The congressional investigation into the alleged overpricing of road right of way paid by government to Hacienda Luisita took a new twist Wednesday when a senior administration congressman claimed that the deal had the imprimatur of a Malacañang official.

House Deputy Majority Leader Crispin Remulla said the Malacañang official agreed not to interpose objection to the high irregular deal after receiving a call from a former top government executive who was “very influential then.”

Pressed by reporters to identify the two officials involved, Remulla countered: “Dead men tell no tales.”

Remulla called a press conference shortly after the House committee on oversight conducted a hearing on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway road right of way issue.

The House panel chaired by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez may be expected to hold additional hearings on the controversy as it directed the Commission on Audit to submit audit documents on the foreign loan secured by the government to finance the SCTEX project.

Dubbed the “SCTEX Massacre,” Remulla said Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should fully explain to the public his family’s position on the issue that cost government P83 million for the purchase of a road-right-of-way for the SCTEX project from Hacienda Luisita which is owned by Aquino’s family. (Ben R. Rosario)