Home Affairs Minister Mira Dodges Tough Questions Before Abrupt Exit

[00:00:00]Minister of Home Affairs, Oscar Mira, stepped up to the microphone on Wednesday, finally breaking his silence.

[00:00:07]But, the exchange was over almost as quickly as it began. In just 10 minutes, and with reporters closing in on tough questions, officials abruptly pulled the minister away twice, cutting short any chance of a deeper explanation. Pressed on mounting concerns over procurement practices within the Ministry of Defense, where he also served as Minister of State, Mira kept his answers brief and firm. He denied any involvement, insisting he had no hand in contract decisions. Still, the quick exit and repeated deflections did little to settle the issue. Instead, they've intensified scrutiny over who is responsible, how oversight is being handled, and what, if anything, the minister knew about contracts tied to his own family. Here's News 5's Polo Lopez with that story.

[00:01:03]>> I don't want to comment on any ifs, okay?

[00:01:06]>> about >> So, thank you so much. Family operation minister, please >> reception that the minister and the commissioner needs to move on to.

[00:01:12]>> Under intense public scrutiny and amid explosive allegations, Minister Oscar Mira faced questions on a matter of national importance. But, just 10 minutes into the exchange, the interview didn't just end. It was cut short twice, cutting off answers as criticism continued to mount.

[00:01:31]>> Many things of the Lory program is still happening right now as we speak.

[00:01:36]>> I think that he comes from humble beginnings.

[00:01:38]>> Remember, we are here today for the medal ceremony, right?

[00:01:41]>> Instead of staying to answer more questions, Minister Oscar Mira was swiftly ushered out to attend a reception, raising questions about what matters most at a time when people are demanding answers. And when he did respond, his answers offered little new insight, sticking closely to the same lines throughout.

[00:02:00]>> Let me just make clear that um I sit on no procurement committee. I had no say, I had no influence, I had no say. I I was not part of those committees. It is a long process. It's a process that I have no say. I was not part of it. It is not me who make decision. I am not aware because I was not part of those um I am not part of those committees. I have nothing to do with how government pays their contractors or their suppliers.

[00:02:29]But that has nothing to do to do with with with me as as the Minister of State or or as a Minister. No, as a Minister or as a Minister of State, I I really don't have a say in the procurement.

[00:02:38]That committee, as I said before, I was not privy to be part of them. I have never been.

[00:02:43]>> In just 10 minutes, Minister Mira repeated the same response more than a dozen times, sidestepping the real issue instead of addressing it head-on. That leaves a pressing question for us. How could he not know that his own siblings were securing lucrative contracts and receiving large sums of taxpayer money from the very ministry he helped to oversee?

[00:03:07]When News 5 caught up with Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing Julius Espat, we put that question directly to him. Who's responsible for knowing?

[00:03:16]>> The truth is the Minister needs to be advised. That's why he has a CEO, that's why he has an A4, that's why he has an AO, administrative officer for financial office, I see you. Everyone has a role to play.

[00:03:30]And if you are seeing something happening that you are not comfortable with, it is your responsibility to report it.

[00:03:38]Boss, you repeat too much, this thing not correct or this name is appearing too much or this one will look bad. None of us are perfect.

[00:03:47]But we have to take our job seriously.

[00:03:48]If we are in charge of a ministry, then we have to find out. If you don't know, you ask. And if you still don't know, then you go study. You have to be able to be aware of the product that you are administering, so that that product is a good one.

[00:04:03]>> Minister Mayers says he never bothered to look into it. While serving in the Ministry of Defense, he insisted it simply wasn't his responsibility to find out.

[00:04:14]Reporting for News 5, I am Paul Lopez.