaya funds were ‘downloaded’ in cahoots with Department of Agrarian Reform officials. The Department of Agriculture also admitted that P83.2 million was allotted to Kaupdanan para sa Mangunguma Foundation, whose president is John Raymond de Asis, the driver-bodyguard of Napoles, he noted.
“Napoles also got hold of letters each requesting P5 million from the agriculture department supposedly from 44 mayors,” he also noted.
