NAVAL, Biliran- Former Biliran Rep.Glenn Chong strongly denied reports that he was one of the solons that received largesse from the Arroyo administration while it was winding its term.
Chong, who is a lawyer by profession, said that the allegations against him smacked with intention to destroy his credibility.
Chong, who served as the congressman of the lone district of Biliran for a single term, was mentioned to have received P570 million during the last six months of the administration of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aside from him, a report said, nine other former and incumbent solons received financial help from Arroyo purportedly to finance their pet projects amounting in all to P10.6 billion.
In the region, those who reportedly received funds aside from Chong were Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (P735 million) and former Rep. Trinidad “Ebbie” Apostol (P152.57 million)
In a text message, Chong says that he is “ready, willing and prepared to face any congressional investigation should there be one.”
Chong suspected that this imputation to his person could be intended to destroy his credibility, a result of his having been invited speaker in various venues and for “well-received” and believed lectures on PCOS (precinct count optical scan machines) fraud, being a victim himself.
He has for the past years gone to several areas in Luzon and Mindanao explaining before his well-attended audience the non-reliability of this machine.
He recalled that during his incumbency as a congressman, he requested a budget for various concreting projects in Biliran for roughly P570 million in December 2009 but the amount was never released.
Atty. Chong noticed that among the 10 solons mentioned, he was the only neophyte legislator. All the rest were veteran politicians and members of political dynasties. (ALVIN GZ.ARPON)
