Colombia finance minister says he's committed to corruption probe
Adds detail on corruption scandal in paragraphs 7-10
BOGOTA, July 19 (Reuters) -Colombian finance minister Ricardo Bonilla on Friday said he was committed to a rapid investigation into corruption allegations against him, amid graft accusations involving several officials in President Gustavo Petro's government.
Bonilla was linked to a scandal concerning Colombia's UNGRD disaster agency, which was allegedly instructed to bribe members of Congress to support government reforms.
"My legal team is working tirelessly to clarify all the aspects which may be required," Bonilla said in a post on X.
He was responding to a post by a local journalist, which said the minister's defense team would hand over initial evidence to the attorney general's office next week.
Bonilla protested his innocence earlier this week, saying in a post on X he would "face any examination of my official actions with respect for justice."
In May, Colombia's supremecourt called on then Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco to testify in a case involving the UNGRD's former director Olmedo Lopez and former deputy director Sneyder Pinilla, who were allegedly involved in corrupt purchases of water tankers.
Both Lopez and Pinilla are giving evidence in exchange for immunity and protection.
The scandal has also enveloped Ivan Name, former senate president, and Andres Calle, former president of the house of representatives, who are accused of receiving money to aid approval of government reforms. Both men deny the accusations.
The accusations threaten progress for some of Petro's social and economic reforms in Congress, where he continues to lose support.
Petro, Colombia's first left-wing president, denies involvement in the scandal.
Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta and Oliver Griffin; Editing by Tom Hogue, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Sam Holmes
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