Senator Leila de Lima denied allegations that she belted out a song in front of a “drug lord” and New Bilibid Prison inmate and convicted bank robber Herbert “Ampang” Colangco.
The senator’s video of her singing the chorus of Imelda Papin’s “Bakit” went viral a few days ago. A blog site posted that she held a ‘concert’ in Bilibid, which we have busted, because it was actually de Lima’s 56th birthday party held last August 27, 2015.
But new accusations arose from that video, saying that one of the guests spotted in the viral video, specifically the one wearing glasses, was Colangco. The video even showed him rubbing his elbow with the senator after her song number.
However, de Lima denied these allegations via a text message, saying the man wearing shades and who was pinpointed as Colangco is actually Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas.
“That video was actually taken during my birthday at the DOJ quadrangle last August 27, 2015. What was claimed to be Colangco was really Cong. Alfred Vargas, who was one of the guests,” de Lima said.
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Vargas also confirmed what de Lima said via a text message.
“Ako yung katabi ni Sen. De Lima. On viral video of Sen. de Lima. I would like to confirm, for the record, that I was the one seated next to Sec. de Lima during her birthday celebration last year showing in the YouTube video. I had sore eyes that time so I had to wear sunglasses and could not properly shake hands with everybody. I hope this statement clarifies matters to all parties concerned and bring us closer to the truth,” Vargas said.
If you notice, the man with shades even pointed to his eyes first before rubbing his left elbow with the senator’s right elbow.
De Lima’s office also released a statement, naming some of the guests during the said birthday party.
“The person who was claimed to be drug lord Colangco is really Cong. Alfred Vargas, who was one of the guests. Others who attended were emcee Imelda Papin, Usec Jovy Salazar, and DOJ employees,” the statement read.
De Lima’s birthday party was held at the DOJ quadrangle , not in Bilibid, and the guest she rubbed elbows with is not Colangco, but Rep. Vargas. Even Vargas clarified the issue himself by issuing a statement confirming the senator’s statement about the event in question.
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