Accuser of Laguna gov claims receiving threats

MANILA, Philippines - The former Laguna provincial treasurer who filed plunder charges against Governor Teresita Lazaro has been receiving death threats, according to Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Dante Jimenez. “He [Manuel Leycano Jr.] is under threat. His life is under threat," Jimenez said in a press conference Tuesday. Leycano, who was also in the press briefing, said he filed the complaint against Lazaro because he could no longer stomach the alleged anomalies happening in the province. "Hindi ko na po masikmura ang mga anomalya na dating ng ginagawa at patuloy na ngangyayari sa lalawigan ng Laguna. Sinabi ko po ito dahil tantiya ko po hindi lang P300 million ang nawala sa lalawigan ng Laguna mula 2002 hanggang sa kasalukuyan," said Leycano. [I can no longer stomach the anomalies in Laguna. I think Laguna has lost more than P300 million since 2002.] On March 17, Leycano, together with the VACC, filed a complaint against Lazaro and 21 other officials for questionable transactions amounting millions of pesos. In a 29-page complaint lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman, Leycano accused Lazaro of “amassing, accumulating and acquiring ill-gotten wealth worth P50 million." The governor is also accused of “misappropriating, converting, misusing, or malversing public funds in the amount of P250 million" representing the proceeds of the bond floatation supposedly meant to finance two hospitals. But in an interview with GMA News’ Jiggy Manicad, Lazaro denied Leycano’s accusation, saying politics is the motive behind the allegations. “We are ready to answer those allegations he filed against us. Alam ng ating kababayan na ito ay politika lamang dahil malapit na ang 2010 [The people know that politics is the motive behind the allegations since 2010 election is already near]," she said. - GMANews.TV