2 lawmakers deny earmarking pork barrel for computers

MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers are disputing a Commission on Audit (COA) report that said P66-million worth of now missing computers were bought with their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.

Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Fredenil Castro of Capiz said the computers they distributed to their respective districts were donated by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and they had proof these were received by their intended beneficiaries.

Earlier, Rodriguez questioned the COA and DOTC for allowing such erroneous information to see print without consulting the lawmakers named in the 2011 COA report on the DOTC. He said he did not give P1.969 million of his PDAF to the DOTC.

Castro said he never spent a “single centavo” of his pork barrel for the purchase of computers, contrary to the COA report that he had earmarked P1.982 million of his PDAF for 40 computers.

Like Rodriguez, Castro said his district received some computers from the DOTC in 2009 “but the items were distributed to Capiz State University, various public elementary schools and villages, and police stations.”

“Although neither the DOTC nor COA asked for it, my congressional staff kept documents showing receipt by the beneficiaries of the computers. We are now in the process of collating these documents to be presented to the DOTC and COA if they need them. Audit inspectors are welcome to conduct an inquiry into this issue,” said Castro.

Former Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla has also denied using his PDAF to buy 30 computers worth P2.999 million for his constituents.

The COA reported in a 2011 audit that the DOTC failed to account for 726 computers worth roughly P66 million bought with the pork barrel of nine lawmakers led by former Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr. who used P49.25 million of his pork barrel to purchase 500 computers.

Others named in the COA report were former Representatives Victor E. Agbayani of Pangasinan (40 sets worth P3.999 million), Rene Velarde of Pampanga and Albert Garcia of Bataan (30 sets, P2.999 million), Darlene R. Antonino-Custodio of General Santos (51 sets, P1.966 milion) and Junie Evangelista Cua of Quirino (16 sets, P589,824).