NEWSFLASH 

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NORA AUNOR DENIES AGENT ROLE IN FIRETRUCK DEAL

Quezon City, March 14, 2000 - Movie superstar Nora Aunor was visibly upset as she denied on live TV yesterday any involvement in the government’s contract for the purchase of 100 firetrucks for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Aunor, a close friend of President Estrada, told TV Patrol on ABS-CBN yesterday that she did not even know Pepito Alvarez, owner of Columbian Motors Corp. which had reportedly bagged the contract.

She clarified that she and the President's "best friend" Fernando Poe Jr. campaigned for Mr. Estrada and vowed not to be involved in anything that would create trouble if Estrada won the presidency.

"Some people go to my house with papers," she said. "I tell them, no way. I'm prohibited from doing that."

"Wala akong kinalaman sa firetrucks. Idinawit lang pangalan ko.(I don't have anything to do with the firetrucks. They just dragged my name into it." she added.

Also implicated in the deal was Paquito Diaz, a character actor who is known for playing villain's roles in Mr. Estrada's movies.

Budget Secretary Diokno said any insinuation that Aunor and Diaz had influenced the outcome of the bid is a malicious lie.

"I have not met nor talked with Miss Aunor or Mr. Diaz ever. And even if I have done so, it won't change the outcome. The Procurement Service has well established rules and transparent bidding procedures," he said.

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