Philippine gov't asset sale will not finance 2010 elections

The Philippine government said Tuesday that it is "unfair" for some sectors to accuse the government of plotting to conduct a midnight sale of public assets to fund the ruling party's campaign for next year's national elections.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said that the privatization of state-owned properties is in line with the government's plan to raise revenues.

"We all know that privatization has been a long-running program of our administration," Fajardo said in a press briefing.

Fajardo was reacting to a statement made Monday by Philippine Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Pimentel who questioned the Philippine government's plan to sell its property in the Fujimi district in Tokyo which serves as the residence of the Philippine ambassador to Japan.

Pimentel also urged the government to stop selling more state-owned assets to allay apprehensions that such deals were part of the fund-raising campaign for administration candidates in next year's elections.

Fajardo said that if Pimentel has any evidence to back up his allegations, he should file the appropriate charges against concerned public officials before the proper court.

Asked to comment on calls to defer the sale of some state-owned properties, Fajardo said: "We may seriously take a look into it. Their reasons for opposing it may be valid."

Source: Xinhua