Lacierda in favor of opening Senate books for audit

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino’s spokesperson on Thursday joined the clamor for the Senate to open its books of account, admitting that the “reputation” of the Senate as a democratic institution is at stake amid the Senate war over the “Christmas bonus.”

‘‘If the Senate President feels that he is not against it, then certainly we hope that the Senate will protect the institution–the reputation of the institution, the integrity of the institution, and vote on the proposal of the Senate President,” said Secretary Edwin Lacierda.

At his regular briefing in the Palace, Lacierda noted that being the leader of the Senate, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile “has already openly said that he is in favor of an audit, but there should be a vote by the institution itself.”

In an emotional session Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano sought an independent audit on how the Senate funds were being disbursed by Enrile.

Although Mr. Aquino’s most visible spokesperson, Lacierda doesn’t relish commenting on political issues, especially if these concern the internal workings of the other political branch of government, the legislature.

At the briefing on Thursday, he again made this clear to members of the Malacañang Press Corps.

“We have taken the position that when it comes to the other branches of government, we would defer to their wisdom as to how they operate their own institutions. So we will leave it with the senators to decide as to the proposal and also the endorsement of the Senate President to open up their finance books to auditing firms. We’ll leave it with them,” he said.

But the media were quick to point out that Mr. Aquino had made it as official policy the principle of treading a “straight path,” and that a staff member of the third highest official of the land signing checks on behalf of the Senate chief to disburse taxpayer’s money may not augur well for transparency in the highest echelons of power.

“Does this not give Malacañang an impetus to somehow issue a more forceful statement denouncing such practice?” the INQUIRER asked.

The INQUIRER also asked if it would not be proper for the Palace to push for transparency in the Senate by calling on all the senators, not just the allies of the President, to support an independent audit, prompting Lacierda to admit that the “position taken by this government is for transparency and accountability.”

“Now, the focus is on the Senate, and I think it behooves on the Senate to heed the people’s call for transparency given the situation right now where the imbroglio between the Senate President and Senator Cayetano has been the subject of intense discussions within the Senate floor,” Lacierda said.

He said that he had yet to discuss the issue with Mr. Aquino when asked if the President, as head of the ruling party, would be open to asking his Senate allies to be supportive of an independent audit of Senate fund disbursements.

“The Senate, as a whole, knows what to do best to preserve the institution. We don’t need to have another institution to tell them what’s the best thing to do. They themselves are in a better position to determine what would be the best way to address (that) concern right now,” he said.