LP dismisses alleged Napoles-Drilon ties as diversion

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition Liberal Party on Wednesday assailed allegations that alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janel Lim Napoles contributed money to the campaign fund of Sen. Franklin Drilon in 2010, saying this is part of the administration's diversionary tactics.

The Liberal Party said that administration seemed to be in the habit of floating issues against opposition personalities whenever it is mired in controversies.

"This administration has a pattern when cornered: It engages in diversion and changes the conversation," the Liberal Party said in a statement.

READ: Palace hands off on Napoles’ allegations vs Franklin Drilon

The erstwhile ruling party said that instead of explaining issues it was facing the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte would besmirch its critics and anyone who dared oppose its policies and actions.

LP's statement was largely echoed by Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino who tied the allegations against his party-mate Drilon to the recent move of the minority caucus to have the multibillion Navy frigate acquisition contract investigated for alleged interference by the Palace.

"If you look at the timing, this was after the (Senate) minority filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the Navy frigate issue," Aquino said.

Duterte, before departing for New Delhi for the ASEAN-India summit, denied that he was involved in the allegations by Napoles against Drilon, the Senate's minority leader.

The president again offered to step down if Drilon would be able to bring the person whom the chief executive supposedly ordered to go after the minority lawmaker.

Drilon, in a statement, thanked the president for considering the minority leader a friend and stressed that he had never tagged Duterte in the issues hounding him.

The Senate minority leader denied receiving funds from Napoles, who made the accusation in an interview with Duterte supporter Erwin Tulfo on state-run PTV-4 on Monday.

Previous diversions

The Liberal Party said that the pattern of going after opposition figures when the administration was facing controversies could be seen in the incarceration of Sen. Leila De Lima on drug-related charges, the cry of LP destabilization at the height of the furor over the death of a teenager in the hands of Caloocan police and the emergence of supposed offshore accounts Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV when Paolo Duterte was accused of involvement in drug smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.

The party said that instead of diverting the public's attention the administration should focus on the rising prices of goods and services, the allegations of ceding of territories in Scarborough, the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise to China and the supposed interference of Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go in the Navy frigate program that led to the removal of Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado.

"All I can say is that there seems to be a pattern here. Of course, all these allegations need to be addressed. We're accountable to the people, but if we look at it, let's not lose track of the other probes and issues," Aquino said.