Abad denies links with NBI exec dragged in ‘pork’ probe

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said on Sunday that he is not a relative of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division chief Ronald Aguto and denied influencing the course of the investigation on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

During the bail hearing of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. last Thursday, lawyer Joel Bodagon, Revilla’s counsel, claimed that Aguto is Abad’s nephew.

“Mr. Aguto is not related to me. We are distantly connected by marriage, but he’s not a relative.

Neither have I used this affinity in any way to influence the direction of the PDAF scam investigation, as Atty. Bodagon appears to suggest,” Abad said in a statement.

Aguto’s division is the one responsible for examining the digital and hard drive files of PDAF whistleblower Benhur Luy which are used as evidence against legislators allegedly involved in the “pork barrel scam.”

During the said hearing, an NBI forensic expert revealed that at least 2,410 files have been deleted from the hard drive.

Despite his denial, Abad said that he is supporting the “prompt resolution” of the PDAF probe.

“Nonetheless, we in the DBM continue to support the prompt resolution of the PDAF probe, so that those responsible for these fund abuses will finally be held accountable,” Abad added.

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