By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, (PNA) — Former budget secretary now Camarines Sur congressman, Rolando Andaya Jr., broke his silence after his name was included among those charged for plunder in connection with the P900-million Malampaya fund controversy filed by the National Bureau of Investigation at the Ombudsman.
Rep. Andaya said that he had offered himself several times to be investigated by any investigating body to shed light on his participation in the disbursement of funds including those funds that went to fake non-governmental organization (NGOs) owned by Janet Lim Napoles.
“My name was never included in the affidavits executed by the whistleblowers. In the first case filed on behalf of the whistleblowers which has 500,000 pages, not one alphabet of my name was mentioned,” Andaya claimed in his statement. “The whistleblowers said they have never seen me or talked to me. Napoles doesn’t know me and not even a paparazzi’s photograph could dispute this.”
Andaya who serves as the budget secretary of then President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo offered himself again to be summoned as he expressed willingness to cooperate for quest for truth.
“I even gave hints that I was always ready to give a statement or an affidavit. Just one text or phone call, I would be there. My offer for help was rejected, what happened next was “file now, investigate later,” the veteran lawmaker stressed.
According to Andaya, what’s worrisome to him is that they are setting a precedent wherein all those involved in the ministerial release of the funds, including DBM officials, should be from now on become automatic co-accused in every graft cases to be filed in the country.
“I wasn’t allowed to confront my accusers or respond to the charges against me. I have volunteered myself to any investigation. But not even a text was sent to me as an invitation. I was open for a grilling. Ang linya ko nga, grill me,” Andaya explained.
He claimed that he was waiting for an invitation to give a statement or submit an affidavit or just a text or phone call to shed light as he vowed that he would be there to clear the air.
He said the release of Malampaya funds was covered by an executive order, based on what has been agreed upon or approved in the Cabinet meeting. The DBM only releases funds after reviewing all the pertinent documents and determine the need or the beneficiaries – in this case, the typhoon victims.
“Hindi ko naman akalain na meron palang mga taong nakaabang na sa dulo na pagsasamantalahan ang isang trahedya para kumita ng pera at gumawa ng raket,” he pointed out.
He even cited an example that if one district engineer buys one pail of fake asphalt or one school principal hijacks money intended for books or a mayor steals the money for medicines, this means that he or she would be charged alongside with the automatic co-accused from the DBM? “Siguro kailangan ko ng isang batalyong abogado para humarap sa mga kaso.”
He stressed that not every request for fund release should be treated with criminal suspicion. In this case, who would have thought that “funds for typhoon victims will find its way into the pockets or bathtubs of others.”
“My job description then was to release money for national funding requirements – a job that did not come with an early warning device that would alert me about a possible hijacking or pilfering when the funds are on its way to the beneficiaries,” he explained.
As DBM chief, he said you always presume that all funding requirements are above board – always with the presumption of regularity. The only guidance that you could give to the people or agencies entrusted with the people’s money is that they should follow all budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and, of course, the procurement law – which I followed to the letter.
“If the so-called masterminds are the ones saying that I have no direct involvement in the plunder of Malampaya funds, why am I now being dragged into this?” he asked.
“Why am I being made as co-accused if evidence show that my only participation is the expediency in the manner of the release of the funds to alleviate the miseries of the typhoon victims?”
“Ni kusing, di ako nakinabang dyan. Ang kasalanan ko lang ay pagsunod sa utos at batas na bigyan ng tulong ang mga biktima ng baha,” he said in disgust.
“My participation was similar to providing funds to buy rice to feed the hungry but after an investigation, the receipts showed liquor purchases. Thus, now I’m an accomplice?” he added.
“Again, I’m begging my accusers to invite me in their quest for truth. Andito lang po ako sa sidewalk ng daang matuwid,” he concluded.