Source: The Daily Tribune
Presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte has exonerated outright Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa after being implicated in the P10-billion scam involving the pork barrel of the members of Congress and alleged malversation of Malampaya Special Fund spent on ghost projects in the past 10 years by putting up “fly by night” contractors and non-government organizations.
“I do not know the metes and bounds of the investigation.
Apparently, from the (news) reports, ES (executive secretary) is implicated supposedly because of his former law firm. So I do not actually what is the mete actually of involvement other than just mentioning the name,” Valte said.
“Nothing was mentioned in the allegation of wrongdoing on the part of the ES. It seems it becomes guilt by association again which does not stand up in any investigation or in any court,” she added.
Valte said the office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has yet to submit investigation report, through Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, to President Aquino.
Lawyer Levito Baligod had sought assistance from De Lima that allegedly his client, Benhur Luy, was reportedly detained in a condominium in Taguig because he knew about illegal business practices in the appropriation of the pork barrel of certain lawmakers and projects during the Arroyo administration.
With the assistance of the NBI agents, Luy was rescued last March, he executed an affidavit accusing the JLN Group of Companies of being involved in anomalous deals.
That Luy was employed by his relative, a certain Janet Napoles who owned the JLN.
Luy asserted that the company had set up five bogus NGOs that facilitated the scam and eventually became recipient of the fertilizer fund scam, Malampaya scam, and the pork barrel of some lawmakers.
Luy said the the employees of JLN, and even the household help were used as the officers of the fake NGOs.
A number of cities also became beneficiaries, but the signatures of the local officials were fabricated.
A number of cities also became beneficiaries, but the signatures of the local officials were fabricated.
Merlina Sunas, JLN project coordinator, said the government funds appropriated to the fake NGOs were remitted to Napoles.
Sunas added, Malampaya had a P900-million budget, but there were no deliveries of supplies and materials.
The liquidation reports submitted to concerned government agencies were also allegedly fabricated.
The liquidation reports submitted to concerned government agencies were also allegedly fabricated.
Sunas said this was also the modus for the pork barrel of some lawmakers and the controversial fertilizer fund scam.
The DoJ dismissed the serious illegal detention case filed against Napoles for lack of probable cause.
Napoles also submitted an affidavit to the DoJ denying any involvement in Luy’s detention.
Napoles also submitted an affidavit to the DoJ denying any involvement in Luy’s detention.
Paul Atienza
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