Salonga supports PCGG abolition

MANILA, Philippines – Former Senate president Jovito Salonga, the first chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), said the agency tasked to go after the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses should be abolished.

In an interview with The STAR at the office of Kilosbayan, an organization he founded, Salonga said the PCGG deserved to face calls by many senators for its abolition with the current leadership it has.

“The PCGG led by Camilo Sabio with a certain (Commissioner) Ricky Abcede does not fit into my requirements for a good, efficient and impartial PCGG,” Salonga said of the PCGG’s recent performance with regard to the recovery of the ill-gotten Marcos wealth.

“If this is the kind of PCGG, they deserve to be abolished,” he added.

The PCGG incurred the ire of Salonga after Sabio said he was amenable to enter into a compromise agreement with Marcos crony, former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. on the coco levy fund cases.

Abcede also incurred the wrath of Salonga after he was reported to be among the well-wishers of former First Lady Imelda Marcos in a past birthday party where he was said to have danced with the widow of the deposed president.

Sabio declined to comment on Salonga’s statement.