Several lawmakers on Tuesday, December 29, denounced an unvetted Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) report accusing them of pocketing public funds through government infrastructure projects.  

Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Sato denied receiving kickbacks from infrastructure projects in her district.

“I am devastated! This has no basis and grossly unfair! I do not have any involvement in any corruption!” Sato said. 

Sato denounced the report put together by PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica as a “clearly calculated” move to disrupt local politics in her province. She pointed to Belgica as “a known ally and party mate of a prominent incumbent official in our province of Occidental Mindoro” who had plans to run against her in the 2022 elections. 

“As I stand by my solid track record in my more than 30 years of public service, I challenge Commissioner Belgica to prove his allegations against me by observing due process and the rule of law,” Sato said. 

President Rodrigo Duterte, reading from the PACC report submitted to him in November, named the lawmakers in a public address on Monday, though he admitted “there is no hard evidence” to support the allegations and that those he mentioned will be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

Malacañang announced on November 24, that lawmakers suspected of graft or corruption won’t be subject to presidential public shaming.

Corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), including the infrastructure projects in districts that lawmakers allocate funds for, is among the priorities of Duterte’s “mega task force” against corruption.

Rappler had withheld the names of the lawmakers and engineers the President mentioned, unless the officials themselves issued statements or cases have been formally filed. 

Ready for investigation

Quezon City 5th District Represenative Alfred Vargas asserted his record as a public servant for the last 12 years was “unblemished” and that his “conscience is clear.” Vargas chalked the accusations given to PACC as having stemmed from his “political detractors.”

“The President himself stated ‘there is no solid evidence’ and ‘mentioning of names is not an indictment.’  I am certain that I will be cleared. I am ready to submit myself to an investigation by the proper authority. Mere allegation is not proof,” he said. 

Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman said she was “shocked” to hear the President read her name but that she was “comforted” by his clarification that the information given to him had not yet been verified. 

“Public service has never been a money-making venture for me or my family whose good name is highly esteemed 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,” she said. 

Former Ifugao representative Teddy Baguilat Jr denied the accusations in a series of tweets Monday night, saying he was not involved in any investigation nor was he facing any corruption case. 

Kung tumatanggap ako ng kickback noong Congressman ako, di na sana ako naghihirap tumulong magbenta ng pinunnog, honey at kape ng mga Cordilleran producers. pic.twitter.com/i8b18JA6QU

— Teddy B. Baguilat (@TeddyBaguilatJr) December 28, 2020

Northern Samar 1st District Representative Paul Daza likewise decried the PACC’s report to Duterte as “baseless and malicious,” suspecting it stemmed from complaints filed by his political opponents. 

Daza said he would support any investigation on the matter to clear his name.

“Records and history will show that it was my office who exposed former elected officials and contractors for abandoning projects. Because of my call for investigation, I believe no less than 6 of them have been blacklisted by DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) recently,” he said. 

Investigate DPWH

Deputy Speaker Henry Oaminal also denied the corruption allegations.

The lawmaker said a construction company, HSO Construction, linked to him was founded in 1988, decades before he entered government in 2007 and that when he was elected congressman, he sold all his shares. 

He added that HSO Construction currently did not have “any construction project in all government agencies in Misamis Occidental, including DPWH.”

“I can categorically say that I am not involved in any anomalies or corrupt activities. It saddens me that my name was included in the report, but I welcome and support the  conduct of any investigation on the matter to clear my name, as I fully support the President’s anti-graft campaign,” he said. 

Quezon 4th District Representative Helen Tan denounced the PACC report linking her a botched DPWH project in her district, saying it was “not only derogatory but also prejudicial as it holds no water due to the lack of evidence.”

Tan said issues in the construction and implementation of the Gumaca Bypass Road which she spearheaded in 2016 should be the DPWH’s responsibilily as it was “the sole agency mandated to conduct all construction operations of public infrastructure of the state.” 

She described herself as a “victim” of the botched project and added that the DPWH should be investigated for its delay. 

“The inclusion of my name in the report released by the PACC, despite the lack of evidence, is not only malicious but also prejudicial, especially that the issue involves alleged corruption and conspiracy with DPWH,” Tan said.

Tan said she would cooperate with any investigation into the matter and thanked also Duterte for saying the accusations lacked evidence. 

The DPWH, for its part, asserted it had a “zero tolerance policy to bribery and corruption” and that the President’s directive to relieve officials tagged in the PACC’s report will be “immediately implemented.”

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier told Duterte it was “within the power” of his anti-corruption task force to name the lawmakers, but clarified it was not yet certain of the level of involvement of the lawmakers to the transaction identified by the PACC report. – Rappler.com