Their names on Luy's list Marañons deny involvement in Napoles pork barrel scam

CEBU, Philippines -  Both Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and son Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III vehemently denied their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam after their names were included in the list of whistleblower Benhur Luy.

The Marañons and former 3rd district representative Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson allegedly had a transaction with suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. However, the Marañons quickly dismissed the issue, as they claimed that it was not true.

A report from Manila Tuesday said the Marañons and Lacson were among the members of the House of Representatives in the Napoles racket.

The report said Gov. Marañon, who was a congressman in the 2nd district from 1995 to 2004, "without Special Allotment Release Order but on record has Supply of Fertilizer and Water System Supply while the Department of Agriculture and the DPWH were listed as the implementing agencies with list of cash advances" as the document.

The same report also said that Mayor Marañon, who was a congressman in the 2nd district from 2004 to 2013, has "no SARO but on record Non-Government Organzation Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. and Jo Chris Trading with DA as the implementing agency and transactions" were documented.

Also, the report said Lacson, who was a congressman in the 3rd district from 1987-1995 and 2001 to 2010, was released with SARO in 2005 for the NGO Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. with DA as the implementing agency and has a disbursement report.

The elder Marañon said it was easy to make a list, as he pointed out that there are others who were included in the list in the first version but not in the second version.

Marañon said he "will testify" that he didn't received the projects, as he noted that no SARO was released. "This is not disturbing, it is just irritating," he said.

He recalled that the fertilizer project was in 2004 that he, then Governor Joseph Marañon, Vice Governor Isidro Zayco, congressman Lacson, Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. did not signed.

"We can't stomach it anymore. Supposedly we can get 30 percent of the amount of the project. But we didn't sign it. We didn't receive anything," the governor said.

When pressed for answers if the issue will be used by his political enemies against him, Marañon answered that what is now important is that his conscience is clear.

Mayor Marañon, for his part, said the "report itself says that there is no SARO. This means that we have not received anything."  (FREEMAN)