By Czarina Nicole Ong
Former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief and current House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur was given a verbal lashing by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang Friday morning over the “nice timing” comments he made in a television interview.
Andaya was supposed to be arraigned on Friday for the 97 graft and 97 malversation charges against him involving the Malampaya fund scam. During his interview with ANC’s “Headstart” on Thursday, he noted the “nice timing” of the court since “all of these were coming out.”
House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Andaya did not specify what he meant by his comment, but he has been making the news recently due to his accusations against Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno for being the culprit behind the alleged flood control scam in Sorsogon.
Before he was arraigned, Cabotaje-Tang called him out. “You mentioned your arraignment being ‘nice timing’ today,” she started.
Cabotaje-Tang scolded him for suggesting that his arraignment schedule was somehow politically-motivated. She stressed that the resolutions made by the Sandiganbayan were never affected by any political considerations.
“In resolving cases, the court will never be swayed by external factors like politics. In fact, the court is apolitical. You may disagree with our resolutions, but you have remedies. Please avail of that,” she continued. “Do not try to attribute anything to the court if you are not satisfied.”
In response, Andaya issued an apology to the court. “I do apologize if it sent the wrong message. It won’t happen again. I will be more careful,” he said. Cabotaje-Tang responded that the court accepts his apology.
Because he has a pending motion to quash, which was filed on January 15, the court agreed to move his arraignment to February 28.
Andaya is facing the charges alongside businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and her kin – James Christopher and Jo Christine Napoles, Reynald Lim, Ronald Francisco Lim, and Ronald John Lim. All of them were not arraigned due to their pending petitions for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, former Budget Undersecretary Narciso Nieto, director Teresita Panlilio of DAR, and Angelita Cacananta were all arraigned Friday.
Pangandaman, Nieto, and Cacananta all pleaded not guilty, while Panlilio refused to enter a plea. As per court procedures, it was the court that entered a not guilty plea for her.
Back in 2009, it was agreed that P900 million from the special Malampaya fund was to be used to help farmers who were affected by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. However, the funds were somehow diverted to the fake non-government organizations (NGOs) headed by Napoles.
Andaya reportedly approved DAR’s fund request and signed the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation requested by Pangandaman even before checking with the DBM’s budget and management bureau.
On the other hand, Napoles was accused of using her NGOs to implement ghost projects. Her children, brother, and former bodyguard helped her scam by forging signatures and fabricating documents.
