Press Release
August 13, 2014

SEN. ALAN CAYETANO'S MANIFESTATION ON THE FLOOR
RE: REPORTS ON ALLEGED COA FINDINGS

I believe in the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press. But I also believe in responsible media, especially when we distinguish between editorials, opinions and factual reporting. In editorials and opinion writing, they have much, much latitude. But when a newspaper pretends to have a factual report, but then it is malicious, grossly inaccurate, or the words are intentionally put to change the meaning of the factual report, then it becomes very irresponsible and it does harm to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press because even the other legitimate newspaper men, legitimate outlets of the media, print, broadcast like radio and TV, the traditional media, pati po sila naaapektuhan because ang credibility ng sistema at ng media.

The city of Taguig is winning awards left and right, from the World Bank being the most business-friendly city in Metro Manila and top 10 in the whole Philippines, they just topped the National Achievement Test, from number 13 out of 17 in Metro Manila in 2009 to number one this year. I think I owe it to the city that has been very good to me to defend its honor.

First, there was a claim that there are 3,000 casuals, and the words used by the article is that, "the CoA red flagged ghost employees, irregularities, gargantuan, raised questions of ghost employees, and raised possibilities of." For the record, the CoA report did not mention any of those words. Wala po sa CoA report ang red flag, ghost employees, irregularities, gargantuan, raised questions, raised possibilities of... In fact, let me read word for word the CoA report:

"...Verification disclosed that the personnel and the abovementioned programs were actually assigned and deployed to different offices in the absence of or lack of regular personnel performing regular functions and services."

In fact, there is nothing in the report that shows any irregularity. Just a preference of the CoA for regular employees over job orders. And that is their right, but the city is winning awards left and right from refusing to allow people to go to the city hall and the city is sending people to their homes to deliver services. So let me just put on the record the total falsity of the claimed factual report trying to quote a CoA report. In the CoA report, I will submit page 404 of the 2012 CoA report. And as I said, it did not say anything that appears on these newspapers.

Number two, it is being made to appear that this representation has P135M in pork barrel that was put in Taguig. And the words used again were, "ghost, irregularities, etc." For the record, the newspaper article claims P165M. The P165M was in fact pork barrel put in the city of Taguig, but the Alan Cayetano part was only P2.69M. the P162M came from Congressman Duenas, the former Congressman of Taguig, former Senate President Enrile, and also from former Speaker Nograles and other people who put money in Taguig. It was Congressman Duenas' pork barrel that was questioned by CoA for several irregularities.

For the P2.7M that was put in 3 barangays, P750K in bgy. Ligid, P1.2M in bgy. Maharlika, and P748K in bgy. Calzada, the findings of the CoA was simply documentary, these have all been answered by the barangays. I have nothing to do with the transactions but all the services and the products purchased were in fact delivered. Suffice it to say that all these newspapers are making it appear that I had P165M and then may nawawala sa P165M when in fact and in truth, we are only talking about P2.7M.

I am open to criticism and I always appreciate investigations. I have always believed that it is the opportunity to clear your name and for people t see the truth. I have written CoA time and again, to investigate. I welcome any investigation. It doesn't have to be a Senate investigation.

I will answer it to the best of my abilities and I will guarantee na ni singko, walang ninakaw doon. I don't expect any referral, but I would just like to put that manifestation on the floor ad on record so that no one will say that by not answering, I am saying that such reports are true.

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