President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night revealed the names of lawmakers who have been linked to alleged corruption related to infrastructure projects.
In a televised briefing, Duterte also relieved from their posts district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are involved in the alleged corruption.
Among the members of the House of Representatives whose names the President mentioned were Angelina Helen Tan, Josephine Ramirez Sato, Teddy Baguilat Jr., Alfredo Vargas, Henry Ramil Juminal, Alicia Sienna Tan, Paul Daza, Eric Yap, and Geraldine Roman.
Duterte made clear the graft allegations against the lawmakers had yet to be proven.
The list he read was provided by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), whch started the investigation in November.
"The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that's one. That it can be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would lie all throughout until conviction or acquittal," Duterte said during his weekly public address.
"This is not evidenced that they are corrupt. But their names came up, and I have to tell the people otherwise I'd look stupid," he said.
Duterte earlier said he will not be reading the list in public, adding he had no authority to investigate lawmakers accused of corruption because they belonged to the legislature. He has directed PACC to submit the list to the Ombudsman.
In late October, Duterte issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to look into anomalies in state agencies until the end of his term in 2022.
The memo gave the DOJ the power to decide what allegations to investigate and to work with other agencies.
Previously, Quezon Rep. Helen Tan defended her husband, a regional director of the DPWH, from allegations of graft and corruption and partisanship, saying these had no basis.
“The filing of ostentatious displays of wealth charges along with allegations of partisan political activities against my husband… smacks of pure political harassment,” Tan said in a statement last October.
“It is not only without basis but one which we have been forewarned about, especially because it is beginning to look a lot like 2022 elections,” she added.
An incumbent councilor in Lopez, Quezon had filed a complaint against DPWH Region I Director Ronnel Tan before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, corrupt practices, conduct unbecoming a public officer, and involvement in partisan political activities.
In his complaint, Councilor Arkie Manuel Yulde mentioned a recent incident where Ronnel Tan threw a party at his residence in Quezon and “threw cash in the air” for his guests.
“I decry this move by certain political sectors who are out to besmirch the good name and reputation of our family who have done nothing but to be deeply involved in the lives of our people through the delivery of meaningful public service,” Rep. Tan said.
The congresswoman said she welcomed the opportunity to prove the charges wrong in the appropriate forum.
“The trumped-up charges being hurled against Engr. Tan merely shows how desperate our political enemies have become during the past weeks and months, particularly because I have been perceived to be gearing for a gubernatorial run next elections,” she said.
Tan said she believed the charges were “orchestrated efforts” of a political dynasty in Quezon, adding that she had been “unceremoniously” removed as chairperson of the Committee on Health.
“I cannot help but think that these charges are not isolated but part of the orchestrated efforts of a political dynasty in the province to weaken my resolve to bring the brand of our public service throughout the entire Province of Quezon,” Tan said.