Malacañang Media Men Pork Barrel Scam: 'Malacañang is not interested in engaging the media in a dialogue on corruption in the industry amid allegations that some journalists benefited from corrupt deals in the P10-billion congressional pork barrel scam' Inquirer reported.
Dealing with the issue of bribery in the media was the call of the industry, indicating the "self-policing" commands of the press, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
"That particular discussion or conversation should take place in the media, within your circle, rather than the government. Whether you're from the media, whether you're from the government, whether you're from the private sector, if it's public funds, it's now the responsibility and mandate of the Department of Justice to investigate," he told a press briefing on Friday.
According to Lacierda, the Palace is expecting the Department of Justice to probe into the allegations counting two broadcast journalists responsible fopr receiving payoffs in the form of "advertising expenses" from pork barrel funds coursed through ghost projects and another broadcaster who is believed to have received P2 million bribe.
Report stated that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the journalists found to have benefitted from the P10-billion prk barrel scam faced charges of direct bribery and malversation of public funds.
In the affidavits submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, two former officials of National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor) stated that TV5 news anchor Erwin Tulfo and GMA 7 radio talk show host Carmelo del Prado received payoffs recorded as "advertsing expenses." The journalists have denied the accusation.
'Rhodora Mendoza and Vicente Cacal, former vice president for finance and general services supervisor of Nabcor, respectively, are among 38 government officials and lawmakers facing plunder charges at the Ombudsman's office in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Obviously hoping to become state witnesses, they are now revealing what they know about the Nabcor part of the conspiracy to convert pork barrel funds into kickbacks for legislators through ghost projects of dubious nongovernment organizations (NGOs) run by the alleged scam mastermind, Janet Lim-Napoles,' as reported in Inquirer.
To prove that Tulfo and Magdurulang gained from projects financed by the PDAF through Nabcor, Mendoza and Cacal submitted cashed checks.
According to Inquirer, 'They claimed that on March 10, 2009, a check for P245,535 was issued to Tulfo, drawn from a Nabcor account at the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) branch on Tektite Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
They said three checks for a total of P245, 535 were issued to Magdurulang in 2009. The funds were also drawn from the same Nabcor account at the UCPB Tektite branch.'
The networks where the journalists work express their yearning to shed light in this matter. GMA 7 promised to investigate the charges against Magdurulang and apply necessary actions if there's any. TV5 stands by TUlfo's statement but said it will conduct its own internal inquiry regarding the issue.
As stated in the report, 'Mendoza also alleged that a third broadcast journalist received P2 million from Nabcor as payoff to stop criticisms of the state company, but she had no documents to support this claim.'
"I don't know why there is a hesitation on the part of Rhodora Mendoza... I think it will be up to the DOJ to look into it, to investigate. Regardless of the sector, if there is evidence, it will be investigated," Lacierda said adding that the government could only investigate based on "reliable information."
