‘Careless’ release of PDAF info bewailed

This is with reference to the front-page news report that “the DOTC has failed to account for roughly P66 million worth of computers and equipment bankrolled by pork barrel funds of nine lawmakers” (7/26/13). The article then proceeded to name me as one of the nine lawmakers.

First of all, I am respectfully requesting the Commission on Audit to clarify why its report on the 2011 PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) transactions of the Department of Transportation and Communications should involve my name when I had left Congress in June 2010.

I deplore the careless manner by which unverified information such as this was released to the media and misled the public. During my brief stint in Congress (2007-2010), I did not allocate any funds from the PDAF for the purchase of IT equipment or computers. The bulk of the PDAF allocation was used to build concrete farm-to-market roads and school buildings. These projects can be readily verified in the barangays of the district.

I recall that my district was the recipient of donations of computers. If these donations are in fact the subject of the COA report on the DOTC transactions, I can assure the public that each and every donated computer coursed through my office then was distributed to requesting schools and barangays and duly received and documented.

The statement I earlier issued to a regional reporter of the Inquirer to clarify the issue did not see print. I hope the publication of this letter will set the record straight.

—VICTOR E. AGBAYANI