CABANATUAN CITY—Former Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali has denied knowing alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles amid their supposed links on the alleged misuse of P15 million intended for the procurement of fertilizers and irrigation pumps for local farmers.
Speaking during the induction of officers of the Nueva Ecija Press Club Inc. at La Parilla 1900 here where he was guest of honor and speaker, Umali said he has not known Napoles personally nor has he dealt with her.
“I don’t know Ms. Napoles because if I did, I might even get her at that time as one of the godmother of my children,” Umali said.
He also clarified that the P15 million in Priority Development Assistance Funds he was accused of mishandling—which were under his discretion as a congressman in 2005—was only P3 million. The other P12 million was part of the Ginintuang Masagang Ani program, which was a nationwide program.
The former governor, husband of incumbent Gov. Czarina Umali, criticized some media outfits for “not reporting the truth” about his case, saying he was a victim of trial by publicity.
“I have not signed any MoA [memorandum of agreement, with Napoles] and yet I was maligned, vilified and ridiculed in the media,” he said.
Just recently, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a resolution indicting Umali before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly misusing his P15-million PDAF when he was in the House of Representatives.
Charged with him were Napoles, Department of Agriculture regional director Renato Manantan, and accountant Narcisa Maninding.
Umali was also found guilty of administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Ombudsman Conchita Morales also ordered his perpetual disqualification from office along with Manantan.
Lawyer Honorio Eduardo Reyes III, Umali’s counsel, said all of his client’s PDAF was legally utilized in helping his constituents.
Reyes added that as far as Umali is concerned, he has an unblemished record not only as a member of Congress, but likewise during his full three terms as governor of Nueva Ecija from 2007 to 2016.
He stressed they are disappointed with the Ombudsman’s findings but will exhaust all legal remedies, including the filing of a motion for reconsideration.
Umali said when he was still a congressman, his PDAF “was used to alleviate the plight of poor farmers in the third congressional district,” contrary to claims by field investigators that there were no purchases for fertilizers and irrigation pumps for the growers.
The former governor revealed that 27 cases have already been filed against him, many of which have already been dismissed by the Supreme Court. “Only three or four of these cases remain,” he said.
Despite the dismissed cases, he said he did not attempt to call on the media to report his vindication. “Anything that will only spark intrigues, I shy away from them,” he said.
Umali said he was initially reluctant to answer the latest charges in the media, but did so to set the record straight.