I write in reaction to Oscar Franklin Tan’s commentary titled “How we can break free from the ‘Napolist’” (Opinion, 5/22/14).
I share Tan’s frustration—and the Filipino people’s—over the slow progress in bringing to the bar of justice all those involved in the diversion of public funds to fake nongovernment organizations allegedly put up by Janet Lim Napoles, and the obvious attempts by some quarters to muddle the issue by maliciously linking lawmakers to several “lists” purportedly coming from the Napoles camp.
In his commentary, Tan wrote that all he wanted to hear from lawmakers dragged into the controversy was that “his/her office publicize its financial records.”
I would like to inform Tan that the financial records of Sen. Chiz Escudero with regard to the use of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) have always been open to the public for scrutiny. Since 2012, all of the senator’s projects and their corresponding PDAF allocation have been available on his website (www.chizescudero.com), more than a year before the widespread misuse of the PDAF was first reported by the Inquirer. Infographics on how and where the senator allocated taxpayer money are also on his Facebook page.
For Tan’s reference, Senator Escudero did not receive any PDAF allocation under the Arroyo presidency, from the second half of 2004 until the first half of 2010. I would like to assure Tan that all public funds received by Senator Escudero to date under the Aquino administration have been accounted for and properly used.
—JUDEE AGUILAR,
media relations officer,
Office of Sen. Chiz Escudero