Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

An irate Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon has branded as "fake news” and "unfair" the allegations that he was involved in the supposed diversion of funds meant for a particular district in Albay under this year's budget.

Speaking in a press conference Wednesday, March 13 Bongalon dared his accusers to bring the matter to court and prove their claims.

“That’s why I challenge her to go to the court and prove that Cong. Jil Bongalon diverted that particular fund,” Bongalon told reporters.

“I, together with [Ako Bicol Party-list] Cong. Zaldy [Co], have already issued the official statement about it. But in addition to that, in so far as I am concerned, unang-una, kung sino man ‘yung nag-aakusa, ‘yun po ‘yung may burden of proof. Ibig sabihin, ‘yun dapat ‘yung may obligasyon na magpatunay (first of all, the one making the accusation has the burden of proof. This means that this person has the obligation to show proof),” Bongalon said.

The allegations surfaced when Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman accused Bongalon and Co--the erstwhile Committee on Appropriations chairman--of reallocating funds earmarked for Albay’s first district to projects allegedly benefiting Co’s family properties. 

Bongalon denounced what he described as a smear campaign against him ahead of the May 12 elections.

“So it means that, of course, election season, nagsisimula na naman ‘yung siraan (the smear campaigns have begun again). That’s why I appeal to the one who wrote that statement na hindi man lang kinuha ‘yung side ko (my side wasnt even sought). It was a one-sided news article,” he said. 

Bongalon challenged those making the claims to present actual evidence, pointing out that there is nothing to support the accusations.

“Now, my question is, asan po ‘yung kanyang ebidensiya na ako po nakialam, nagtapyas, at nag-divert ng pondo para sa 1st district of Albay? (where's her evidence that I intruded with, took away, and diverted funds for the 1st district of Albay?)

"In other words, wala hong basehan (it's baseless). It was a false accusation, and in fact, itong malicious accusation against me, sa anong rason (for what reason is this malicious accusation against me)? Probably, politika. Para siraan po tayo (Probably, because of politics. It's to sully my name) ,” he added.

Bongalon also questioned the timing of the accusations, as he noted that the P6.352-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2025 was released months ago without any such claims being raised.

The assistant majority leader said that those questioning the budget should have followed the proper channels instead of making public accusations without proof.

“Dapat nagsulat sana sila sa House leadership and ask ano po nangyari sa budget ng 1st district of Albay (They should have written the House leadership and inquired about what happened to the budget of the 1st district of Albay).

"Don’t just accuse someone, several months have already elapsed, tapos babanggitin mo lang yung pangalan ko dahil magkalaban kami sa politika (you mentioned my name because we're political rivals). I think that’s not fair,” he stressed.

Bongalon also rejected claims that he should have defended the district’s budget, saying he was focused on advocating projects for the Ako Bicol party-list.

“The last time I checked, I am a representative of party-list Ako Bicol. Yung constituency ko, six provinces (My constituency is composed of six provinces). At the last time I checked, meron pong congressman sa 1st district of Albay (the 1st district of Albay had a congressman),” he said.