Philippine President Steers Clear Of Commenting On Former President's
Phone-Bugging Incident
May 6, 2007 9:14 a.m. EST
Komfie Manalo - AHN Correspondent
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Philippine Presidential Palace is
steering clear of the topic of phone bugging incident at the home of
former president Corazon Aquino, saying it will not comment on
something that is being investigated.
But Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye has instructed authorities to
conduct the appropriate investigation.
Bunye refused to comment when asked if the bugging device found on
Aquino's phone line was part of a government operation against the
former president, who had taken the side of the opposition after she
called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign over
allegations of fraud in the 2004 polls.
He told reporters, "It's very difficult to speculate on speculations
or we will have an endless cycle of rumors, and that is the least we
need at this time, so we prefer not to make any comment. If there is
such an incident, then it should be investigated by authorities."
Bunye was pressed anew for his assurance that Malaca?ang had nothing
to do with the bugging of Aquino's phone lines. But he would not
commit to answer directly, saying, "If we respond to that, we might
be validating or confirming something which did not happen at all, so
I would prefer that this be investigated if there is such an incident
and the results of the investigation be made public."
The Palace statement was issued a day after a bugging device was
discovered in a phone box attached to a line connected to Mrs.
Aquino's Quezon City residence.
On Wednesday, Aquino expressed "deepest concern" over the abduction
of Jonas Joseph Burgos, the son of the late newspaper publisher Joe Burgos.
Aquino appealed to the "highest authorities of the land" to send a
signal to authorities to surface Jonas Burgos, adding that Jonas must
be allowed to defend himself in court if "any organs of the state"
had a case against him.
Two weeks ago, the former leader's son, Tarlac Representative Benigno
"Noynoy" Aquino III, claimed that he and fellow opposition senatorial
candidate Alan Peter Cayetano have been targets of Malacanang's
special operations to keep them from being elected.
He said he learned about the plot from a religious leader and a
respected business figure close to Arroyo.
But the younger Aquino said his mother could be the real target of
the Palace's dirty tricks.
"The reason behind this is that they believe if they managed to take
me out, they take out not only me but also my mother as part of the
political landscape," he said. "Sometimes I think it is more my
mother they are targeting than myself."
Following the call by his mother for the president to resign, Aquino
III, who is now seeking a senatorial seat, took a lead role in the
failed impeachment proceedings against Arroyo.
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Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:28 CST