Tesda denies being source of 'bribe money'

Monday, February 13, 2012

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) denied circulating text messages that it is involved in the supposed attempt to bribe senator-judges.

In a statement, Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva denied that the funds that are supposedly being offered for senator-judges to vote for the opening of the dollar accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court (SC) came from his office.

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"For the record, there are neither allocations for senators from Tesda's P2.84-billion budget nor from the P1.1-billion stimulus fund released by Malacañang for skills development and training," said Villanueva, adding the reports are preposterous.

On Monday, rumors began circulating that the money purportedly meant to be used to "bribe" senator-judges will be coming from Tesda.

Villanueva said he will never allow such a thing to happen, citing his advocacy that started during his time as a party-list representative.

"I am offended by these claims, being a former representative of CIBAC (Citizens' Battle Against Corruption), espousing good governance and transparency in government," he said.

Tesda is an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment that provides skill development of the labor, local government units, and technical-vocational institutions of the country's human resources. (AMN/Sunnex)