Abad finds it amusing he’s on Napoles pork list

By: Nestor Corrales - 11 years ago

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Budget Secretary Florencio Abad denied Tuesday that he funnelled his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to any of the dummy non-government organizations (NGOs) of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“I have never dealt with Janet Lim Napoles or any of her fake NGOs in any way throughout my career in public service either as representative of Batanes, as Budget and Management Secretary, or as an official of any other public office that has been entrusted to me,” Abad said in a statement.

He said he had spent his professional life inside government and in civil society “working to improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos by pushing for reforms in public governance.”

According to him, none of his projects went to fake NGOs, adding that “nothing credible has been brought against him but rather unfounded allegations and malicious name-calling.”

“I find it amusing, if not outright revolting, that I am once again in the crosshairs of those who want the Aquino administration to fall,” he said.

“Matagal ko nang tanggap na idadawit ako kung saan-saan gawa ng aming trabaho sa DBM bilang tagapangalaga ng kaban ng bayan at taga-sulong ng reporma sa pamahalaan—lalo na’t pinaiigting ngayon ng administrasyong Aquino ang Daang Matuwid. Habang lumalapit ang 2016, tiyak na marami pang lalabas na absurdong alegasyon. Tiwala akong masasala ng publiko ang mga kuwentong imbento lang, at maninindigan sila para sa katotohanan,” he said.

(I have long accepted that I will be dragged into various controversies because of the nature of my job. As the 2016 election nears, I believe that there would be more absurd allegations that would surface. I am confident that the public would be able to distinguish rumors and would be able to stand for what is right.)

“Until the public sees the true affidavit of Janet Lim Napoles, and until hard evidence supports the statements in this affidavit, everything is speculation, if not total fabrication, at this point,” Abad said.

He urged the public not to immediately believe the allegations, but to weigh the only thing that matters in the end—the evidence.

“I urge the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman to continue their investigation, follow the evidence wherever it may lead them, and take appropriate action on behalf of the people,” he said.

On Monday night, former senator and now rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson in a television interview confirmed that Abad is on the list of government officials involved in the scam.