Lagdameo on 'SAP' links to DPWH projects: False, misleading

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) dismissed Thursday the claim tagging the "OP (ES/SAP)" as the alleged proponent of the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which were seen from the supposed files of the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

In a statement, SAP Antonio Lagdameo Jr. said his office is not an implementing agency, adding that it has no technical mandate to identify certain infrastructure projects nor exercise line-item authority over the DPWH's internal budget listings.

"Any claim or insinuation suggesting otherwise is unfounded, false, and misleading," Lagdameo said. 

"The Office is compelled to address this matter as similar attempts to invoke the name of the Special Assistant to the President, or the Office itself, have surfaced repeatedly," he added.

Lagdameo further said the continued misuse of his name or office, whether to suggest influence, involvement, or endorsement where none exists, was improper, irresponsible, and must be halted. 

He also said overeagerness to exact accountability cannot justify recklessness, adding that the pursuit of justice must remain grounded in facts, "not in the hasty weaponization of loose, unverified, or misinterpreted information."

"The circulation of false claims does not advance accountability; it diverts attention from the real issues and delays their proper resolution through the appropriate institutions," Lagdameo said.

'OP (ES/SAP)'

It was Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste who sought an investigation into a list of 75 projects of the DPWH, which had the tags "OP (ES/SAP)" as the supposed proponent.

Leviste said the list of 75 projects—with a total amount of P8 billion—included a P300-million street light project in his district.

The congressman clarified that he does not know the real identity of the "OP (ES/SAP)" tagged as the proponent of the projects, of which 60% were flood control and slope protection projects, while 40% were streetlight projects.

He said he shared the list after he received a new copy of the files of the late Cabral from another source, who secured the files from the DPWH.

Meanwhile, Lagdameo assured that the OSAP remains steadfast in its support for transparency and accountability and fully backs the work of agencies and officials who are doing legitimate investigations and serving the public interest.

The OSAP will also cooperate with any inquiry conducted in the proper forum, grounded in evidence and guided by constitutional principles of due process, Lagdameo said.

"Until then, the OSAP will not be distracted by speculation and will continue to discharge its duties in accordance with its mandate," he said.

Up to Ombudsman  

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said it was up to the Office of the Ombudsman to authenticate the files being held by Leviste. 

She said multiple versions have surfaced, with supposed information that do not match. 

"Ang sabi nga po ni Asst. Omb. Clavano, ang mga dokumento na hawak ng ibang tao na maaaring ma-edit ay hindi maituturing na isang conclusive evidence. Marami ng versions ang lumalabas at hindi sila magkakatugma... mayroon may written annotations, mayroon na may names ng Cabinet Secretaries at 'yung ibang version ay wala naman ganoong nilalaman," Castro said.

(Just like what Asst. Omb. Clavano said, documents in the possession of other people can be edited, thus cannot be considered conclusive evidence. There have been a lot of versions and they did not match... some had written annotations, some had names of Cabinet Secretaries, while other versions did not have such content.) 

Without concrete evidence, Castro said, these documents are considered hearsay, Castro said. 

"Ang mga kwentong walang pinanghahawakan na matibay na ebidensya ay mananatiling isang haka haka lamang. Hintayin natin ang Office of the Ombudsman ang magsalita patungkol diyan," she said.

(Stories that do not have strong evidence will remain as hearsay. Let's just wait for the Office of the Ombudsman to speak regarding this matter.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News