Press Release
December 8, 2015

SEN. JV EJERCITO'S STATEMENT ON THE REVIVAL OF
 CHARGE AGAINST SAN JUAN'S 2008 PROCUREMENT
OF HIGH-POWERED FIREARMS

My conscience is clear. No act of malversation was done by the City Government of San Juan in 2008, in its purchase of high-powered fireams which was our deterrent from the spike of criminal incidents within the metropolis such as robbery-holdup, kidnap for ransom, and gun for hire.

I am confident that this case would not prosper. Because it was COA themselves who urged us not to use the Calamity Fund for said acquisition, and we acted promptly upon their advice. This is why I asked the Sangguniang Bayan to include the purchase of firearms in the 2008 Supplementary Budget.

San Juan City's record in COA is clear. There was no Notice of Disallowance since there had been no anomaly or malversation. In fact, at the end of 2008, the Calamity Fund remained intact.

The timing of this case is questionable. No doubt this is politically motivated especially that the complainant wanted to be anonymous. This issue has long been dead, why is it being resurrected 7 years after, from my time as Mayor of San Juan? Are they determined to jail me for protecting the interests of the people of San Juan against lawless elements?

Maybe my opponents forgot that in 2008, I was one of the staunch critics of the Arroyo administration. I made sure then that I was careful with every public transaction because I know that her people do not have the qualms of having me imprisoned.

Nevertheless, I am ready to answer every accusation hurled at me regarding technical malversation. My lawyer, Atty. Sig Fortun, has prepared a sound response to this case and we are confident that we will see the light of day in no time. We will submit a Motion for Reconsideration at the Office of the Ombudsman soon.

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