MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 5, 2014) – The Movement for People Empowerment or MPE has filed graft charges against Senior Deputy Minority Leader Neri Colmenares, but the lawmaker said the action was an “unadulterated harassment case” and denied all accusations against him.
The case filed at the Office of the Ombudsman in Iloilo City is connected to a supposed over priced two-classroom building of the Dela Peña Primary School in Barotac Viejo town.
Colmenares said he is ready and willing to prove that the charges are false and malicious. “This project was requested from my office by Barotac Viejo Mayor Niel Tupas III and the municipality was the one that implemented it. I asked the Department of Budget and Management if the project worth funding to which the DBM agreed and funded it directly through the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said.
He said the project was completed in February. “And like in other projects, not a single centavo was given or passed through me,” he said.
Colmenares, a strong critic of President Benigno Aquino, has accused the government as behind MPE.
“Malacanang is again trying to discredit the opposition instead of heeding the call of the people to investigate even administration allies. As a response we challenge Malacanang to open to the public all the projects of departments and agencies under the President and all members of Congress who endorsed projects thru the Disbursement Acceleration Program. We also ask all members of Congress to open all their bank accounts for public scrutiny. Additionally, we should all submit ourselves to a lifestyle check,” he said.
“I have never stolen a single centavo from public funds and Malacanang should desist from attempting to destroy my credibility and instead heed the people’s demand to come out with all DAP related projects including those endorsed by members of Congress,” he said.
Colmenares’ ally, Rep. Carlos Zarate, also decried the case filed against the lawmaker. “The made-up case is a clear harassment act ex cathedra and we fear that similar cases will be filed against members of the Makabayan Bloc as the hearings on the impeachment cases against Pres. Aquino draw near.”
“As in the past, this renewed harassment against us, particularly against our colleague, Rep. Neri will not cow or deter us from continuing our advocacies. On the contrary, it will only embolden us to continue with our expose and opposition on the corrupt and anti-people policies of this administration,” Zarate said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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