Notary behind papers of questionable NGOs denies hand in pork barrel controversy

The notary who supposedly signed the documents of questionable foundations bared by the Commission on Audit (COA) claimed that his name was being used in the controversy without his knowledge.

In an exclusive report at "24 Oras" on Thursday, Joel Gordola claimed he cannot speak for himself as he has suffered a stroke and instead would be represented by his wife Leonida.

Asked if the signatures on the documents are his, Gordola himself said: "Wala."

According to the COA's latest report, some P6.156 billion in pork barrel funds from close to 200 lawmakers went to 82 mostly dubious non-government organizations (NGOs) from 2007 to 2009, including 10 linked to controversial businesswoman and now fugitive Janet Lim-Napoles, who was accused of pillaging state funds to bogus foundations for ghost projects. These projects where then allegedly used as a conduit for kickbacks.

According to GMA News Research, the documents for the following questionable NGOs supposedly controlled by the same incorporators were all notarized by Gordola:

• Ikaw at Ako Foundation Inc.
• Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation
• Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc.
• Buhay Mo Mahal Ko Foundation Inc.
• Kapuso't Kapamilya Foundation

The papers for Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc., the NGO managed by Benhur Luy, the whistleblower behind the pork barrel scam, was also notarized by Gordola.

What's more, the incorporation papers of Napoles' JLN Corporation were signed by the attorney, according to the report.

The signatures on the documents were supposedly not this, Gordola and his wife claimed.

"Hindi mo na rin matatandaan 'yung mga tao, diba? Ang kinekwestyon pa namin dito is the signature. We have to check our records to make it more specific kung amin," Mrs. Gordola said in the report.

They also claimed that their notary signature were being used by some groups without their permission. They are looking into filing charges against them.

As it turns out, a notary firm called OnTrack Business Solutions Co. near the Securities and Exchange Commission are notarizing documents using Gordola's signature.

As of this time, GMA News has yet to seek the side of Gordola about this, according to the report.

Those who have made a sworn statement in front of a notary public may face charges of perjury, according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) secretary Gerard Lukban.

"Yung notaryo ang nag-a-administer ng oath. Siya ang sumusumpa sa kung sino mang nag-a-administer ng oatth... Kapag ikaw ay sumumpa sa isang notaryo at ikaw ay nagsisinungaling, maaari kang mademanda ng perjury. At may karampatang pagkakulong ang parusa po rito," he said.

Lukban said Gordola may even be an aggrieved party in the case.

"Kung tutuusin po. aggrieved party po siya at nagagamit ang kanyang pangalan dito sa mga questionable documents. Kung magsasampa po ng kaso, 'yung tao na kung [kaninong] pirma ay finalsify, will be a key witness to this," Lukban said.

Now on the hunt by government authorities over charges of serious illegal detention, Napoles was also accused of diverting some P10 billion government funds to her account through her NGOs. Two of her former employees, Luy and Merlina Suñas, implicated her in the supposed scam.

Luy, who claimed he was in the employ of Napoles for 10 years, alleged in a sworn affidavit that the modus operandi includes a 70-30 sharing scheme, with the legislator getting 70 percent while she kept 30 percent.

Napoles has denied the accusation. — BM, GMA News