Vice President Noli de Castro on Saturday appealed to critics to spare him from controversy that would malign the many years he served in public office, following the graft charges filed against him and three others before the Office of the Ombudsman last Friday.

“Huwag naman. Pipitong araw na lang ang ihahakbang ko. Transition period na [Don’t do this, I only have seven days left in public office and it’s already the transition period],” De Castro said over his radio program “Para Sa’yo, Bayan” on Saturday.

De Castro was among those filed with graft charges for the alleged approval of a P6-billion deal that would turn Smokey Mountain into a housing area.

He belied that he has engaged himself in a “midnight deal” as the project is still with the technical working group and has not yet been signed, adding that he is “innocent” and is just a “collateral damage” in the controversy. (Madel Sabater)