Mike A lawyers to Senate: Stop jueteng inquiry

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s counsel appealed yesterday to the Senate to end its jueteng inquiry on grounds that Sen. Panfilo Lacson concocted the whole issue to besmirch the First Family’s name.

In a statement, lawyer Jesus Santos said it would be better for the opposition to focus on the problems besetting the nation like rising world oil prices and the need to attract more investors and generate jobs for the people.

Santos said opposition efforts to unseat President Arroyo have had an adverse effect on the country, heightening uncertainty and causing divisiveness among the people.

"Since the so-called Jose Pidal exposé of Mr. Lacson, he was bent on destroying the reputation of the First Gentleman," he said. "Just like in the past, this jueteng probe being pushed by the opposition has been fabricated by Mr. Lacson."

Santos said Abraham Riva, a witness whom Lacson had passed on to Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz, had already confessed that the opposition coerced him to link Mr. Arroyo to jueteng.

"Since Riva suffered an attack of conscience and has come clean, the opposition is rushing to present a new graduate of its lying and perjuring academy so they can renew their attack on the First Family," he said.

Santos said an exposé by pro-administration lawmakers, "A Series of Unfortunate Events Involving Senator Panfilo Lacson," clearly showed the senator’s role in the destabilization campaign against the Arroyo administration.

The lawmakers said Lacson’s involvement in the destabilization campaign stretches back almost two years, when he kicked off the Arroyo-bashing with his Jose Pidal exposé before the Senate where he first trotted out witness Segundo Tabayoyong, retired National Bureau of Investigation Questioned Documents Division chief, he added.

Santos said the Senate Blue Ribbon committee eventually closed its Jose Pidal probe on Lacson’s privilege speech after the senator failed to present acceptable testimony to buttress his allegations that the First Gentleman owned secret bank accounts.

He added Lacson’s hand was also present in the latest opposition exposé since the subject matter of the press briefing "was lifted, virtually chapter and verse, from Senator Lacson’s ‘Be Not Afraid’ speech at the Manila Hotel last June 26."