Cagayan lawmaker not involved in scam, says Belmonte

Rep. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–A Cagayan lawmaker has denied any participation in the scam involving fake special allotment release orders (Saros), according to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Belmonte said he had talked with Rep. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso on Friday and “she insists she does not know anything about the fake Saro.” Alfonso claimed she did not know that her aide was dealing in such documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), he said in a phone interview.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga of the National Unity Party said Alfonso was a member of the party, which was also keen on getting enlightened on the issue. “We will talk to her (Monday),” said Barzaga in a separate phone interview.

Both Belmonte and Barzaga are worried that the alleged involvement of one of its members in the scam could further pull down Congress’ ratings amid public outrage over the P10-billion pork barrel racket involving past and present legislators.

Alfonso’s aide, Enrico Arao told probers of the the National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Graft Division on Friday that he “hand-carried” the Saro that had the fake signature of Budget Undersecretary Luz Cantor but claimed that he did not know that the document was bogus.

Arao said he submitted the Saro for P161 million worth of farm-to-market road projects to the Department of Agriculture  office in Region II (Cagayan Valley) in good faith.

The NBI has received reports of fake Saros from other regions in the course of its investigation of bogus Saros for P879 million worth of farm-to-market roads that the agriculture department’s office in Cagayan Valley uncovered in October.

The other regions are Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Soccsksargen.

Alfonso ran unopposed in the May elections. She used to be vice mayor of Abulug town until her father, Rep. Florencio Vargas, died a few months before the opening of the 15th Congress in 2010.

She won in a special election in 2011 under Team Cagayan led by then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Gov. Alvaro Antonio.

Her nephew, Melvin Vargas Jr., was reelected board member in May, while her brother Jesus Emmanuel and sister Precy were elected mayor and vice mayor of Abulug, respectively.

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