Tiangco admits receiving all his PDAF
MANILA, Philippines–After complaining lengthily how Malacanang allegedly withheld his priority development assistance fund (PDAF), Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco
admitted before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, that he received his PDAF for 2010 and 2011.
Tiangco made this admission Monday when he was cross-examined by prosecutor
member and Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Farinas.
Farinas started his cross-examination by reminding the witness that legislators receive their PDAF in two tranches – the first tranche is for the first half of he year while the second tranche is for the second half of the year.
“The first first second tranche of 2010, which was our first six months, did you get all your PDAF?” Farinas asked.
“Completely, your honor,” said Tiangco.
“How about for 2011?” asked Farinas.
“For 2011, I have to qualify it, for the first tranche yan yung sinasabi kong na-delay. Nakuha ko na yun ng August I got the first tranche in August),” said the witness.
“So nakuha mo (So you got it)?” asked Farinas, to which Tiangco answered, “August 1.”
“So nakuha mo?” Farinas asked again and Tiangco repeated his answer.
“Correct, Nakuha mo…” said Farinas. But Tiangco explained that other congressmen got their PDAF in May while he received his fund only in August.
Asked about the second tranche for 2011, Tiangco said he also got his PDAF sometime in October.
But when the witness tried to elaborate his statement, Farinas said, “Okay na. Ang question is kung nakuha mo (It’s okay. The question was whether you got it).”
“Hindi pwedeng mag-explain (Can I not explain?),” asked Tiangco but Farinas proceeded with his next question.
Farinas asked the witness if he was aware of any of the 188 signatories of the impeachment complaint against Corona, who did not really want to sign it.
“In confidence , masama ang loob. Pinilit sila. But in confidence, so I can’t say who told me that (In confidence, they resented),” said Tiangco.
