CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Representative Oscar Rodriguez (Pampanga, 3rd district) will not press libel charges against alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles even if the legislator's name listed as "Oca Rodriguez" appears on her affidavit.
Last Saturday, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. rejected calls for the House of Representatives to investigate the inclusion of some legislators in the affidavit of Napoles. Earlier, some lawmakers are called for an inquiry into the Napoles list to clean the names of legislators who were accused of misusing their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as most of them say they were victims of trial by publicity.
Belmonte said lawmakers named in the so-called Napoles list may file libel cases instead or conduct press conferences or issue press statements to deny their participation in the alleged misuse of PDAF instead of conducting congressional inquiries. The House leader said the main reason why he does not want the chamber to probe the Napoles list is to avoid being accused of self-serving as no one among the accused lawmakers will admit any involvement. “In the 16th Congress, only 20 percent were involved and most of them have no concrete evidences.”
But Rodriguez told Sun.Star Pampanga over the weekend that he is not likely to sue Napoles for libel over the inclusion of his name on the controversial "Napolist."
"Gusto sana ng mga anak ko ay mag-demanda kami. Pero sa dami ng asunto ni Napoles ay matatabunan lang iyun. Besides, I stand firm that I have never misused public funds and the inclusion of my name 'Oca Rodriguez' seems odd dahil hindi ko naman ginagamit iyun for official documents and functions," he said.
Rodriguez said that Napoles’ affidavit clearly made no mention of details, like agents, commissions, vouchers or any document implicating him in the PDAF scam.
"Ang kalinisan ng aking pangalan bilang public servant ang tangi kong kayamanan at gusto pa nila itong sirain. In any case, the truth will come out and I -- like not being in the Luy files -- will again be vindicated," concluded Rodriguez. (JTD)