Ex-N. Ecija lawmaker denies role in PDAF scam

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of former Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali has denied that he misused his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel when he was congressman.

In a statement issued yesterday, Umali’s lawyer Honorio Eduardo Reyes III said the former congressman “legitimately utilized” his pork barrel.

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of graft and malversation cases against Umali and five others last week.

Umali was also found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. He was slapped with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Reyes said they would appeal the ombudsman ruling.

“We reiterate that the findings of the Office of the Ombudsman are not by themselves final verdicts of guilt, but merely part of a legal procedure designed to bring out the truth. We just have to go through the appropriate procedure. We are absolutely confident that the findings will be overturned in due course,” he said.