Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry S. Oaminal. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Henry Oaminal's Facebook Page)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry S. Oaminal welcomed on Tuesday any investigation on his alleged involvement in corruption within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Oaminal said he was saddened that his name was included in the list prepared by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and made public by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
Despite this, he said he continues to support the President's anti-graft campaign.
"As the President mentioned, there is no hard evidence on the PACC report, and a reading of the same is 'not a condemnation or indictment.' He said that it should also not be taken as gospel truth that any of those mentioned are involved in any corrupt activities. I can categorically say that I am not involved in any anomalies or corrupt activities," Oaminal said.
Aside from Oaminal, the list included Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, Isabela Rep. Alyssa Sheena Tan, Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza, Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, and former Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
The other lawmakers that Duterte named have also issued statements denying the allegation.
Meanwhile, Oaminal clarified the President's statement that he owned the HSO Construction Corp., which allegedly has several construction projects in Misamis Occidental.
"HSO Construction was founded in 1988, long before I entered public service in 2007. When I became a congressman, I sold all my shares in accordance with the law. Upon verification, HSO Construction Corp. does not have any construction projects in all government agencies in Misamis Occidental, including DPWH," he said.
Despite the allegation, Oaminal assured he would remain supportive of Duterte’s war against illegal drugs and organized crime groups in his province.
Oaminal's son, Ozamiz City mayor Sancho Fernando, also defended his father by saying that HSO Construction Corporation has participated in and has bagged contracts in many parts of the country since the early 1990s, which all the projects awarded to the company were secured through competitive biddings without any influence from his father.
"That being said, we thank the President for recognizing that the complaints made against our father, and the eight other congressmen supposedly involved in corrupt transactions with the DPWH, are not supported by any evidence and is not to be taken as gospel truth," he said. (PNA)
