Duterte’s list of ‘corrupt’ solons a diversionary tactic, says Liberal Party

President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of congressmen allegedly involved in corruption is merely a diversionary tactic meant to shift attention away from more pressing issues hounding the government, the Liberal Party (LP) said Monday.

The list, which Duterte read out during his weekly address on Monday, includes LP members Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Sato, former Ifugao Representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr., and Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza.

“Walang dahilan para idawit sila ng Pangulo sa anumang alegasyon—bukod sa pamumulitika at paglilihis ng atensyon ng Pilipino sa napakaraming mga isyu na dapat tugunan at panagutan ng administrasyon,” the LP said in a statement.

The President claimed that Sato had ghost projects, Baguilat received kickbacks from contractors, and Daza chose the winning bidders for projects in his district.

All three decried Duterte's allegations.

"Di totoo na tumatanggap ako ng kickbacks. Yung SALN ko nung Congressman ako na always available sa public and media, parang Philippine economy, di malaki improvement," Baguilat said in a message to GMA News Online. 

"Sino kaya ang ayaw magbunyag ng SALN niya at nag-promote pa ng mga hinalaan na nagpalusot ng shabu smuggling?" he added.

Sato urged an investigation of the projects in her province as she lambasted Duterte's naming her.

"The President's accusation is without any basis and grossly unfair! There are no ghost projects in my province and I am not involved in any corruptions in any government project! I invite them to investigate all the projects in my province!" she declared.

Daza, meanwhile, said that nothing was further from the truth than the allegations against him.

"The President himself said names to be read may not have any evidence," he said. "I'm 100% sure this was the handiwork of my local political opponents to feed [the] wrong libelous info to the PACC. In fact the records will show that it's the reverse as we have been the ones complaining of anomalous projects in my district as early as 2016 perpetrated by former elected officials and certain contractors."

Daza also pinned the blame for his inclusion in the list on his political opponents. "A quick online search and on YouTube will show many documented anomalies  pointing to ex-congressman Boy Abayon and his cohorts. I'm sure that group who we exposed locally for the last few years were the ones behind the hatchet job and they pulled a fast one on the President," he said.

The Liberal Party urged Duterte to focus instead on the massive corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, police abuse, and the coronavirus pandemic.

“Lahat ng ito, may malinaw na dahilan para imbestigahan. Ito dapat ang pagtuonang pansin at enerhiya ng administrasyon, kaysa ang mag-imbento ng listahan ng paratang laban sa mga itinuturing nilang kalaban sa pulitika,” it said.

Cong. Alfred Vargas (5th District, Quezon City), in a statement said "The President himself stated “there is no solid evidence” and “mentioning of names is not an indictment”.  I am certain that I will be cleared."

"I am ready to submit myself to an investigation by the proper authority. Mere allegation is not proof. I have been a public servant for the last 12 years. My record is unblemished. My conscience is clear. I will not allow my political detractors, who misinformed PACC, to tarnish my name and reputation with wild accusations bereft of the truth. Mukha pong napadalhan ang PACC ng maling impormasyon ng mga nakakalaban natin sa Pulitika."

Prior to reading out the lawmakers' names, Duterte added a disclaimer, saying "Yung pagbasa sa pangalan ninyo is not a condemnation or an indictment that you are guilty of something."

He earlier ordered the Department of Justice to lead a government-wide corruption probe. — BM/BAP, GMA News