MANILA, Philippines – At least 69 lawmakers from the House of Representatives were identified as having been beneficiaries of Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the pork barrel scam.
Of the 69 names listed, 62 were identified, either through their nicknames or full names while seven others were identified by their family names.
INQUIRER.net looked through all representatives from the 12th to the 16th Congress to narrow down these legislators not properly identified on the list, and to also come up with the list of properly named lawmakers. The pork barrel scam harks back to the 12th Congress when Napoles started to have contacts in the House.
‘Educated guess list’
INQUIRER.net looked for all those who carried only the last names on the list.
Take for instance the family name “Alvarado.” Two names appeared on the legislative roster – Maria Victoria Sy Alvarado and Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado, who both served as Bulacan representative in different Congresses.
The name “Ecleo” could either be former Dinagat Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr., who went into hiding after he was convicted for killing his wife or former Dinagat Rep. Glenda Ecleo, the mother of the fugitive Ecleo.
There are also two “Nograleses” in the roster – former Speaker and former Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, and his son and incumbent solon Karlo Alexei.
‘Standouts’
And then there are those whose names stood out:
* Cabinet member and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad tops the list. Napoles identified him as a beneficiary when he served as Batanes representative in the 12th Congress. Abad has since denied his involvement.
* Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son – Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo who served as both Pampanga representative and partylist lawmaker; and brother-in-law, the late Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, who was Negros Occidental representative.
Interestingly, the former president Arroyo was not on the list even as she faced plunder charges over the Malampaya funds scam also involving Napoles.
* Ex-Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, an administration ally who was implicated in the pork barrel scam. Biazon resigned from his post after he was charged with malversation for his alleged involvement in the scam when he was Muntinlupa representative.
* Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito when he was former San Juan city representative. Ejercito denied this. Coincidentally, his brother Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada was accused of plunder over the scam.
* Tesda chief Joel Villanueva when he was former Cibac partylist representative.
Incumbents vs past solons
It appears that former lawmakers numbering 56 dominated the list.
Among the incumbents on the same list are: Compostela Valley Rep. Rommel Amatong, Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Cebu Rep. Raul Del Mar, Lanao Del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Bukidnon Rep. Florencio Flores, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, An Waray Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab.
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