Sandigan guard denies soliciting money from Napoles lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - A Sandiganbayan security guard, who is under investigation for reportedly soliciting money from a lawyer of alleged pork barrel fund scam queen Janet Lim Napoles, has denied the allegations against him.

In a sworn statement obtained by The STAR yesterday, Roland Allan Cruz said he never asked for nor received anything from lawyer Stephen David, who he claims he does not even know.

“I will not besmirch my name just because of a small amount of money. I follow the rules of this institution that is why I lasted 12 years in the Sandiganbayan,” his affidavit, written in Filipino, read.

Cruz submitted his statement to Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who had ordered an investigation into the allegations. The Supreme Court has issued a preventive suspension order against Cruz pending results of the probe.

Based on a report by his fellow security officials and officers, Cruz allegedly solicited money from David last month for a non-existent Christmas party of the anti-graft court’s Security and Sheriffs Services Division.

Allegedly, a member of media was even asked to hand over the solicitation letter to David in an envelope bearing the official name and seal of the Sandiganbayan.

The money, supposedly amounting to P20,000, was allegedly given to Cruz at a restroom after a hearing on the petition for bail of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

The allegations against Cruz are backed by the affidavits of a number of other security personnel, including security officers DarwinTrinidad and Rodelio Lalongisip.