Kinontra kahapon ng isang dating Justice Secretary at ngayon ay partylist lawmaker ang panukalang VIP police protection para kay Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, sinabing kung hindi nito kaya ang panganib na kaakibat ng pagsisilbi sa bayan ay mainam na magbitiw na lang ito sa tungkulin.

Sinabi ni 1-BAP Party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, na Justice Secretary sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos, na hindi kuwalipikado si Mendoza para sa “fully armed, 24-hour VIP police protection,” gaya ng iminungkahi ni Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

“Only the President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice should be entitled to VIP security and nobody else,” sinabi ni Bello sa isang panayam. “If you (Mendoza) cannot hazard the risk that goes with public service then leave. Commissioner Mendoza should consider this option.”

Subalit dumagdag si NARS Party-list Rep. Leah Paquiz sa mga mambabatas na nagpahayag ng suporta sa panukala ni Santiago, kabilang sina Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, chairman ng House Committee on Public Accountability and Good Government; at AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe.

Metro

MANIBELA magkakasa ng libreng sakay sa Pasko at Bagong Taon

“She must be given police protection to ensure her security,” sabi ni Paquiz.

Samantala, nagpahayag naman ng kahandaan sina Deputy Majority Leader at Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, Deputy Minority Leader at YACAP Party-list Rep. Carol Lopez, at Iloilo Rep. Jerry Trenas na isulong ang nasabing panukala kung magsasagawa ang Malacañang, Senado at pulisya ng “factual” assessment sa sitwasyon ng seguridad ni Mendoza.