By Janice M. Cave
MANILA, (PNA) — Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad denied Thursday additional “pork barrel” funds were offered to senators to vote for the conviction of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial two years ago.
Abad was reacting to allegations made by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in a privilege speech Wednesday that P50 million was offered to senators to convict the former chief magistrate.
“Wala kaming pinamigay… Hindi patakaran ng administrayong Aquino na gawin ho ‘yan para sa ganun eh mismong konsensya ng mga mambabatas ay lalabagin natin,” Abad said in a television phone patch interview.
Abad said when Senate President Franklin Drilon asked Estrada if there was any bribery attempt, Estrada said there was none. He also said he is not privy to the content of a “letter” allegedly containing the “bribery attempt” that Estrada was referring to.
“We’ve nothing to do with that and we have no knowledge of that,” he said.
“He’s making conclusion on the basis of that note that was passed on to him. Sabi ko nga, sana binasa na lang niya yung note para malinaw na pero unfortunately he did not,” he added.
Abad also defended his wife, Batanes Rep. Abad whom Estrada questioned for having only P2 million of her “pork barrel” funds audited as shown in the Commission on Audit special report from 2007-2009.
Abad said this is not possible as his wife was not given any PDAF during her term, being a member of the Liberal Party, an opposition party during the Arroyo administration.
“Walang binigay (na pondo). Even congresswoman Abad ay nagtataka bakit siya may P2 million eh she got nothing… After I resigned from the Arroyo administration in 2005 and after the Liberal Party filed an impeachment complaint against her, yung aming distrito, zero na nakuha. The only PDAF she got was in 2004. 2005, 2006, 2007 zero siya,” Abad said.