Singson: ‘I was not a corrupt Secretary, not a plunderer’

Former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

“I was not a corrupt Secretary and definitely not a plunderer.”

Those were   former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singon’s strong words when he faced a Senate hearing on Monday about the alleged P 8.7 billion right-of-way (ROW) scam in General Santos City.

In the first place, Singson said there were no P8.7 billion ROW projects in the province as it covered nationwide.

“I  fully support President Duterte’s anti-corruption program but let me say I did not profit or gain anything from any these land claims as accused by Secretary Aguirre,” the former official said during the hearing of the Senate committee on public works.

Singson was referring to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who was just seated beside him while he was giving his opening statement.

The probe was initiated by Senator Manny Pacquiao, chairman of the committee.

Roberto Catapang Jr., a witness in the alleged ROW scam in General Santos City, also faced the Senate investigation on the issue on Monday.

Eldon Cruz, a brother-in-law of former President Benigno S. Aquino III by sister Ballsy, was also invited to the hearing. It was Cruz, who had allegedly endorsed the release of payments for the supposed bogus ROW claims in the province.

READ: Aquino’s brod-in-law linked to scam

/kga