Is COA being harsh on Congress but kind on SC?
Heidi Mendoza. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza on Tuesday squared off with Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., who accused the commission of having “double standards” when it conducted a special audit on Congress’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) and not over the Judiciary Development Funds (JDF).
During Tuesday’s hearing of the House’s justice committee over the bills amending and abolishing the JDF, Mendoza reacted to committee Chairman Tupas’ statement that the COA seems to have “double standards.”
“Just a reaction to Tupas. Kung paano ina-audit ang PDAF, ganun din inaaudit ang JDF,” Mendoza said.
Tupas then asked Mendoza if she thinks COA should also conduct a special audit on JDF as it had done on the PDAF.
The PDAF special audit was used as a basis for the filing of plunder and graft complaints involving lawmakers over alleged PDAF anomalies under the scheme of Janet Lim-Napoles.
The SC scrapped the PDAF as unconstitutional at the height of the scandal.
“Just answer yes or no. Para mas madali,” an irate Tupas said.
Mendoza, who laughed awkwardly when asked, said: “There is no need for special audit.”
She said a special audit requires a “risk-based audit approach.”
She added they expanded the audit to include JDF but they do not conduct a special audit on JDF alone.
Tupas then told Mendoza: “You are just reiterating the statement that you have double standards.”
The JDF, long seen as the court’s pork barrel funds, is sourced from the funds collected by courts nationwide from docket and other court fees.
Presidential Decree 1949, dated July 18, 1984, created the JDF “in order to preserve and enhance the independence of the judiciary at all times and safeguard the integrity of its members,” being the lone apolitical branch of government.
Under PD 1949, 80-percent of the JDF shall be used to augment the allowances of justices, judges, and court personnel; the remaining 20-percent for office equipment and facilities.
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