DILG usec present when P500K was given - gov

(Updated 12:20 p.m.) An official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was present when a woman handed out P500,000-cash gifts to Bulacan Gov. Joselito "Jonjon" Mendoza, the provincial governor claimed Friday. In a press conference, Mendoza identified the DILG official as Austere Panadero. As for the lady who gave the money, the governor described her as a "staff member" who was clad in white. The female initially gave Mendoza money intended for Pampanga Gov. Ed "Among" Panlilio, who has also admitted receiving a "cash gift" during a meeting in Malacañang Palace last October 11. She allegedly asked Mendoza if he knew Panlilio, and the Bulacan governor responded in the affirmative. "While I was walking in the halls of the Palace, I was called by a female staff ... and led me to a room. DILG Undersecretary Panadero was there speaking with a man whom I don't know. [Agusan del Sur Gov.] Eddie Bong Plaza and a woman dressed in white were also there. She was seated," Mendoza said in Filipino. He said the woman told him, "After this, the woman in white passed me a paper bag, then said, 'kay Among yan.' (This is for Among)." Mendoza said woman promptly gave him another paper bag. He then spoke with Panadero about some matters and left the room. Minutes earlier at another area in the Palace, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone allegedly told Mendoza that the money was meant for "barangay (village) community projects." Mendoza said Evardone was near when a lady staff from the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) approached the former and asked: "Gov, kaibigan niyo po ba si Governor Panlilio? (Governor, are you a friend of Governor Panlilio)" Mendoza said "yes" and asked why. The LPP staff allegedly said, "pinatatanong po ni Gov Evardone (Governor Evardone wants to know)." The Bulacan governor then asked Evardone, and later sat beside Panlilio. "I told Among Ed, there is money to be given for barangay community projects. Among Ed asked me, 'Will you accept it Jonjon?' I said, 'Kayo po (It's up to you). I will accept it if you will accept it," Mendoza said. He quoted Panlilio as saying that, "I don't think there would be anything wrong if it's for community projects." GMA News Flash Report quoted Mendoza as saying that he made a gesture that Panlilio was comfortable with the money. After getting the "cash gifts" in the Panadero's presence, Mendoza said he gave Panlilio's paper bag to the Pampanga governor's chief of staff "Archie." - GMANews.TV