Roxas admits he’s hurt by accusations he misused ‘Yolanda’ funds

MANILA, Philippines — Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has admitted that he is hurt by accusations that he had a hand in the misuse of funds for the rehabilitation of areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“Tao lang tayo. Of course nahu-hurt tayo. Pero, nilalagpasan ko na lang yan. I mean, tanggap ko na hindi lahat, magkakagusto sa akin. Hindi lahat, susuporta sa akin,” he said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

(I’m only human. Of course, I was hurt. But I moved on. I was able to accept that not everybody would like me. Not everybody will support me.)

However, he said that people who show disdain for him may have been influenced by fake news in social media.

“Kung galit kayo sa akin, ayaw niyo sa akin, karapatan ng trolls na magpahayag ng kanilang nararamdaman pero doon tayo sa totoo. Baka nadadala lang kayo ng fake news,” he claimed.

(If you have issues with me or you don’t like me, it’s your right to express your opinion. But let’s stand for truth. Don’t get influenced by fake news.)

Recently, independent organizations have fact-checked social media posts mocking Roxas. Agence France-Presse (AFP) said images of Roxas drinking from a plate and eating using cups were manipulated and, therefore, not genuine.

READ: AFP fact-checks Mar Roxas ‘drinking from plate’ photo

READ: LOOK: Fake photo of Duterte holding anti-Roxas sign

Roxas also said that there is no truth to memes saying he stole the ‘Yolanda’ funds.

“Kasi malinaw naman ang katotohanan. Yung COA (Cmmission on Audit) report mismo. Yung Ombudsman report mismo. Lahat ng dokumentasyon pati na yung Yolanda Czar mismo na si Ping Lacson, nagsasabi na hindi naman sa akin dumaan ang pera,” he added.

(The truth is clear. The COA report, the Ombudsman report, and all the documents show that the money did not pass through me. This was confirmed by Yolanda czar Ping Lacson.)

Recently, Senator Panfilo Lacson cleared Roxas, whom he described as the favorite punching bag of President Rodrigo Duterte, from any wrongdoing stemming from the controversial ‘Yolanda’ funds.

Duterte has been critical of Roxas, his rival in the last 2016 Presidential Elections. He asked Roxas several times where the Yolanda funds went.

READ: Lacson backs Duterte ‘punching bag,’ 9 other senatorial bets

READ: Duterte slams Roxas: Where are billions of ‘Yolanda’ funds?

READ: Roxas camp asks voters: Don’t fall for fake news on Yolanda funds 

Roxas thanked Lacson for defending him, asserting that the funds never even passed through his office.

“Of course maraming salamat kay Sen. Ping Lacson na tumatayo para sa katotohanan na hindi dumaan sa akin yung pera. Ang totoo naman niyan, wala akong kinalaman sa Yolanda funds na yan. Lumabas yan ng panahon ng kampanya na walang basehan,” he said.

(Of course, I thank Sen. Ping Lacson who confirmed that I have nothing to do with the Yolanda funds. That issue has surfaced in an election season. It has no bases.) /ee