Estrella says 3rd batch of pork raps a knee-jerk reaction to DOJ critics

Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III on Friday slammed the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its "knee-jerk reaction" when it included him in the third batch of pork barrel scam cases.

Estrella, a former representative of Pangasinan, said the proper execution of his projects under his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was the primary responsibility of implementing agencies, and not lawmakers like him.

"The DOJ’s decision to recommend the filing of charges against us before the Office of the Ombudsman is apparently a knee-jerk reaction to opposition’s generated criticism that the DOJ is delaying the PDAF scam cases when, in fact, there is no solid evidence against us," said Estrella.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier received criticisms—from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Levito Baligod—after she was quoted as saying last April that the third batch of pork barrel cases was not a priority, saying she was pre-occupied with other high-profile cases at the time.

She later changed her position and assured the public that the third batch would be filed within the year.

Estrella made his "vehement denial" in a statement sent to justice reporters in Manila, immediately after the National Bureau of Investigation filed the complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday.

Estrella pointed out that the DOJ's investigating arm, the National Bureau of Investigation, has already come out with findings that his signatures in the pork-related documents were forged.

"It is very ironic that the findings of the NBI, which is under the DOJ, would be contradicted by the mother agency," he said.

Estrella said his right to due process was violated because he was never given a chance to air his side and dispute allegations made by the whistleblowers.

Estrella also said a whistleblower had already said both in an affidavit and during hearings at the Sansiganbayan that his PDAF projects were properly implemented.

Estrella also denied ever having a staff member named Ronald Casareno, who the NBI had alleged in their complaint to have been the "representative" who facilitated the lawmaker's alleged P45-million "kickback."

In an executive summary, the NBI identified the five non-government organizations that Estrella allegedly used as conduits for the scam, namely:

Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc, Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic and Development Foundation Inc, People's Organization for Progress and Development Foundation Inc, Philippine Agri and Social Economic Development Foundation Inc, and Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation Inc. —NB, GMA News