Tags
By Joel M Sy Egco
The camp of Benhur Luy and other witnesses in the pork barrel scam are sifting through voluminous documents that could be used as evidence to pin down Janet Lim-Napoles, in the P407mn “ghost” computer project at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded a decade ago.
Luy’s lawyer, Raji Mendoza, said they are scrutinising each document related to the anomaly, which happened during the term of then-DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza.
“Napoles was a principal in the DOTC computer deal where she used Jo Chris Trading to supply the computers that never came,” Raji Mendoza told Manila Times.
He said they will also submit soon Luy’s affidavit on the fertiliser fund scam where Napoles was also a principal accused.
“We’re doing both at the same time. We are now busy with the DOTC anomaly,” Mendoza said. Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she would have the questionable DOTC project investigated and that charges will be filed against those involved.
Mendoza said Jo Chris Trading cornered the P407mn contract for the distribution of computers and other communication equipment to local governments picked by lawmakers from 2002 to 2003.
The project, it was learned, was awarded to the company without the benefit of public bidding. Witnesses said not a single item was delivered, raising suspicion that the money was used only for election purposes.
Mendoza said the Commission on Audit (COA) dragged its feet in investigating the reported anomalies.
In the past, several lawmakers also took a swipe at COA auditors for their slow action on several complaints.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga claimed that these anomalies would not have happened without the connivance of COA auditors.“COA chairman (Grace Pulido) Tan has been very vocal about the pork barrel scam yet no COA auditor has been mentioned in the pork barrel issue,” Barzaga said in a previous interview.
It was alleged that the DOTC and fertiliser fund scams were “test schemes” that led to the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
