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MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night revealed the names of lawmakers investigated for alleged involvement in acts of corruption, though he was quick to say that their inclusion on the list did not mean they were guilty or that there was hard evidence in her against.
Duterte said he had to reveal the names given to him by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission or else he would look “stupid” and added that it was his duty to do so.
The names have become a public record, Duterte said.
“It has come to me officially registered, received, registered in the books so that it becomes a public document. Read it or not, this will come out because they have the right to have access to information, anyone, “he said.
He also assured lawmakers that the release of their names was not intended to charge or destroy them.
“I just want to assure everyone that my reading of the names is not a conviction or an accusation that you are guilty of something. In the same way that I would tell people not to take it as the truth of the gospel, ”he said.
There could be someone using the legislators’ names or doing something they don’t know, he added.
The legislators appointed by the president were:
• Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Ramirez Sato, who was listed for alleged ghost projects and used the district engineer as her alleged stockbroker.
• Former Ifugao congressman Teodoro Baguilat, who allegedly received bribes from construction projects in collusion with former district engineer Lorna Ricardo.
• The representative of the city of Quezón, Alfred Vargas, who allegedly demanded a one-time registration fee of 1 million pesos in addition to the 10 and 12 percent “SOP” that must be paid before the project can be awarded to the contractor.
• The representative of Misamis Occidental Henry Oaminal, who allegedly owned a construction company and has several construction projects in the province.
• Isabela’s representative, Alyssa Sheena Tan, who allegedly owns a construction company that has several construction projects in Isabela.
• Northern Samar representative Paul Daza, who supposedly determines all the winning bidders in his district and receives a bribe of 20 to 25 percent from the contractors.
• Quezón representative Angelina Tan, who was allegedly linked to an irregular national highway project in the province of Quezón, which was allegedly damaged during a storm, although it had not yet been opened for public use.
• Benguet’s caretaker and ACT-CIS representative, Eric Yap, who allegedly rigged bids through his agent and influenced the choice of his district engineer in order to control the award of projects.
Yap also allegedly intervened in an investigation by calling PACC commissioner Greco Belgica and asking him to drop the case against district engineer Ricardo.
• Bataan representative Geraldine Roman, who reportedly asked for a 10 percent commission for all Highway and Public Works Department projects in her district.
Duterte also read the names of several district engineers who allegedly worked with the legislators and said he was not convicting them and was giving them the presumption of innocence.
He asked Secretary of Public Works Mark Villar for the list of district engineers and their assignments across the country and said he would reorganize them and give them new assignments.
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