Budget Sec- Estrada Speech ‘Baseless, Inaccurate’

Budget and Management Secretary Butch Abad on Wednesday reacted on Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s statement made in his privilege speech branding it as “baseless and inaccurate” including the allegation that the PNoy administration used pork barrel funds to convict former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Estrada said an additional P50 million in PDAF was given to each senator who voted to convict Corona. Senator Estrada even cited a “confidential note” that would proved it.

The Senator also alleged that lawmakers were given or offered “rewards” to support the sin tax and reproductive health measures, Gma news online reported.

In an interview, Abad has said “It is unfair to me personally and to the DBM because [Estrada’s statements] are baseless and inaccurate.”

Abad, however, denied the note referred by Estrada in his speech. “Hindi namin alam ano ‘yung note na ‘yun… we are not privy to that note. He jumps to the conclusion na ‘yung note na ‘yun is an attempt to bribe him [at na] may kinalaman ang DBM o admin doon. Masyado naman yata tumatalon sa conclusion ‘yun,” Abad said.

Abad likewise said he does not know where the text message which supposedly said he was threatening lawmakers with the non-release of their PDAF came from. “That is absolutely not true. Hindi ako kailanman nagpakalat ng text messgae na mismong tinatakot yung mga mababatas na kapag hindi sila bumoto sa kagustuhan ng admin ay hindi sila mabibigyan ng kanilang PDAF. Wala hong katotohanan ‘yun,” Abad said.

The DBM secretary said Estrada and other critics probably just couldn’t believe that the President Aquino was able to convince lawmakers to pass legislation which no other administration was able to. “Talagang umapela [lang] si President Aquino [sa mambabatas]. Kung meron siyang [Estrada] katibayan [na hindi ganoon], ipakita niya,” Abad said.

Estrada also challenged Abad to turn over to the Commission on Audit all records on pork barrel releases, as well as those on “rewards” and “additionals” given to lawmakers. Abad, however, said he doesn’t have any documents like that because there were no rewards given. “Paano kami maglalabas [niyan ang] sinasabi namin wala naman panunuhol,” Abad said.

Moreover, Abad also defended his wife, Batanes Rep. Dina Abad, whom the Senator questioned for being audited only a portion of her PDAF during the previous administration.

Abad said his wife was not given any PDAF for being part of the then opposition, the Liberal Party, and that is the reason why she was audited only a portion of it. The DBM chief said that instead of making accusations, Estrada should just answer charges filed against him.

Abad said the people awaits how Senator Estrada would face the evidence presented to the authorities. “Maraming nilabas na ebidesnya dun sa COA report tsaka diyan sa DOJ na ang hinihintay ng mamamayan kung ano ang kanyang tugon sa mga iyon,” Abad said.
Source: GMA news online