MANILA, Philippines – Pinasasagot sa alegasyon ang staff ng Senado na nagngangalang “Beng Ramos” na iniugnay ni dating DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez sa mga anomalya sa flood control, at may kaugnayan umano kay Senador Jinggoy Estrada.
“I’d be meeting with the concerned Secretariat officials today. Meanwhile, Ms Ramos has been asked by BROOM (Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management) Director General Quimbo to submit her written comment/explanation,” sinabi ni Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, Jr. sa panayam ng ABSCBN News.
Nitong Lunes, sumulat ang chief of staff ni Estrada na si Racquel Mejia kay Bantug para sabihing wala silang staff na may ganitong pangalan mula pa sa unang termino ni Estrada noong 2004.
“Based on records, during the entire stint of Senator Estrada since 2004, we did not have in our plantilla any staff by the said name. She was never authorized to use the Senator’s name nor to act in his behalf,” ani Mejia.
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ng opisina na may nagsabi sa kanila na ang “Beng Ramos” (Divina Gracia V. Ramos) ay empleyado ng Office of the Secretary, partikular sa ilalim ng BROOM.
“We are therefore requesting your good office to conduct an investigation on this serious matter. If proven guilty of misrepresenting the Senator, we expect that she will be meted with the appropriate penalty,” saad ni Mejia sa liham kay Bantug.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag sinabi ng bagong Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair at Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson na isa sa kanyang mga prayoridad ay ang internal cleansing.
“In the House committee hearing today, a Blue Ribbon staff member identified by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as Beng Ramos was linked to a supposed delivery of obligation aka ‘lagay’ by WJ Construction that was awarded a project by then Bulacan 1st DEO Henry Alcantara,” ayon kay Lacson.
“Maybe I also need to do a simultaneous internal cleansing while buckling down to work,” dagdag pa. RNT/JGC
