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Baligod says up to four LP ‘senatoriables’ linked to pork barrel scam
By MARK MERUE?AS, GMA News
(UPDATED 10:21 p.m.) Lawyer Levito Baligod on Tuesday linked up to four of the Liberal Party's prospective senatorial hopefuls in the 2016 elections to the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam.
"Mayroon pang na-associate na at least two... at puwedeng umabot pa nga sa four doon sa [LP senatoriables]," Baligod said in an interview.
Baligod, however, refused to identify the individuals or give hints about them.
"Huwag na muna pangalanan kasi baka sabihin naman nila sinisiraan ko sila. Tapos iyong mga ibang senatoriables baka sabihin pati sila nadadamay," Baligod said.
Asked for the basis of his allegations against the LP senatoriables, Baligod said these individuals could be traced as being involved with the NGOs identified in the Commission on Audit special report earlier released on the pork barrel fund scam.
"May report na ang COA na ang implementation ng Priority Development Assistance Fund nila was anomalous," Baligod said.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, the LP vice chairman for political affairs, said the senatorial hopefuls still had to go through a screening procedure.
Villanueva's name appeared on the list prepared by Dennis Cunanan, the government's newest witness in the pork barrel scam case.
The list supposedly contained the names of those who gave their pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, however. would later claim that the National Bureau of Investigation found that the signatures of Villanueva in the pork barrel fund scam documents were forged.
In a press conference in Manila, Baligod, without giving any names, said at least 34 other congressmen have yet to be indicted over the pork barrel scam.
Among the incumbent lawmakers already facing plunder and graft charges of the fund scam were Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramong Revilla Jr, and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete.
A number of former lawmakers have likewise been slapped with charges in the first and second batches of pork barrel cases.
Five of the prospective "LP senatoriables" are incumbent members of the House of Representatives, namely: Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Taguig City Rep. Lino Cayetano.
The others earlier revealed by LP spokesman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice as also being considered in the party's draft senatorial slate are:
Senate President Franklin Drilon
Sen. Ralph Recto
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III
Sen. Sergio Osmeña III
former Sen. Panfilo Lacson
former Sen. Francis Pangilinan
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino
Philhealth Director Risa Hontiveros
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista
Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and
actor Dingdong Dantes.
Baligod expressed fears that if De Lima would stand pat on her position not to prioritize the third batch, the four LP senatoriables could end up not being charged by the DOJ. In that case, Baligod said he could be forced to file the third batch himself before the Ombudsman if De Lima would refuse to pursue the cases.
Baligod was the former legal counsel of Napoles' former employee Benhuy Luy and other whistleblowers in the P10-billion PDAF mess. —with a report from Xianne Arcangel/NB, GMA News
"Mayroon pang na-associate na at least two... at puwedeng umabot pa nga sa four doon sa [LP senatoriables]," Baligod said in an interview.
Baligod, however, refused to identify the individuals or give hints about them.
"Huwag na muna pangalanan kasi baka sabihin naman nila sinisiraan ko sila. Tapos iyong mga ibang senatoriables baka sabihin pati sila nadadamay," Baligod said.
Asked for the basis of his allegations against the LP senatoriables, Baligod said these individuals could be traced as being involved with the NGOs identified in the Commission on Audit special report earlier released on the pork barrel fund scam.
"May report na ang COA na ang implementation ng Priority Development Assistance Fund nila was anomalous," Baligod said.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, the LP vice chairman for political affairs, said the senatorial hopefuls still had to go through a screening procedure.
"Of course, all will undergo selection process at the proper time," Erice said. He said he had yet to receive information on Baligod's allegations.
Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, also an LP stalwart, indicated that integrity will be among the factors that would be considered during the vetting process.
"I think the party leadership will take into consideration all issues involving potential candidates of the party from President down to the municipal councilor level. Track record, integrity and commitment to pursue the daang matuwid agenda of PNoy will be the major criteria in the selection process," Evardone said.
Of the 18 prospective LP senatoriables recently revealed by the LP, only Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director Joel Villanueva's name had been dragged in the third batch of pork cases."I think the party leadership will take into consideration all issues involving potential candidates of the party from President down to the municipal councilor level. Track record, integrity and commitment to pursue the daang matuwid agenda of PNoy will be the major criteria in the selection process," Evardone said.
Villanueva's name appeared on the list prepared by Dennis Cunanan, the government's newest witness in the pork barrel scam case.
The list supposedly contained the names of those who gave their pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, however. would later claim that the National Bureau of Investigation found that the signatures of Villanueva in the pork barrel fund scam documents were forged.
In a press conference in Manila, Baligod, without giving any names, said at least 34 other congressmen have yet to be indicted over the pork barrel scam.
Among the incumbent lawmakers already facing plunder and graft charges of the fund scam were Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramong Revilla Jr, and Jinggoy Estrada, as well as Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete.
A number of former lawmakers have likewise been slapped with charges in the first and second batches of pork barrel cases.
Five of the prospective "LP senatoriables" are incumbent members of the House of Representatives, namely: Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, Taguig City Rep. Lino Cayetano.
The others earlier revealed by LP spokesman and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice as also being considered in the party's draft senatorial slate are:
Senate President Franklin Drilon
Sen. Ralph Recto
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III
Sen. Sergio Osmeña III
former Sen. Panfilo Lacson
former Sen. Francis Pangilinan
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino
Philhealth Director Risa Hontiveros
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista
Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and
actor Dingdong Dantes.
Baligod expressed fears that if De Lima would stand pat on her position not to prioritize the third batch, the four LP senatoriables could end up not being charged by the DOJ. In that case, Baligod said he could be forced to file the third batch himself before the Ombudsman if De Lima would refuse to pursue the cases.
Baligod was the former legal counsel of Napoles' former employee Benhuy Luy and other whistleblowers in the P10-billion PDAF mess. —with a report from Xianne Arcangel/NB, GMA News
Tags: porkbarrelscam, bantaykaban
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