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Lacson says Mar Roxas innocent of alleged Yolanda fund misuse


Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday said he finds it "unfair" that former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is being accused of mishandling funds for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda when the erstwhile Cabinet official had nothing to do with it.

"I would like to correct that perception, wala naman talaga siyang kinalaman sa pondo ng Yolanda," said Lacson during Kapihan sa Senado.

Lacson lamented how Roxas has become the "poster boy of Yolanda," with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte accusing him of fund misuse, when it was the local government units that handled the cash assistance for fund victims.

"'Yung DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), nag-provide ng cash assistance sa mga local government units, and dumaan lang naman sa kanya 'yun. It's unfair, to say the least, na parang siya yung naging poster boy ng  Yolanda," he said.

Lacson served as presidential adviser on reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of Yolanda, which left thousands of people dead and devastated many areas in Central and Eastern Visayas in 2013.

"Ako, at least, I'm an authority pagdating dun sa how or what actually happened in the Yolanda corridor because I was there," he said.

"Ako ‘yung presidential assistant, although may mandate ended when I submitted the comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan, kasi  wala naman akong implementing authority."

Lacson stressed that "there was no way for him to have that opportunity to take advantage" of the funds.

"I would like just to correct that very wrong information na si Secretary Roxas parang abused the funds. Far from it. It never happened. Huwag namang ibato sa kanya ang Yolanda funds kasi he never took advantage, because there was no way for him to have that opportunity to take advantage," he said.

Roxas, whom Duterte defeated in the 2016 presidential race, is running for senator in the May 13 elections under the opposition banner.

Lacson said he supports Roxas' candidacy, adding he will be an "asset, to say the least," in the Senate.

Rocas has denied the allegation against him regarding the fund for Yolanda victims. —KBK, GMA News

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