Ex-solon tagged in pork scam says Congress stint over when anomaly started

                                                        Former North Cotabato 1st district Representative Anthony Dequiña                                                         SCREENGRAB from www.youtube.com/user/MidSoundTV

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Former North Cotabato 1st district Representative Anthony Dequiña on Monday vehemently denied he was in any way involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, claiming he was no longer a member of the House of Representatives when the anomaly supposedly involving him occurred.

“I was surprised. I was amazed. I was puzzled. I could not believe my name was dragged into this mess. How can I transact whatever deal with (Janet) Napoles when I was no longer a solon at that time?” Dequiña said in phone interview, adding that there was no evidence, documentary or otherwise, that would prove the allegations against him.

Dequiña, a lawyer, served as North Cotabato representative from 1992 to 2001.

“There was no SARO, nothing…definitely I was not involved,” he said. “Maybe they like my name so they put it in,” he added in jest.

“I was already a private citizen at the time the alleged anomaly took place, how can that be,” he said, adding that he knew Napoles.

“I don’t deny friends, I know Mrs. Napoles but I have no deals with her involving PDAF or anything,” Dequiña said without saying when their last meeting was.

Former North Cotabato second district representative and now provincial vice governor, Gregorio Ipong who served as congressman from 1998 to 2007 could not be reached for comment.  Efforts to reach him proved futile.

At least two lists of government officials and lawmakers allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam have been bared to the public — the list given by alleged pork barrel operator Janet Lim Napoles in her affidavit with the Department of Justice and the list given by Napoles’ former finance officer, Benhur Luy, who has turned whistle-blower.

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