Mar Roxas denies extort allegations of rice trader

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA,Philippines- Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II denied Friday accusations of alleged extortion against him exposed by a rice trader.

Jomerito Soliman, whose warehouse in Bulacan province was raided in July, said Thursday the money amounting to P15 million was extorted from him by National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Arthur Juan and an assistant.

In a sworn statement submitted to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Soliman said Juan told him that P5 million each was meant for Roxas and Presidential Assistant on Food Security Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and another P5 million for the NFA chief himself.

Roxas, however, denied these allegations.

“Mariin kong pinabubulaanan ang pagdawit sa aking pangalan ni Mr. Jojo Soliman na may kinalaman sa kasong extortion na inihain laban kay NFA Administrator Arthur Juan,” Roxas said in a statement.

(I strongly deny the allegations of Mr. Jojo Soliman involving the extortion case filed against NFA Administrator Arthur Juan.)

He said he never had the chance to talk to Soliman.

He clarified that he met with Juan but on a meeting related only to rice smuggling.

“Nakakagalit at nakakasama ng loob na idinawit ang aking malinis na pangalan sa pangingikil ng pera ng ilang tao,” he said.

(It is revolting that my clean name was involved in this extortion allegations.)

The interior secretary said he would cooperate with the NBI to resolve the issue.

He asked the NBI to undertake necessary legal actions and investigation to punish the individuals behind this crime.

“Umaasa ako na masusundan ng NBI ang paper at money trail upang matukoy kung ano nga ba talaga ang nangyari,” he said.

(I am hoping that the NBI could follow the money and paper trail so it could identify what really happened.)

He said he would never let anyone to use his name for illegal transactions.

He said it is his duty to implement the law and that he is seriously doing his duty as an interior secretary.

“Trabaho ko ang magpatupad ng batas. Seryoso kong ginagampanan ang tungkuling ito, sinuman ang masagasaan.”

(“It is my duty to implement the law. I am serious in doing my job.)