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CITY OF DAGUPAN: On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, officials and members of the non-governmental watchdog Movement Citizen Against Corruption, Crime, Illegal Drugs and Gambling, Inc. headed by Professor Salvador Singson-de Guzman, came out in defense of the representative of the fourth district of Quezon. Angelina Tan, saying that they are 100 percent safe and believe that Tan is not involved in any bribery and corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The infrastructure project was designed primarily to save travel time for motorists to and from Gumaca, decongest heavy traffic in the area, stimulate local economic growth, encourage investors to create jobs locally, and improve life. Residents of the Fourth District.
Alternative route
“Although the road has not yet been paved, motorists already use a section as an alternative route to avoid heavy traffic in the town of Gumaca. I had been very optimistic that this project would be completed within five years, as stipulated in the contract, ”Tan said in a statement about the Calabarzon project.
Calabarzon groups Quezon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal.
The accusations against Tan and some other lawmakers were made by the Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
De Guzman, the citizen’s watchdog, in an exclusive interview with The Manila Times at his family’s home here in Dagupan City, said the allegations and information relayed to President Rodrigo Duterte by the PACC that Tan was included they were inaccurate and without foundation.
“Our group has conducted a separate investigation of the DPWH offices in Luzon and DPWH officials in Quezon province did not mention to us that Tan was involved in anomalies in the implementation of any government project within their jurisdiction.” explained to The Times.
What ghost projects?
De Guzman said that the Audit Commission-Calabarzon also issued a certification that there are no ghost or overpriced projects undertaken by DPWH in the Fourth District of Quezon province.
However, he clarified that his investigation report was not similar to the investigation conducted by the PACC.
De Guzman said the PACC report was also unclear about how Tan committed corruption at DPWH.
“The report did not say that he was cutting money from projects that were being done in his area (the report did not say how he allegedly stole project funds),” he added.
But the report did mention the alleged poor construction of infrastructure projects in his jurisdiction that, according to De Guzmán, had nothing to do with the accusations.
Guilty Contractors
Tan “had no supervision over the construction of the infrastructure projects, therefore the PACC should not blame her. Dapat yong mga contractor ang sabonin nila (PACC must go after contractors), ”he said.
De Guzmán added that even the president had no legal basis to appoint Tan because no cases were filed against him.
Duterte said he chose to read the names so the public will know who the corrupt government officials are.
However, he noted that the inclusion of the congressmen on the list did not mean that they were guilty of corruption.
“I just want to assure everyone that yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo (read their names) is not a conviction or accusation that you are guilty of anything,” said the president.
Duterte admitted that there was no hard evidence to prove the lawmakers’ guilt.
It also named district engineers allegedly involved in corrupt practices according to the PACC report.
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