By Roy Pelovello

Eastern Samar Rep. Teodolo Coquilla yesterday said he was invited by the National Bureau of Investigation on allegations that the seized P1 million in fake bills was meant for a legislator in the Visayan island.

On Thursday, the NBI presented Armando Tiauson and Fulgencio Panado who were arrested for bogus P1,000 and P5,000 bills.

Tiauson said they received an order of P100 million in fake bills from a Samar lawmaker for his electoral campaign in 2010.

In an interview, Coquilla, the lone district representative, was straightforward.

?The NBI has called me and invited me to shed light on this matter. I?m willing to face anyone, I?m not hiding anything.?

Coquilla, along with Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza (1st District) and Para?aque Rep. Roilo Golez, urged the NBI to be specific and spare legislators undue allegations of wrongdoing.

?It?s a serious offense, although the suspects have yet to name the lawmaker who allegedly ordered [fake money] from them. It would be best for everyone if they [NBI] would name the suspect for the interest of everybody,? said Daza, who also denied any involvement.

In a text message to reporters, Golez said the bureau should disclose the lawmaker?s identity.

?In fairness to all Samar congressmen and the whole House, the NBI should make a full categorical report naming names, complete with documentary and testimonial evidence,? Golez said.

?The House should [also] investigate this very serious accusation.?

Apart from Coquilla and Daza, other Samar lawmakers are Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong (2nd District), and Western Samar Reps. Sharree Ann Tan (2nd District), and Reynaldo Uy (1st District).

Ong, Tan and Uy cannot be reached yesterday for their comments.

?Samar is a big province so it would be best if the NBI would name the legislator the suspects are referring to. It?s unfair for us [Samar lawmakers] because there are five of us,? said Daza.

?If this is true, the NBI should investigate this further so they could build up a solid case,? he said.

Lawyer Roel Bolivar, head of the NBI Reaction, Arrest and Interdiction Division, said the bureau received information last March 2 that there were people, who turned out to be Tiauson and Panado, engaged in the illegal manufacture and printing of counterfeit peso bills in big denominations.

In presenting the suspects to the media on Thursday, NBI Director Nestor Mantaring vowed to get to the bottom of the case.

?We will determine the identity of the politician and his participation to this illegal activity,? he said.