Ruffy Biazon pleads not guilty to PDAF cases

Incumbent Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon on Wednesday pleaded “not guilty” to multiple criminal cases in connection with his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

“Not guilty, your honors,” Biazon told the justices of the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division after each charge sheet was read before him by the clerk of court.

Biazon is facing one count each of graft, malversation of public funds and direct bribery for the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel during his term as representative of Muntinlupa in 2007.

Biazon served as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs in 2011, but resigned in December 2013 at the height of the pork barrel scam controversy.

He was elected again as Muntinlupa representative on May 9, 2016 elections.

Meanwhile, Biazon’s co-accused Department of Budget and Management former undersecretary Mario Relampagos, DBM former budget and management specialist Rosario Nuñez and DBM former administrative assistants Marilou Bare and Lalaine Paule also entered a “not guilty” plea.

Biazon’s other co-accused Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam, and former Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Zenaida Ducut had earlier been arraigned and entered not guilty pleas.

The court set the preliminary conferences or the marking of evidence of both the prosecution and defense on October 3 and 4.

The pre-trial of the cases was set on November 8, wherein both camps are expected to submit their final list of documentary evidence and witnesses for the trial proper.

Biazon was among the third batch of lawmakers charged by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.

Based on the information of the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in April of this year, Biazon allocated P3 million of his PDAF to the Napoles-linked Philippine Social Development Foundation, Inc. (PSDFI) in exchange of P1.950 million worth of kickbacks.

Biazon had earlier denied the charges.

In an interview with reporters after his arraignment, Biazon said he is “faithful” that he will be vindicated from the allegations.

“I have faith in the judicial system. I have faith in my defense and I am faithful as well that we will be able to clear our name,” Biazon said.

Biazon said his victory in the recent elections is proof that he has the trust of his constituents despite the allegations.

“I went through an election. My constituents recognize the work I have done in the past. I overwhelmingly won in that election and now I’m doing my job in Congress,” Biazon said.

Biazon also maintained that the pending cases are not affecting his job in Congress.

“It does not affect my job in Congress. In fact, it drives me to perform better,” Biazon said. —ALG, GMA News