KMU calls DILG Undersecretary Panadero as "Fantastic Man"

THE militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said that Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Austere Panadero deserves to be called "Fantastic Man" for spewing " fantastic stories" to save himself and his superiors against the controversial Malacanang pay-off to congressmen and local officials.



KMU Spokesperson Prestoline Suyat said that DILG Undersecretary Panadero's admission that he was present when paper bags were handed out in Malacanang last October 11 but denied any knowledge that the bags contained half or a million pesos of cash as "outrageous, ridiculous and unacceptable".



"Undersecretary Panadero must think of a better alibi to protect himself and his bosses. It was unthinkable that no Malacanang officials present during the pay-off will not ask why hundreds of paper bags were being distributed and what were its contents. Is he blind or looking at a different direction for he cannot stomach what's happening at that time? We firmly believe he's lying," Suyat said.



Suyat also urged Congress and Senate to conduct separate inquiries about the controversial incident and start with Panadero's admission and flimsy excuse.



"Is Undersecretary Panadero cooking a story that no one will taste or buy or he was being set up as a fall guy when situations will become too hot for Malacanang to handle? He should reveal what he knows before it's too late," Suyat said.



Bulacan Governor Joselito 'JonJon' Mendoza admitted this morning in a press conference that DILG Undersecretary Panadero was present when he and Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio both received P500,000 pesos in cash contained in paper bags during a breakfast meeting with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 11 at the Malacanang palace.