MANILA - The president of the National Livelihood Development Corp. (NLDC) is among those facing charges for the pork barrel scandal. She is claiming innocence.
Gondelina Amata could not hold back her emotions when she met with ABS-CBN News on Friday.
The NLDC, which she heads, is one of the implementing agencies that received funds from lawmakers tagged in the scandal.
Amata insisted that they disbursed the money properly.
"Nag-liquidate naman yung mga NGO. Mino-monitor naman namin kung saan napupunta yung PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund]," she said.
Amata also said they even asked the budget department in 2008 why some pork funds were being coursed through their office.
Apparently, it was Congress that decided to do so.
"Sabi ng DBM [Department of Budget and Management], 'wala tayong magagawa diyan. Nilagay nila sa General Appropriations Act, kailangang sundin," Amata said.
Whistleblowers claim that 5 senators and 8 congressmen gave a total of P1 billion to NLDC.
They include Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla. All three are now facing plunder charges.
Senators Bongbong Marcos and Gregorio Honasan supposedly gave money, as well.
Amata admitted that she got calls from lawmakers telling her which non-government organizations to give the money to.
But she said she is just a victim of the controversy.
"Saan ako kukuha ng pambayad ng abugado? Ako nga I chose to stay to clear my name, iyung iba wala na," she said.
Key whistleblower Benhur Luy said 7 NGOs linked to Janet Lim Napoles got money from NLDC. - ANC