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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29) – Incumbent lawmakers and a former congressman linked by President Rodrigo Duterte to alleged corrupt practices denied the allegations Tuesday and said they are ready to face investigations to prove their innocence.
Despite admitting there is no “hard evidence” against lawmakers, Duterte proceeded on Monday to read nine names on the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s loner list that are being investigated for their alleged links to anomalous projects with the Department of Works. Public and Roads. .
Upon reading the list, the president said that the following legislators allegedly received bribes from projects and implemented ghost projects, among other issues: Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Ramirez Sato, Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas, Samar del Norte Representative Paul Daza , Representative of Quezon. Angelina “Helen” Tan, Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, Isabela Representative Alyssa Sheena Tan, Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal, ACT-CIS Party List Representative Eric Yap, and former Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat, Jr.
He also appointed district engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways who are allegedly in cahoots with lawmakers implicated in the illegal schemes. The president ordered his relief on Tuesday, to which DPWH agreed to act quickly.
Representative Angelina Tan, who was tagged by Duterte in an “anomalous” national highway project in Quezon province, called her inclusion on the corrupt list “malicious” and “harmful.” He said that a portion of the ₱ 800-M ring road in Gumaca, Quezon that he spearheaded in 2016 is already being used, although the road has yet to be paved.
“It does not hold up due to lack of evidence, a fact that was also pointed out by the president in the same speech,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Sato, Daza and Vargas denied the accusations made to tarnish their names, saying their inclusion on the PACC list may be politically motivated.
Sato said that PACC commissioner Greco Belgica is a known ally of a politician who plans to run against her in the 2022 elections.
“The report prepared by Commissioner Belgium, which affects my credentials as a public official, is clearly calculated to sow intrigue and disruption in the local politics of Occidental Mindoro,” she said in a statement Tuesday.
Vargas said: “It seems that our political opponents have sent incorrect information to the PACC.”
Representative Daza, for his part, said: “It originated, I believe, in a malicious complaint presented to the PACC by my local political opponents.”
Isabela’s representative, Tan and Oaminal, refuted claims that they own construction companies in their provinces.
“I have never owned a construction company. I have no equity in any construction company. This truth can easily be verified by the PACC,” Tan said.
Oaminal said: “When I became a Congressman, I sold all my shares in accordance with the law. Upon verification, HSO Construction Corporation does not have any construction projects in all government agencies in Misamis Occidental, including DPWH.”
Roman maintained his family’s record by serving his constituents in Bataan.
“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.”
Baguilat denied receiving bribes while he was still a congressman. The former opposition MP also accused Duterte of corrupt for refusing to hand over his net worth. He added that Duterte is using the PACC list as diversionary tactic after it was revealed on the same day that his Presidential Security Group and some military personnel were injected with unregistered COVID-19 vaccines and broke the vaccination priority list.
“As usual, they want to divert people’s attention with their latest failure. #LumangTacticNaIyan [That’s an old tactic]”he tweeted.
RELATED: Duterte Does Not Name Corrupt Lawmakers As Evidence Still Lacking – Roque
Yap has yet to release a statement, but is expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, infrastructure projects regulator Infrawatch PH emphasized that Duterte’s undisclosed disclosure of lawmakers allegedly labeled in corrupt practices may dampen the government’s anti-corruption efforts, as it appears to be more of a “witch hunt” of personalities in instead of getting rid of systemic corruption.
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