Biazon ready to face raps

MANILA, Philippines - Slapped with charges of malversation, direct bribery and graft, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said he is “willing and ready” to face a probe to clear his name.

“Accounting of public funds comes with the territory of serving in government, whether it be at the lowest levels of local government or at the highest levels of national office,” Biazon said in a statement yesterday, hours after the case against him was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Biazon is accused of failing to account for P1.97 million disbursed when he was Muntinlupa congressman.

“I am willing and ready to face the allegations raised pertaining to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocated to my congressional district during my term as representative of the lone district of Muntinlupa,” he added.

Biazon, an ally of President Aquino and member of the ruling Liberal Party, is one of 34 respondents in the second batch of criminal complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation with the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged embezzling of lawmakers’ PDAF or pork barrel.

Biazon said he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint.

“But I welcome the opportunity to clarify and answer the accusations, whether before the National Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman, or the courts,” he said.

He also stressed that he “had always exercised prudence and fidelity in the performance of my duty as representative of Muntinlupa as well as in other responsibilities to the public, and pursued projects and programs that benefited my constituents.”

“But as we have seen in some instances, the processes involved have been vulnerable to abuse by certain parties,” he said.

His father Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon defended yesterday the integrity of his son, even as he expressed confidence in the country’s justice system.

“I feel sad with what happened but there’s no other recourse but to rely on the credibility of our institutional processes, our justice system,” the elder Biazon told The STAR.

“We’ll just let the judicial process find the truth,” he added.

He said he had not yet spoken to his son about the case but that they already had an inkling about it several weeks ago when the commissioner’s name was mentioned in the papers in connection with the alleged multi-billion pork barrel scam.

“What was the basis of their evidence, or case? Is it from the whistle-blowers? Maybe they (Department of Justice) should ask the people tasked to implement the projects,” the lawmaker said.

Biazon said he remains proud of his son’s accomplishments as member of the House of Representatives and now as Bureau of Customs chief.

The STAR tried but failed to get a reaction from Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Zenaida Cruz-Ducut. who was included in the complaint. –  Iris Gonzales