La Union Rep. Victor Ortega (left) and and his brother former Rep. and now Gov. Manuel Ortega: Denials. congress.gov.ph; lpp.gov.ph
La Union Rep. Victor Ortega and his brother former Rep. and now Gov. Manuel Ortega denied Monday that they misused their pork barrel allocations.
The Ortegas are among the former and incumbent members of the House of Representatives who will be charged with malversation of public funds this week for alleged misuse of their pork barrel from 2007 to 2009.
Representative Ortega said he never met detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam, and whistle-blower Benhur Luy.
“I never met Napoles. I never met Luy. I never transacted business with them,” he said in a telephone interview.
Adamor Dagang, La Union provincial information officer, said Governor Ortega’s lawyers were coordinating with government agencies involved in the probe.
“[Governor Ortega’s] lawyers are handling this issue. His lawyers are cooperating with all the bodies/entities who will/who are conducting inquiries so that the truth will come out. Issues will be answered in the proper forum at the right time,” Dagang said in a text message sent to the Inquirer.