Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
VICE President Jejomar Binay never used his power to influence the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund to enter into anomalous transactions or force favored contractors into the agency, contrary to claims earlier made by some lawmakers, Darlene Berberabe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the fund, told the Senate on Thursday.
Appearing before the Senate blue ribbon sub-committee hearing on the allegedly anomalous transactions involving the Vice President, Berberabe said allegations of wrongdoing against Binay were “unfair.”
She was responding to the claims that the Vice President used his powers to enable Omni Security Agency to bag a P193-million security contract from Pag-IBIG.
“If the issue is whether the Honorable Vice President Jejomar Binay who is the Chairman of the Pag-IBIG board of trustees used his power to get Omni into Pag-IBIG, I categorically say that no, this did not happen,” Berberabe said in a prepared statement delivered before the Senate.
The Pag-IBIG chief added that they disqualified Omni in the bidding for the P193-million security service contract for being late in the submission of its bid documents.
“This clearly shows that we have followed the procurement law strictly and there is no hanky panky in our bidding process,” she said.
Berberabe noted that the only contract they have with Omni is for her close-in security, which involves three bodyguards amounting to P420,000 per contract. Each contract is good for four months.
She said concerns were raised about her personal safety particularly after her appearance at the Senate investigation of the P6.6-billion scandal involving Globe Asiatique of businessman Delfin Lee.
Berberabe added that Binay’s participation was limited to his provision of her security.
“This should negate any suggestion that Vice President Binay uses his position to get contract for Omni,” she said.
Berberabe also denied charges that Binay used his power as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to grant mass housing projects to favored contractors.
It was Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th who disclosed supposedly irregular transactions at the fund.
Berberabe vehemently denied Trillanes’ allegations and pointed out that Pag-IBIG in the lat four years has been known for its excellent performance and integrity.
“The suggestion that Vice President Binay tries to influence Pag-IBIG to enter into anomalous transactions and that Pag-IBIG and its officers and employees who sign the documents to capture the transactions are corruptible, and can be forced to sign something that is illegal and immoral is unfair,” she said.
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