Ex-village exec insists Lazatin violated law on ‘pork use’
ANGELES CITY – Former Barangay Sto. Cristo chairman Aymer Alvarado insisted that Representative Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin (1st District) has violated the law on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (Pdaf) in making a family-owned institution as beneficiary to his pork barrel funds, which makes him liable for graft.
Responding to statements coming from the Lazatin camp, Alvarado said that beneficiaries to the Pdaf are named and determined by the congressman, not the implementing agency which, in this case, is the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
“I am requesting Tarzan to tell the truth on this matter. It is very clear from the documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) which I submitted to the Commission that it was him who identified the recipients of the said fund grant and one of the recipients is the Republic Central Colleges (RCC),” Alvarado said.
Alvarado said that “granting that the implementing agency determines the beneficiaries, which is not true, Lazatin could have stopped Tesda from releasing funds to RCC, knowing that his family owns the school.”
“The RCC is a private profit-oriented educational institution. Documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission state that Lazatin’s sister, Dr. Victoria Lazatin-Angeles, is the chairman and Tarzan is one of the officers and a member of the board. At the end of the day, it is still the RCC that will profit most from the fund grant whatever the amount is. Hence, this is a clear case of conflict of interest,” Alvarado said.
Meanwhile, the Partido Abe Kapampangan also scoffed at the response of the Lazatin camp to Alvarado’s accusations as “confused and mixed up, and only tended to admit the anomalies of Lazatin in the use of his Pdaf.”
The Lazatin camp, through IC Calaguas, said P200,000 from the congressman’s Pdaf was released to Tesda for scholarships to a number of schools, including the RCC.
According to Calaguas, the congressman initially wanted to allocate funds for CCA (City College of Angeles), however, as per DBM regulations, the project should be handled by an implementing agency, in this case, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched). But Calaguas said that the CCA has not yet been accredited by Ched.
“By saying that Lazatin wanted to allocate funds to the CCA, it is very clear that it is the congressman who names and chooses the beneficiaries to his pork, and not the implementing agency,” said William Aguilar, deputy secretary general of Partido Abe.
Aguilar said that Lazatin has made the local government of Magalang as implementing agency of most of his Pdaf projects, including the purchase and distribution of multi-cab vehicles, used motorcycles and computers.
“Don’t tell us that it was the mayor of Magalang, as implementing agency, who chose the recipients of these equipment. Of course, it was Lazatin,” Aguilar said.
Alvarado filed a complaint-letter addressed to COA Chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan and copy furnished Regional Head Asst. Commissioner Winnie Rose Encalado and City Resident Auditor Rowena Bucu.
In the said letter, he alleged that Lazatin violated certain laws by appropriating funds from his PDAF to benefit the RCC, particularly Sec. 3 of Republic act 3190 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Sections 7 and 7a of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“Inamin na mismo ni Tarzan sa pamamagitan ng kanyang aide na sa ang Technological Education and Skills Development Authority or Tesda ang pambansang ahensiya na nag-implementa ng scholarship program. Sa pagkakaalam ko, ang City College of Angeles ay accredited na ng Tesda. Nakakapagtaka kung bakit hindi nagbigay ng pondo dito si Lazatin samantalang salita siya ng salita na free education daw sa CCA. Lumalabas na puro salita lang siya talaga at kulang sa gawa,” Alvarado said.
A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) entitled “Pigging out on pork: PDAF racket rocks ‘daang matuwid’” indicated that implementing agencies only serve as “conduits of pork money.”
The said PCIJ report stated: “The unbending rule in the use of pork endures to this day: The lawmaker decides for which projects he wants to use his pork, anywhere in the country he wants to, or whichever local government unit, and the individuals he wants to benefit from it.”
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2012/12/07/ex-village-exec-insists-lazatin-violated-law-pork-use-257098
Top rated outdoor place in Pampanga, highly recommended for families with children looking for a good safe place for kids to play and enjoy family bonding with parents
Poor Philippines Records in Law and Order drove city dwellers to enjoy holidays in havens like Clark Freeport.
Metro Manila has lost a great deal of its luster of old not only because of its failure to keep up with the times in development but also its reputation as a safe destination for family bonding, travelers looking to unwind and relax in a beach or a lake and retirees looking for a life of leisure.
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion
You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Looking for a restaurant in Clark for a Business meeting? Or a place to eat with friends? Yats Restaurant offers exclusive dinner venue for groups, a good place to celebrate special occasions, it can be a party venue in town. Yats Restaurant is a recommended restaurant for private dinner in Philippines, a well-recognized restaurant that serves good food and good wines for dinner.
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
Clark Pampanga was the largest foreign US airbase, complete with its own international airport with daily flights linking it to major cities around Asia. Inside of Clark Philippines are golf courses, casinos, family-styled resorts that smacks of the US suburban lifestyles and fine-dining restaurants. Travelers going north to Clark Pampanga look for enjoyable hotel for family bonding during summer vacation in Philippines. Most prefer the privacy of an exclusive resort that offers outdoor amenities like beach, lake and picnic grounds so the whole family can spend quality time, lay back and rest with no stress.
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
Yats International Leisure Philippines
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.
Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.
Random
Search
Contact Clark Philippines
Delectable Executive Meals
Philippine Peso Exchange Rate