Senators Grace Poe and Mark Villar, and Makati Mayor Nancy Binay have spoken out following their inclusion in former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s supplemental affidavit.
Bernardo’s affidavit was presented before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Friday, and supposedly named those involved in corruption.
Senator Grace Poe denied the allegation, asserting she has never been involved in corruption.
“I’m saddened by all the recent news. I trust that the DOJ will look into this string of accusations. I support the investigations, that is why I was the first to attend the ICI proceedings. It’s alarming that my name was mentioned today. I have NEVER been involved in corruption, this I can clearly say to all Filipinos,” she said.
Senator Mark Villar, formerly a DPWH Secretary, “vehemently” denied the allegation made against him, calling it a “huge lie,” and urged Filipinos to be discerning.
“I vehemently and categorically deny the accusations made today in the Blue Ribbon Committee. Isa po itong malaking kasinungalingan. I ask the public to be discerning and not to rush judgment based solely on a person’s affidavit, which may be manufactured or tailored fit for his or other people’s convenience," he said.
“I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant as a Representative, DPWH Secretary, and Senator of this Republic,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Senator and currently serving as Makati City Mayor, Nancy Binay, also rejected the accusation, saying she had nothing to do with anomalous DPWH projects.
“Tahimik na po tayong nagtatrabaho bilang Mayor ng Makati, at uulitin ko po: Wala po akong kinalaman, ni anumang papel, sa mga anomalous projects ng DPWH, at wala po akong empleyado sa senado na kayang gawin ang ibinabato sa akin.
“I will not allow lies such as this to distract my focus in serving the people of Makati,” she wrote in a statement.
According to Bernardo, politicians such as Poe, Villar, Binay, and others purportedly received project “commitments,” or 12 percent to 15 percent of project values. In addition, principal DPWH officials such as Villar and former Secretary Manuel Bonoan allegedly managed project allocations and received percentages of these commitments.
