|
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Tingting, dragged to jueteng row, says money talk was for Cam debts
Former Cebu governor Vicente de la Serna has found himself dragged into the controversies involving self-confessed jueteng bagwoman Sandra Cam.
Cam, in an ABS-CBN interview Monday, named de la Serna as one of the administration allies who allegedly tried to bribe her into dropping her testimonies against President Arroyo or leaving for the United States.
She said it was Placer, Masbate Mayor Vicente Cotero who arranged her meeting with de la Serna at the Manila Hotel last Aug. 9.
The former governor offered her a P2.5 million allowance for her to stay in the US, Cam alleged.
“Hindi ko na daw kailangang mag-recant. Aalis nalang ako papun-tang America. (He said I don’t need to recant. I’ll simply leave the country for America),” Cam said.
De la Serna, in an interview over radio dyHP Monday night, admitted he met with Cam, Cotero and Placer Municipal Administrator Cerecio “Nonoy” Mapula, who was a transport leader in Cebu and served as campaign manager for congressional aspirant Aristotle Batuhan.
But de la Serna said that everything he said during the meeting was only for the sake of peace in the country, and also to help Cam regarding her financial troubles.
“I did not vote for Gloria, not even when she ran for senator, vice president, or president. There’s no reason for me to destroy my name because of her,” de la Serna said over the radio.
“But I’d rather have (five more years) of Gloria than risk having a civil war. If there’s something I can do to prevent trouble from erupting, I will do it,” he added.
De la Serna was allegedly the second to approach her about the matter, said Cam.
In a radio dyLA interview Tuesday, Mapula said he contacted de la Serna, a lawyer who also served as congressman of Cebu’s 6th district and OIC mayor of Mandaue City, to advise Cam on some matters involving her properties.
He also said Cam and Mayor Cotero are friends and they called her up to offer their help, knowing that they will be in Manila.
Cam recalled that she first met with Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante on Aug. 8 at the Diamond Hotel, with self-confessed jeuteng operator Wilfredo “Boy” Mayor.
Abante admitted to the meeting and offering her to “rest” in the US, but said Malacañang was not aware of this.
She said she has recorded their conversation using her cell phone.
Learning about this, de la Serna dared Cam to come out with her recorded conversation, confident that it will only show his concern for the country.
He denied trying to bribe Cam.
“Pagsulti nilang Nonoy nako nga naghisgot ug kalisud, duna siya’y utang nga P1.8 million. Ako gi-ingnan nga kagamay ana para sa kalinaw, pun-i. Tagai bisa’g P2.5 million para duna siyay kwarta. (When Nonoy said she is in a lot of financial trouble and mentioned her P1.8-million debt, I said, that’s too small for the sake of peace.) Then we discussed a lot of hypothetical situations on how to help her,” said dela Serna.
When asked what could be Cam’s motives for her statements against him, dela Serna replied, “Ambot lang kaha niya unsa’y nasud sa ulo niya. Tan-aw nako murag gilamian lang siya (I don’t know what she was thinking).” (JPM)
(August 25, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
