Lawmakers in PACC list cry foul, deny accusations

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers publicly tagged by President Duterte in corruption and anomalous public works projects yesterday denied wrongdoing and vowed to submit themselves to any investigation to clear their names.

The House members included in the list submitted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to Malacañang all claimed having a clear conscience. They thanked the President for clarifying that the PACC report has no evidence so far.

In separate statements and interviews, Reps. Angelina Tan (Quezon), Deputy Speaker Henry Oaminal (Misamis Occidental), Paul Daza (Northern Samar), Geraldine Roman (Bataan), Alyssa Sheena Tan (Isabela), Eric Yap (ACT-CIS party-list), Alfred Vargas (Quezon City), Josephine Ramirez Sato (Occidental Mindoro) and former Ifugao congressman Teddy Baguilat debunked the allegations, which they described as “malicious, unfair and politically motivated.”

Tan, who chairs the House committee on health, denied any anomaly in the P800-million Gumaca bypass road project in her district that started in 2016 and has not been completed.

She blamed the delay of the completion of the project on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but explained that the delay may be justifiable and the uncompleted road project is already being used by motorists.

Oaminal decried the allegation against him involving his ownership of HSO Construction Corp.

“The construction firm was founded in 1988, long before I entered public service in 2007. When I became congressman, I sold all my shares. Upon verification, HSO does not have any projects in government agencies in Misamis Occidental, including DPWH,” he said.

“As the President mentioned, there is no hard evidence on the PACC report and a reading of the same is ‘not a condemnation or indictment.’ He said that it should also not be taken as gospel truth that any of those mentioned are involved in corruption,” Oaminal said. “I can categorically say that I am not involved in any anomalies. It saddens me that my name was included in the report. I welcome and support the conduct of any investigation to clear my name, as I fully support the President’s anti-graft campaign.”

Daza also denied the charge against him, which he believed stemmed from the “malicious and unfounded”complaint filed by his political rival.

“My inclusion in the report fed to the President is baseless and malicious. I deny in the strongest sense any attempt to besmirch my name. Records will show that it was my office that exposed former elected officials and contractors for abandoning projects because of my call for investigation,” he said.

Daza believed that these former officials and contractors were behind the insinuation against him supposedly in retaliation for their blacklisting.

“I reiterate my commitment for transparency and governance and support the President’s drive to curb corruption in government. I will support any investigation and look forward to the chance to clear our good name,” he said.

Yap, chairman of the House appropriations committee, denied involvement in corruption in the DPWH and turned the tables on PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica, who prepared the report.

“The PACC did not even bother to invite me to answer the allegation. This is clearly a witch-hunting that could victimize more congressmen. I hope they don’t attack the House as an institution,” Yap said at a press conference broadcast live on his Facebook page.

He questioned the agenda of Belgica in releasing the report, which came after the latter was slapped with the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman involving Duty Free Philippines Corp. workers last October.

“I will file a House resolution to investigate this matter in January,” Yap said.

Vargas expressed confidence that he would be cleared of corruption, saying “mere allegation is not proof.”

“I will not allow my political detractors, who misinformed the PACC, to tarnish my name and reputation,” he said.

Sato said the accusation hurled against her has no basis and challenged Belgica to prove her alleged involvement in anomalies in the DPWH.

Roman thanked the President for clarifying that there is no evidence in the allegations.

“Public service has never been a money-making venture for me or my family, whose good name is highly esteemed in Bataan. I am comforted by the fact that the President clarified that there is no verified information in this regard. I am open to any investigation to establish the truth on this matter and I am sure that my honor will be vindicated. My conscience is clear,” Roman stressed.

Tan likewise belied the allegation that she owns construction companies that have been awarded projects in the fourth district of Isabela.

“There is absolutely no truth in the allegation by the PACC that I own construction companies that have been awarded projects in my district. I have never owned any construction company. I do not have any shares in any construction company. This truth can easily be verified by the PACC by checking and validating with the government agencies that they have access to,” she said.

“I will cooperate and provide any information to the PACC to help them with any investigation. The truth will prevail,” Tan added.

Baguilat also denied any involvement in anomalous projects by the DPWH.

“If I accepted kickbacks when I was a congressman, I would not be having a hard time selling pinunog, honey and coffee for Cordillera producers,” he said.

‘Presumption of innocence’

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the congressmen implicated in the PACC graft list should be accorded due process and presumption of innocence.

“We agree with the President that the public officials linked to corruption enjoy the presumption of innocence until their conviction or acquittal, whatever the case may be,” he said in a statement.

Velasco believes that the congressmen and DPWH officials should be given the chance to respond to the allegations of corruption.

He pointed out that the PACC has not conducted a thorough probe to determine the veracity of the accusations against the lawmakers.

President Duterte may have been given unvalidated information on the alleged corruption involving some lawmakers supposedly in connivance with DPWH district engineers, an infrastructure-oriented think tank said yesterday.

Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said the information to be made public should be at least on the level of probable cause or something that could be used for prosecution as otherwise it may lead to unnecessary outcomes, if the allegations are proven false. – Delon Porcalla, Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Miriam Desacada, Michelle Zoleta, Paolo Romero