Ex-senator Angara denies Jinggoy’s insinuation

Former senator Edgardo Angara Sr. (senate.gov.ph)

MANILA – Former Senator Edgardo Angara on Thursday denied insinuation of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada that the former’s Php50-million Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was misappropriated.

”Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is grossly mistaken in insinuating that the Php50 million allocation issued to me after the Corona impeachment was misappropriated,” Angara said in a press statement.

Angara explained that the Kalusugan ng Bata, Karunungan ng Bayan, Inc. (K and K), referred to by Jinggoy, is a foundation established to conduct a School Feeding Program in certain public schools considered nutritionally deficient.

”The program was given in various public schools in Pasay City, Quezon City, San Juan, in selected schools in the Visayas in partnership with the UP Barangay Nutrition Program, and in some places in Mindanao,” Angara said.

He said the Commission on Audit (COA) report merely required K and K to submit additional documents which it already submitted for full accounting.

Angara said Estrada is also mistaken for the simple reason that the COA report pertains to transactions made by K and K in 2007 and 2008.

”K and K has already wound up its business as early as 2009, and finally closed in 2011. Meanwhile, the impeachment of CJ Corona began on January 16, 2012 and ended on May 29, 2012,” Angara said.

Angara and Estrada were among the 20 senators who voted for the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Estrada’s insinuation was triggered by Angara’s new biography titled “Edgardo J. Angara: In the rand manner” where Angara described as “reckless” and “unfair” Estrada’s DAP exposé.