Romualdez hopes DOJ will find out truth in corruption allegations involving solons

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed hope the Department of Justice (DOJ) will be able to find out the truth behind the alleged involvement of some lawmakers in corruption activities related to infrastructure projects.

This was after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday identified the lawmakers whose names, he said, cropped up in the investigation of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

In a statement, Romualdez said that while he and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco support the President's drive to rid the entire government of corruption, they do not want it to be "sidetracked by polluted sources who are engaged in local partisan politics."

"We are hopeful that the DOJ will double-check and assess thoroughly the list submitted by the PACC to President Duterte, to verify which of these charges have basis and which are mere products of the imaginative minds of rival politicians," Romualdez said.

One former and eight incumbent lawmakers were named by the President as being involved in corruption activities involving infrastructure projects, although he made it clear that these allegations had yet to be proven and should not be taken as "gospel truth."

They include Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Ramirez-Sato, former Ifugao Representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr., Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas, and Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal.

Isabela Representative Alyssa Sheena Tan, Northern Samar Representative Paul Daza, Quezon province Representative Angelina 'Helen' Tan, ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Eric Yap, and Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman were also part of the list.

Romualdez lauded Duterte's decision to issue a memorandum directing the DOJ to begin its investigation into corruption allegations in the entire government.

"In line with the President’s directive, it is now the duty of the DoJ to give the legislators named in the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s (PACC) list the proper forum to face their accusers and defend themselves," he said.

"The President is serious in getting rid of corruption in the last remaining years of his term. Let us support him and stand with him in this crusade," he added.

In a separate statement on Tuesday, Velasco said the lawmakers supposedly involved in corruption must be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.

"It is important that the concerned officials be given the chance to respond to the allegations of corrupt practices," he said in a statement.

"Due process dictates that a thorough investigation be conducted to determine whether there is probable cause or evidence to support the charges against them," he added.

The named House members maintained that they are not involved in any corruption activity and expressed willingness to submit to investigation.—AOL, GMA News