In a radio interview over government-run dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, whose names have been linked to the scam, will not be spared if evidence is found against them.
“Kailangan lang pong lumabas ‘yung mismong kongkretong impormasyon at mismong ebidensya. Handa naman po ang ating dalawang kalihim na harapin ‘yang mga akusasyon na ‘yan,” he said.
Detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, said to be the mastermind of the scam, has alleged it was Abad who taught her how to create non-government organizations.
Lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations were allegedly funneled to Napoles’ NGOs for non-existent projects.
Abad has denied the accusation and has said he has never dealt with Napoles. Alcala has likewise denied dealing with the businesswoman, now detained at Fort Sto. Domingo in San Pedro, Laguna.
Coloma stressed there will be so-called sacred cows in the investigation into the PDAF scam.
“Wala naman po dahil nga batay lang sa ebidensya, batay lang po sa kongkretong impormasyon na nakakalap. Wala naman pong pinipuwera (itsapwera), wala din pong pinag-iinitan. Kung saan po tatama ‘yung hataw ng batas, ika nga, dahil sa ipinapakita ng kongkretong ebidensya, ‘yon po ang magiging gabay sa gagawin ng ating mga awtoridad,” he said.
The Aquino administration has been criticized by activist groups and by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who has been charged with plunder and graft over his alleged participation in the scam, of selective justice for supposedly sparing political allies whose names have been dragged into the scam. — JDS, GMA News
