Angara confident father can defend self in Nabcor fund mess

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has expressed belief that his father, former Senate President Edgardo Angara, can explain himself over reports that he used the National Agri-Business Corporation (Nabcor) as implementing agency for his pork barrel during his term.

“I’m concerned but I’m pretty confident that he can answer them, these charges against him,” the younger Angara said.

“His name came out in the full report. The COA commissioner said just appearing in the COA report is not evidence of criminal involvement,” he added.

Angara believes his father can answer the circumstances on why he allocated P20 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and endorsed it to the NGO Kagandaan ng Kapaligiran Foundation Inc (KKFI). The Nabcor was used as the implementing agency for a project intended to buy seedlings and farm implements.

“He’ll be able to answer it,” the senator said. “I’m confident he can answer them, these issues.”

The son defended his father over reports that the elder Angara also allegedly used Nabcor as implementing agency for a P20 million project for seedlings and farm implements.

As this developed, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed Senate Resolution 575 calling onto the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to summon as resource persons into the pork barrel scam two former Nabcor officials.

Santiago wanted the Senate committee to invite Rhodora Mendoza and Victor Roman Cacal to the hearings in the wake of reports that the Nabcor, which is under the Department of Agriculture, was the favored agency of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.

For his part, Estrada said he is ready to defend his actions.

“As for me, I can defend my actions, I will defend myself in court if the need arises as long as they also mention all the legislators who are also involved and not just focus the probe to the three of us,” Estrada said.

Estrada shrugged off insinuations that he is trying to bring down the others with him in the fund scam.

“Hindi naman ako nangdadamay. Hindi naman ako nagsasalita eh. Meron daw sila listahan pero ang masama kaming tatlo ang dinidiin,” Estrada added, referring to him, Enrile and Revilla.