‘DOJ priority is pork scam probe’

TOKYO (via Smart/PLDT) – The Department of Justice is giving priority to its investigation into the congressional pork barrel scam over allegations of influence peddling by a certain “Ma’am Arlene” in the judiciary.

When asked about influence peddling in the judiciary, President Aquino said that his dialogues with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima were focused on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

“Right now, the PDAF cases. This is also part of the inter-government agency that will handle those that fall under the ambit of the COA (Commission on Audit) report,” he said.

He added that the DOJ had just filed the second set of cases and is “busy with the third set.”

Malacañang earlier expressed full support for the judiciary’s investigation into the issue and directed the DOJ to unmask the brains behind such activities.

“The executive department, through the National Bureau of Investigation, is participating and assisting (in the investigation),” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Impartial

Meanwhile, Valte assured the public that the investigation into the pork barrel scam involving non-government organizations (NGOs) would be impartial regardless of whether the lawmakers to be investigated include the President’s allies.

In its letter-request for investigation, labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) said Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. had signed documents naming the NGOs of businessman Godofredo Roque as beneficiaries under his special allocation release order.

Tupas is an ally of the President and even served as lead prosecutor during the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona.

BMP claimed Tupas had given P17.49 million of his pork barrel funds to the National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR) and the National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC).

The funds were allegedly channeled to Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc., an NGO supposedly endorsed by Tupas to the NABCOR and NLDC and believed to be owned by Roque.

BMP also cited a COA report that former senator Manuel Villar and his wife, former Las Piñas representative and now senator Cynthia Villar, have released P151 million to projects that are not compliant with existing laws.

The labor group claimed that the local government of Las Piñas has been awarding contracts to bidders with deficient documents since 2009.

“Even if these politicians are allies of the President, your office should not tolerate their questionable acts. We are hoping that your agency will conduct a thorough investigation on the matter and that they would be made answerable before the court the soonest possible time,” BMP said.

The justice department said the allegations against Roque would be treated separately from those of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

Confused witnesses

In a related development, the second batch of witnesses in the pork barrel scam are confused over the filing of complaints against them.

“Despite the fact that the witnesses have provided the government incriminating statements (about their role as employees Napoles), the ombudsman continues to file cases against them,” lawyer Lourdes Benepayo told The STAR.

Benepayo is counsel for Marina Sula, couple Roman and Monette Briones and Arlene Baltazar, who provided the government with affidavits narrating how the scam worked and the lawmakers involved. – Aurea Calica, Alexis Romero, Aie Balagtas See