Escudero: I never allocated my funds to any of Napoles’ NGOs

By: Nestor Corrales - 11 years ago

Sen. Francis Escudero INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis Escudero on Tuesday expressed confidence that he did not allocate his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“We (Escudero and his office) never allocated funds, initiatives, PDAF o anumang pondo sa anumang NGO niya at ni walang pag-uusap,” Escudero said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

(We never allocated funds, initiatives, PDAF or any fund to her NGOs. There was not even a discussion about it.)

Escudero cited the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) that his PDAF was never allocated to the bogus NGOs linked to Napoles.

He added that in the testimonies of the whistleblowers, his name was never included in the list of lawmakers who allegedly funnelled their pork barrel funds to bogus NGOs and received kickbacks from Napoles.

“Sa mga detalye sa mga whistleblowers, kahit minsan hindi lumabas ang pangalan ko,” he said.

(According to the testimonies of the whistleblowers, my name was never included.)

Escudero expressed reservations about the credibility of Napoles saying her list of lawmakers who funnelled their pork barrel to her bogus NGOs is meant to confuse the public.

“Ang intensyon ay pampagulo at pampalabo at sana ay di naman magpagamit itong si [former] senator Lacson,” he said.

(The intention was meant to confuse the public and I hope [former] senator Lacson wouldn’t be used as an attack dog.)

“I am not questioning his motive. I do not have business questioning his motive. But does he believe the list of Napoles?” he said.

On Monday night, former senator and now rehabilitation czar PanfiloLacson in a television interview confirmed the inclusion of Escudero in the list of senators who allocated their pork barrel funds to the NGOs linked to Napoles.