But while the chalice of opportunity runneth over for the PM, it's been a bitter brew for deposed Social Security CEO Narda Garcia to swallow. As we reported on Friday, her attorney Elson Kaseke has filed an application for judicial review in the Supreme Court. He is asking the court to throw out the report of Senator Godwin Hulse's Special Select Committee. It is her right under the law to make that challenge, but today the PM said, after all that they've been through, it's just not right.
Jules Vasquez,
Would it have been your hope that Narda Garcia would have simply walked away, or an attorney with close association to her has been appointed the Chair, one would have thought that would be the staging ground for a golden handshake and the matter to be effectively settled. Are you surprised that it is entering an adversarial legal situation?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"I am disappointed it is going that way because I would have thought that, as I understand the Social Security Board did make an offer which was received and accepted. I am surprised that it is going further, yeah."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you scandalized by the decision of the former Parliamentary Counsel to have taken up as her defense attorney, as her attorney?
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Yes it looks bad, quite frankly."
Jules Vasquez,
A man who is on retainer to your government as well.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"Yeah and in fact that is a matter that is presently being looked into."
Today Kaseke confirmed that he is Narda Garcia's attorney of record and will be joined by other attorneys when the case commences.
As for acting as both parliamentary counsel to the senate Special Select Committee and now defense attorney for the woman who wants to see the committee's report thrown out, Kaseke says he did indeed give the committee advice, but they ignored it, so he is under no obligation to them. And he says the advice that he gave now forms the cornerstone for Garcia's action: that she should have gotten a chance to see the special audit, and if she did not, it would be a denial of her right to natural justice.
Kaseke also confirmed that there are not one, but two hefty volumes accompanying the application which contain, among many other things, evidence which shows that government directed Social Security Board to enter into securitization transactions. No date has been set for that hearing.
