Lead public prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr. on Monday dismissed as “black propaganda” a newspaper report that he owns a P50-million mansion in Quezon City.
The Iloilo representative said he bought a house at Xavierville Subdivision last year, but that it is only worth P14 million.
“Kapag natapos bahay na iyon, iinvite ko kayo para makita ninyo na hindi P50 million iyon,” he told reporters on Monday.
The lawmaker made the statement after a report was published on the broadsheet “The Daily Tribune,” saying he kept the mansion “hidden from view by getting the construction workers to cover the almost finished exterior of his two-storey house.”
The lead prosecutor, however, said he expected such reports against him to come out in the course of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Alam niyo, noong umpisa pa lang ng trial, I was also warned. Sabi sa amin, we will be subjected to black propaganda and demolition job. Ito na nga ang nangyayari,” he said.
Tupas dared his critics to check his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), which he said will prove that his income is enough to buy the house.
Corona is currently being tried at the Senate for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption. The prosecution claimed that Corona acquired multi-million peso properties that supposedly were way beyond his income as a government official. — VS
