COPA to reveal another ‘scam’ bombshell

Pastor "Boy" Saycon of the Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA) said yesterday his group is poised to set off another bombshell against corruption by certain presidential aides akin to the multimillion-peso Public Estates Authority (PEA) mess.

Saycon clarified that the irregularity did not involve President Arroyo, and was not meant to destabilize her administration.

The COPA leader refused to name names, but added that the culprits were some of Mrs. Arroyo’s "most trusted men."

He said the anomaly was similar to the kickbacks and over-pricing in the construction of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard at the reclamation site in Pasay and Parañaque City that triggered the ouster PEA directors and other ranking officials.

Saycon said they would presently submit to Malacañang pieces of evidence for evaluation by the President before the anomaly is fully publicized.

Reacting on Mrs. Arroyo’s announcement that she would not seek another term in next year’s elections, Saycon said she "went back to the ideals of EDSA 2," that installed her to the presidency.

Saycon added that with partisan politics now out of the way, he expects Mrs. Arroyo to make "politically-willed and inspired decision, without fear or favor to anyone."

COPA figured prominently in the January 2002 military-backed popular revolt that unseated then President Joseph Estrada amid charges of massive corruption.

However, COPA later became an outspoken critic of Mrs. Arroyo who hit back and branded Saycon as a "termite."– Nikko Dizon