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MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers who President Rodrigo Duterte linked to alleged corrupt activities involving Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects in their constituencies have blamed their political rivals for the allegations.
They said they were ready to face any investigation to clear their names that appeared on the list provided by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to Mr. Duterte.
Occidental Mindoro representative Josephine Ramirez-Sato said she was “devastated” by the accusation, even when the president had said there was no hard evidence to prove her guilt.
“This is baseless and grossly unfair. I am not involved in any corruption, ”Sato said in a statement. “I maintain my solid track record in my more than 30 years of public service.”
He also blamed PACC commissioner Greco Belgica, who, he said, is a “known ally and party partner” of a political rival.
“Apparently the only base [of Mr. Duterte’s list] is a report prepared by [Belgica] … This politician intends to compete against me in the next local elections in 2022. The report prepared by the Belgian Commissioner, which affects my credentials as a public servant, is clearly calculated to sow intrigue and disruption in the local politics of Occidental Mindoro ” Sato said.
Show proof
Quezon’s representative, Angelina Tan, challenged Belgium to show concrete evidence of its alleged involvement in an irregularity in the construction of a road in her district.
“I challenge [Belgica] come to gumaca [town] and visit the project, if you are serious in their campaign against corruption, ”Tan said in a Facebook post, referring to a road project in Quezon that was allegedly damaged during a storm before it was opened for public use.
Tan said his participation in the Gumaca diversion project was only in the preparation of a feasibility study for financing purposes.
“It’s shocking why they blame me when I’m not the executing agency but DPWH,” he said, describing the indictment as a demolition job by his political enemies.
Isabela’s representative, Alyssa Sheena Tan, also denied allegations that she was involved in corruption in DPWH projects. She was accused of owning companies that have several construction projects in Isabela and of manipulating bids.
“There is absolutely no truth to the PACC’s claim that I own construction companies that have been awarded projects in my district,” Tan said in a statement.
“This truth can easily be verified by the PACC simply by checking and validating with interested government agencies that they surely have access to,” he said.
According to the legislator, she “would cooperate with indulgence [with] and provide any information ”to the PACC to assist them with their investigation.
Bataan representative Geraldine Roman said she was surprised to hear that she was included on the list.
“Public service has never been a profitable endeavor for me or my family, whose good name is held in high esteem in our district,” Roman said.
“I am comforted by the fact that the President clarified that there is no verified information in this regard,” he said, adding that he would appreciate any investigation “to establish the truth.”
The representative of Samar del Norte, Paul Daza, a member of the Liberal Party, said that the accusations against him were “unjust and unfounded.” “The PACC never contacted me to hear my version and explain. I challenge the PACC to review the complaint, ”said Daza. “I will support any investigation on this matter and look forward to an opportunity to clarify [my] good name.”
‘Ax work’
He said his political opponents and several contractors whom he asked to be investigated and then blacklisted by the DPWH may have provided incorrect information to the PACC.
Daza said he asked DPWH to investigate seven contractors, all based in North Samar, in 2018 and 2019 for their allegedly poor and corruption-laden projects, mostly related to school buildings.
“This is an ax work of my political opponents, as well as a form of retaliation from [contractors] they were blacklisted. Now, I was accused of corruption by sending erroneous information to the PACC, ”he said.
Misamis Occidental representative Henry Oaminal, one of the deputy spokespersons in the House of Representatives, said he had resigned from the family business HSO Construction Corp.
According to Oaminal, the company, which has been operating since 1988 before it entered public service in 2007, has no recent construction projects with government agencies in Misamis Occidental, including DPWH.
“I am saddened that my name has been included in the report, but I welcome and support any investigation into the matter to clear my name,” he said.
—Reports from Maricar Cinco, Delfin Mallari Jr., Villamor Visaya Jr., Greg Refraccion, Joey Gabieta, Divisina Suson, Leah Agonoy, and Julie Aurelio
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