GOCC berated for leniency on 'suspicious transactions'

MANILA -- The former head of Zamboanga Rubber Estate Corporation (ZREC) admitted Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla funneled funds to non-government organizations (NGOs) through their agency. But Salvador Salacup clarified that the three senators' pork barrel went to an NGO that has no links to Janet Lim Napoles. Former party-list representatives Rene Velarde and Edgar Valdes were also mentioned by Salacup for using ZREC to allot funds to NGOs. But it was only Valdes who allotted millions to a supposed bogus organization, he said. Senators berated ZREC officials for being lenient and not taking action on suspicious transactions. Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the department has already proposed the closure of ZREC as it no longer serves its original purpose. ANC News Now, September 5, 2013