MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima allegedly received an additional P1-million allowance from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) when she was still head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) during the Arroyo administration.
This allegation was raised on Wednesday by Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada during De Lima’s confirmation hearing at the Commission on Appointment’s committee on justice and judicial and bar council.
“Isn’t it true that Mrs. Arroyo gave you an additional P1m a month coming from Pagcor as your additional allowance?” Estrada asked, referring to former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“There was a confidential fund allotted to the CHR…Thats is not an additional allowance, sir,” de Lima said.
The funds, she said, varied from P500,000 and given sometimes quarterly but not every month.
“As confidential , intelligence funds po,” De Lima stressed.
“No, I don’t believe that,” Estrada said “You were receiving a monthly allowance of P1M.”
The senator said a former Malacañang personnel, a certain Ching Vargas, kept the records that De Lima allegedly received P1-million monthly allowance from Pagcor upon order by then President Arrroyo.
But Vargas had already died, Estrada said.
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