Minister, CEO Dismiss Kickback Claims as ‘Nonsense

And according to the allegations, claims the Prime Minister insists are completely false, Minister Oscar Requena and his CEO, Valentino Shal, are supposedly benefiting from these alleged kickbacks. So, we took those accusations straight to both of them. We also pressed them on another concern: whether the ministry has been paying out for roadworks in the north that still aren’t finished. Here’s what they had to say.

 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation

“Well first of all I want to say that is total nonsense. We at the Ministry of Rural Transformation and Local Government are focused on our work. Today is evidence of that. We have a cadre of highly skilled and professional employees. We have clear oversight from the ministry of finance and other development partners so every operation we conduct at the Ministry of Rural Transformation is above-board and in line with financial regulations.”

 

Reporter

“There were several different allegations being made. One of them is that payments were being approved for incomplete works or works that were not being executed in the north as well as a sharp increase in spending in the ministry.”

 

Oscar Requena

“That is total nonsense, I will be honest, that is total nonsense.”

 

Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Transformation

“I am not going to reply to anything that is speculation or any allegation so I have no response to provide to anything of that sort.

 

Reporter

Do you believe that whoever was sending this message was being mischievous?

 

Valentino Shal

“It is absolute rubbish. It is intended to tarnish the hard work of the ministry and the work we do. And we have an idea of where it is coming from and why it is happening, but that is not the reason for why we are here and that is not going to detract us from the work we need to do. You see some people might have the impression that there is money at the ministry. There is no such thing. The financial resources of the ministry come from the ministry of finance and there is a lot of procedures and steps to follow in order to get these things done.”

 

So, that’s where both the minister and his CEO stand tonight, flatly denying the allegations and calling them everything from ‘nonsense’ to ‘absolute rubbish.’ They insist the ministry’s finances are tightly controlled and that the claims are meant to distract from the work they’re doing. As for who’s behind the message, they say they have their suspicions, but for now, they’re staying focused on their jobs.