Agri chief denies benefiting from P14.4-B projects questioned by COA

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on Friday categorically denied pocketing government funds from the P14.4-billion projects of his department recently questioned by Commission on Audit (COA).

"Wala po at hindi po natin gagawin. Sabi ko nga po, sa amin pong lalawigan, masabi ka nang gumawa ng ibang klaseng kasalanan... pero kung ikaw ay nangulimbat ng hindi mo pag-aari ay talaga pong isusumpa ka ng mga taga-lalawigan ng Quezon," Alcala told reporters at a press briefing in Malacañang.

He also said that his department did not misuse the funds for the projects identified in the COA report.

"Hindi po sinasabi doon nilaspag ng department at ni Secretary Alcala ‘yung pondo na mahigit sa 14 na bilyong piso at never po natin itong gagawin," the Cabinet official said.

COA findings reportedly showed that the Department of Agriculture misspent over P14.4 billion on questionable projects in 2013.

Some of these projects supposedly involved fake foundations believed to have been formed by controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Alcala said his department is validating the COA findings, and will submit an initial report to President Benigno Aquino III within the day.

'Some groups want me out'

Alcala further said that some groups may be using the COA findings to push for his resignation.

"Definitely po mayroon pong mga ganoon talaga ang interes.. Iyon pong may mga grupo na ang tina-target po is the whole government," he said.

He likewise said that he will never betray the trust of the President by being involved in any anomaly.

"Hindi po tayo para magpakasira dito sa posisyon, dahil sa [pagiging malapit] po natin sa Pangulo, never po nating gagawin ‘yon," the Cabinet official said.

Alcala further urged his critics to go to agricultural communities to see his department's accomplishments.

"For the past two days nandoon po ako sa Mindanao, kausap po natin ‘yung mga tao. Nag-diyalogo po tayo nang diretso at tinatanong po natin ‘yung mga serbisyong naibibigay ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan. Satisfied po sila," he said. —KBK, GMA News