Senator Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Cynthia Villar believes that compared to other senators, she has more reasons to get mad that her name has been dragged into the “pork barrel” scam.
Villar took the floor on Monday to make a manifestation where she lamented: “Kung masama ang loob ng ating ibang mga senador dito sa Senado sa Napoles List, lalo na kami.”
“Hindi kasi namin kilala si (We don’t really know) Mrs. Napoles, and we have no transactions whatsoever with her or her NGOs (non-government organizations), using our PDAF,” she said.
Napoles is detained Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged “pork” scam mastermind, while PDAF is Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) also known as “pork barrel” funds.
Villar lamented that she was included in the so-called “Napoles List” simply because she received several computers from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) when she was still member of the opposition group in the House of Representatives.
“For your information, hindi lang naman ang DOTC ang nagbibigay ng computers, pati DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) at DOST (Department of Science and Technology). That is in line with their computer literacy program,” she pointed out.
“This is not PDAF-related. We didn’t have any influence over these departments, as to where or from whom they will buy the computers, and the cost of buying them.”
Villar said she did not personally receive the computers because they were delivered by the government departments or their representatives directly to public schools and barangays.
“I want the people to know that majority of the members of Congress are still serving you with all honesty and integrity in the spirit of public service,” she added.
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