Thursday, September 27, 2012

Pnoy risks impeachment over ODA payback


From: inquirer.net

President Aquino faces impeachment if he allows the payment of $500 million worth of official development assistance (ODA) to China due to the halted construction of the North Rail project.

In a press forum, lawyer Harry Roque said the payment would be a violation of the anti-graft law since the Supreme Court had issued a decision stating the deal with Chinese contractor CNMEG for the project was not an executive agreement and should have gone through bidding.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said they would support an impeachment  complaint if Aquino allows the payment to push through.

Roque said it was former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who had said that the contract with CNMEG need not go through bidding since it was an executive agreement.

 “Why would Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima pay for a contract which violated laws and is considered null and void? [Payment] would be a violation of the anti-graft law,” said Roque. ###

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