Former Nueva Ecija governor calls PDAF cases ‘fake news’

MANILA, Philippines — Former Nueva Ecija governor Aurelio Umali called on his detractors yesterday to stop politicking and not mislead the public with fake news on the pork barrel fund scam cases that he is facing. 

He made the appeal following reports that the Office of the Ombudsman has affirmed his dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service.

Umali said he has not yet received any order from the anti-graft agency denying his motion for reconsideration on such ruling.

“I don’t know where they got such interpretation that I can no longer run for any elective position,” he said.

“Clearly this is another ploy designed to condition the minds of the public and to discredit my name,” he added.

Umali expressed optimism that the ombudsman would reverse its November 2016 decision dismissing him from government service.

He noted that of the more than 20 cases filed against him and his family before the courts, 90 percent have been dismissed for insufficiency of evidence.

“These cases will not discourage us from serving the people of Nueva Ecija,” Umali stressed, referring to charges stemming from his alleged misuse of P15 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was a lawmaker in 2005.