Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., itinangging ‘bag man’ siya na naghatid ng pera kina PBBM at dating Speaker Romualdez

MARIING itinanggi ni Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. na kabilang siya sa mga personalidad na nagsilbing “bag man” na naghatid ng ₱805 bilyon kina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at dating House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Ito ay matapos lumantad ang 18 dating miyembro ng Philippine Marines sa isang press conference nitong Martes at sinabing tumanggap umano si dating senador Antonio Trillanes ng $2 million mula kay dating Ako Party list congressman Zaldy Co upang suhulan ang mga imbestigador ng International Criminal Court (ICC) sa kaso ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa The Hague, Netherlands.

“The accusation that I accepted suitcases of cash is completely false, baseless, and malicious. I categorically deny it. This is simply the product of politics. I am being targeted because of the positions I have taken and the stands I have refused to compromise, particularly with regard to obtaining justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings,” pahayag ni Abante.

Sa isang press conference na ginanap sa isang restaurant sa Mandaluyong City, iprinisinta ni Levito “Levy” Baligod, tumatayong abugado ng mga dating sundalo. Anila, kabilang si Abante sa mga personalidad na nagdadala ng maleta na puno ng pera sa Pangulo at Romualdez.

Ayon kay Baligod, ang mga dating sundalo ay mga dating kasama ni M/Sgt. Orly Guteza, isang security consultant ni Co na naunang tumestigo na bag man ng dating kongresista.

“I stand by my record. I stand by my principles. I will not be deterred by fabricated attacks, and will continue to fight for justice for our countrymen. Exodus 20:16 tells us: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” I believe when the facts are laid bare, the truth will speak for itself—and those who chose falsehood will have to answer not only to the public, but to their own conscience, and to our God,” sinabi ni Abante.
(Vina de Guzman)