20 present and former congressmen linked to new pork barrel scam

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile has been among the accused in the new P500-million pork barrel scam.
(Facebook photo)

MANILA – Four new whistle-blowers revealed a questionable P500-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation involving Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr., former Senator Edgardo Angara and 17 other incumbent and former lawmakers, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

The alleged P490,685,000.00 were funneled to national Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) and eventually received by other organizations and foundations. The Commission on Audit (COA) found these diversions questionable.

With the assistance of lawyer Levito Baligod, who also served as a legal counsel in the P10-billion pork barrel scam purportedly perpetuated by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the whistle-blowers have already been preparing their sworn affidavits, and copies of checks and other documents as evidences to be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman tomorrow.

“May I respectfully refer to you for appropriate actions the enclosed affidavits of four witnesses who detailed their knowledge on the involvement of certain government officials and private individuals in the so-called PDAF scam,” Baligod said in a letter, addressing Ombudsman Conshita Carpio Morales.

“The witnesses share their knowledge on how the malversation of P490,685,000.00 of PDAF happened and the participation of each of those who appear to be responsible,” he added, mentioning that the PDAF funds were received by questionable organizations and foundations ‘through the solicitation of other service providers using exactly the same modus as that of Janet Napoles.’

Aside from Enrile, Revilla and Angara, also linked to the new pork barrel scam were former representatives Rodolfo Antonino, Evita Arago, Rachel Arenas, Roberto Cajes, Marina Clarete, Reno Lim, Carol Lopez, Florencio Miraflores, Prospero Nograles, Joseph Santiago, Edgar San Luis, Alfonso Umali and Joel Villanueva, and incumbent representatives Al Francis Bichara, Julius Ledesma IV, Arturo Robes and Neil Tupas.