Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos AP FILE PHOTO
In a statement denounced by the camp of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos as prejudicial, the chair of the House committee investigating alleged anomalies in Ilocos Norte transactions said the irregularities discovered in the provincial government constituted plunder.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chair of the House committee on good government, said he was considering recommending the filing of plunder against Marcos and other officials involved in alleged fund anomalies in the provincial government.
鈥淭his is well within the parameters for plunder,鈥� said Pimentel.
But Marcos, in an interview with reporters on Monday, said Pimentel鈥檚 pronouncements effectively prejudged the ongoing inquiry.
鈥楽耻谤辫谤颈蝉颈苍驳鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 surprising that this hearing has been prejudged,鈥� she said.
Marcos insisted that she relied only on the representations of the province鈥檚 procurement officials.
Pimentel, however, told reporters that Marcos was 鈥渢he most responsible person in all these transactions.鈥�
鈥淪he is the head. All the transactions bear the signature of Gov. Imee Marcos,鈥� he said.
Pimentel鈥檚 committee was investigating several alleged anomalies in the provincial government, including the purchase of vehicles at an overprice, using P66.54 million in tobacco taxes.
The congressman linked a supposed boyfriend of the governor to the irregularities.
Consumated
Marcos said what mattered was the vehicles and other projects were all completed, despite the allegations of procurement irregularities and misuse of funds.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping they will listen and open their minds to see how these were used,鈥� Marcos said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no plunder, or at least, a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, because all the projects were finished,鈥� she said.
Pimentel said the Government Electronic Procurement System also uncovered that some of the transactions had bid documents that actually belonged to other agencies and local government units, indicating falsification.
On Monday, art curator Eric Zerrudo disowned his signature in the bid documents for a P1.6-million project in Paoay Museum meant to commemorate Imee鈥檚 father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.