Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (left), Epimaco Densing III (Speaker's office)
 

Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel gave a major dressing down to former Department of Education DepEd) undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, whom he accused of soliciting commissions from congressmen like him in exchange for approving the construction of schoolbuildings in their districts. 

Pimentel's disdain for Densing was on full display during the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Thursday, Oct. 17, when he likened the latter's alleged act to "selling fish in the market". 

Pimentel become even more annoyed when Densing called the Mindanaoan's claim "a blatant lie". 

‘Well, first of all, it’s a blatant lie to say I asked for a commission. That’s exactly why I’m process-oriented,” said Densing, who with these words set off the most tense and heated exchange during the hearing. 

Pimentel claimed that Densing--in his capacity as undersecretary for the construction of schoolbuildings--allegedly asked lawmakers for kickbacks worth as much as 18 percent of the contract price of schoolbuilding projects in their respective districts. 

He recounted a conversation he had with an individual named Greg Morillo, who allegedly acted as an intermediary for Densing, who is now in the private sector. 

“Right there and then, I already knew na si Mr. Densing manghihingi ng commission (I already knew that Mr. Densing would ask for a commission),” Pimentel stated, implying that Densing had demanded a bribe in exchange for the release of funds already allocated for school building projects in Surigao del Sur. 

“Dapat huwag ka nang bumalik sa gobyerno (You should never go back to government service). The government does not need your kind. You are a very corrupt person making your position to your advantage,” he added, not mincing his words. 

Pimentel further called Densing "pathological liar" and vowed to expose him in the next hearing by gathering the necessary pieces of evidence. 

He even challenged the ex-DepEd official to join an executive session right then and there to have him face the solons that he had allegedly solicited kickbacks from. 

"Marami ring congressman ang nagsabi sa akin na you approached them (A lot of congressmen have told me that you approached them),” Pimentel revealed. 

Pimentel, a former chairman of the committee, claimed that despite the allocation of P170 million for school buildings in his district, the bidding process for these projects was abruptly halted after he refused to comply with Densing's alleged request for a commission. 

“Lo and behold, the funds did not come through, kinancel yung bidding (the bidding was canceled),” the National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart said. 

The allegations extended further, with Pimentel accusing Densing of meeting with several congressmen in Manila, accompanied by a contractor named Architect Ralph Tecson. 

“What I will do is gather more evidence to prove that what I am saying is true, that Mr. Epimaco Densing is a very corrupt person,” he declared. 

At one point in the hearing, Pimentel also threatened to cite Densing for contempt.