BENGUET officials were recently cleared of allegations that they were receiving payola from the operation of chicken dung trading in the province due to lack of evidence.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the testimony of Melecio Orig, alias Takay, who is the parking manager in Tublay, is not enough to pin down those who were alleged to have received money from the chicken dung operation.
“Takay was sought for comment and he vehemently denied the existence of payola (payoff) to any public official. He insisted that he may have been misunderstood during their meeting in January 2018 when he said the part of the increase was to be given to the province,” the NBI said.
Takay was referring to the payment for the quarantine fee and for the payment of stickers issued by the provincial government for the trucks.
“If he admitted that payola is being distributed to public officials, then we would have a ground to prosecute the concerned officers. However, he chose to stand by his testimony before the provincial board that he is not engaged in any illegal transaction and although his explanation is not totally convincing, we have to take it at face value for now,” the NBI report added.
NBI, meanwhile, assured they will act appropriately for future development that would warrant a reinvestigation of the matter.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso sought the help of the NBI to investigate and solve the issue on chicken dung payola in the province after the Provincial Board through a resolution requested the governor to create an independent task force to investigate the alleged pay off being distributed to the provincial officials.
Previously, the board members denounced allegation of receiving any payola from the chicken dung parking fees.