Daza: NDF prejudged us

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – House Deputy Speaker Raul Daza, who along with his son, Samar Gov. Paul Daza, is facing an investigation by a “people’s court,” said yesterday the National Democratic Front (NDF) has prejudged them.

“I hope the NDF, or any group for that matter, should investigate first. I cannot agree that it is fair and just to condemn anybody before they are tried,” Daza said.

He said the NDF should be fair and first hear their side, even as he maintained that he would not pay a “permit to campaign fee” to the New People’s Army.

The NDF, through its regional spokesman, Fr. Santiago Salas, alleged that Daza misused a multimillion-peso poverty alleviation package for the construction of irrigation projects, farm-to-market roads and even toilets in Samar. 

Salas said the projects also remain unfinished after more than 10 years.

But Daza said it was a national project and as former governor, his participation was minimal.

Dasa also debunked claims that the program was a failure, saying a bridge now connects the remote Catubig and Las Navas towns.

He said there is now a two-level water system in the area and the incidence of schistosomiasis has dropped with the comfort room project.

He said government auditors have looked into allegations of irregularity and found that everything was aboveboard.

Daza said police records also show their relentless campaign against illegal drugs and gambling.

As for allegedly masterminding political killings, he said their family was a victim, with the death of his brother shortly before the 2010 elections.

Daza said it was “curious coincidence” that the leftists are bringing up the issues, which were also raised by their political opponents against them.